"Gil's passion for equality, justice and inclusiveness inspired others to embrace his dream of beloved community." — The Rev. Don Messer, remembering the Rev. Gil Caldwell, a champion of civil rights and LGBTQ equality.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Rev. Gil Caldwell, civil rights pioneer, dies
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (UM News) — The Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell called himself a "foot soldier" in the U.S. civil rights movement. But many fellow United Methodists remember him as a general for justice. He died Sept. 4 at age 86. Heather Hahn reports.
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Bishop Yambasu remembered as bridge builder
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UM News) — Sierra Leone Area Bishop John K. Yambasu was remembered as a bridge builder, for his critical leadership on ending conflict in The United Methodist Church, and for "being the voice of Jesus when it needed to heard." Phileas Jusu reports on the funeral for the bishop, who died Aug. 16 in a car accident, and E Julu Swen has photos.
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Bishop John Yambasu of Sierra Leone dies at 63
United Methodist Communications
Living the racial justice charter
NEW YORK — Getting to "us and we" instead of "they and them" will speak volumes in racial justice work, says Darlene Alfred, a United Methodist woman who is a racial justice advocate in her home state of Texas. Fighting racism in the U.S. is part of the longstanding work of United Methodist Women. The Charter for Racial Justice was created and adopted by the Women's Division (now UMW) of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries in 1978, then adopted by the whole denomination. Crystal Caviness reports.
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Holston Conference
Church never misses a day of serving meals
KINGSPORT, Tenn. — As the people lined up for their breakfast one morning in an alley, Shades of Grace United Methodist Church quietly celebrated 10,000 meals served since the pandemic became a reality. The meals have kept on coming, rain or shine. Annette Spence has the story.
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PRESS RELEASES
Duke Divinity School
Duke Divinity professor honored
DURHAM, N.C. — Valerie Cooper of Duke Divinity School has won a Duke University Graduate Mentor of the Year award for her work with Black graduate students. Cooper is the first African American woman to have tenure at Duke Divinity, a United Methodist seminary.
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COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Daily Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not the UM News staff.
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
Changing the conversation about money and church
WASHINGTON — Money conversations can be difficult in churches. But the Rev. Lovett H. Weems Jr. suggests two principles that can change the tone of stewardship conversations: Never talk about people's money apart from their discipleship, and never talk about the church's money apart from its mission.
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