“I’ve been the balancer, providing support for police officers and civilians in need.” — The Rev. Eliud Kahanya Karanja, reflecting on his career as a police chaplain in Kenya.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Kenyan police chaplain connects communities
NAIROBI, Kenya (UM News) — More than two decades ago, the Rev. Eliud Karanja established a United Methodist chaplaincy ministry in the local police service. His work has led to a new chapel and school serving airport police and their families. Gad Maiga has the story.
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Minnesota Conference
Centenarian reflects on a life of faith
MINNEAPOLIS — Betty Fuller has skydived and hang-glided. Now that she’s 100, she’s content leading an exercise group each morning at her senior living facility. Fuller has experienced 30 different pastors during her life, much of it spent as a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Christa Meland reports.
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New York Conference
Cooperative parishes offer key lessons
NEW YORK — Survey after survey reveals a truth that churchgoers know intuitively: Churches of all denominations are struggling to recover from the pandemic. The challenges are numerous and often daunting. But in the New York Conference, many believe cooperative parishes offer invaluable lessons and a structure for a time such as this. Lisa Isom has the story.
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United Methodist Association of Communicators
Church communicators celebrated
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Hundreds of United Methodist communicators were honored March 31 with an awards celebration livestreamed to communicators, bishops and others across the denomination. The celebration was a highlight of the United Methodist Association of Communicators’ annual gathering, held via Zoom March 30-31. The group honored its 2022 Hall of Fame inductee, the Rev. Donald R. Wood, and its communicator of the year, the Rev. Maidstone Mulenga. Jessica Brodie reports.
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See list of award recipients (PDF)
PRESS RELEASES
Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference
Special central conference called for Ukraine-Moldova
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — The Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference is calling a special session to vote on a request from the Ukraine Moldova Provisional Annual Conference to change episcopal areas. United Methodists in Ukraine and Moldova are seeking to move from the Eurasia episcopal area, which also includes Russia, to the Nordic and Baltic episcopal area. The special session is scheduled to be held online April 30.
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Gammon Theological Seminary
Seminary recruiting fair coming soon
ATLANTA — Gammon Theological Seminary has partnered with the 12 other United Methodist-supported seminaries for the All United Methodist Theological Seminary Recruiting Fair. The free virtual event is an opportunity for prospective students who are discerning a call to ministry. The fair will be 1-3 p.m. U.S. Eastern time April 8.
To register
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 UM News staff.
Will Smith, Chris Rock and violence
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Audiences took in a slew of portrayals of violence from Hollywood long before Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards on March 27. Jim Patterson of United Methodist News reflects on how we might reduce destructive violence without resorting to censorship.
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EVENTS
Monday, April 25-Friday, May 6
Off to See: Using Nautical Knowledge for Deeper Discipleship
Friday, April 29-Saturday, April 30
2022 UMC LEAD Conference
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Knoxville church banks on outreach
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Community outreach is the key to the revival of Magnolia Avenue United Methodist Church, which is making a comeback after its building was condemned for nearly a year. Pastor Tim Jackson is focusing on ministries including a medical clinic and getting food and supplies to people in the neighborhood. He’s made the residents of a run-down motel across the street from the sanctuary a priority. Jim Patterson reports and Mike DuBose contributes photos.
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Effort aims to stop General Conference delays
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Organizers of The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking assembly are looking at addressing the main problems that led them to postpone General Conference a third time. Those problems are visas and logistics. Heather Hahn has the story.
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Church court evaluates bishops' decisions
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s top court released five rulings March 30. Most stem from bishops’ decisions of law related to annual conference standing rules, General Conference deadlines and equitable compensation. Heather Hahn reports.
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Ask The UMC
What should congregations know about disaffiliation?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With the 2020 General Conference postponed to 2024 and the announcement by the Wesleyan Covenant Association that it will launch the Global Methodist Church on May 1, there are many questions about disaffiliation. The Ask The UMC team has created a FAQ in an effort to provide clarity about the process and dispel confusion.
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Read more Ask The UMC
Global Ministries
United Methodists take in Ukrainian orphans
SIBIU, Romania — Children and staff from an orphanage in Kyiv, Ukraine, have been taken in by Romanian United Methodists after a thwarted abduction attempt during their refugee journey. That’s one of the stories emerging from Eastern European United Methodists’ relief work with Ukrainians, mostly women and children, who have fled their country since the Russian invasion began last month. Christie R. House reports.
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Long-haul relief needed for Ukraine
Commentary: The cost of being a strong woman
COMPTON, Calif. (UM News) — Being a clergywoman, especially a pastor of color, requires standing firm in faith and learning the importance of balance in life, writes the Rev. Adrienne M. Zackery, who leads two churches in Southern California. She offers recommendations for her fellow clergywomen and insights on how the church can be true to equity and equality for women in The United Methodist Church and beyond.
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Commentary: Church is splintering, not splitting
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (UM News) — Framing the denomination’s situation as a “split” suggests the church is dividing into two groups, writes the Rev. William B. Lawrence. In reality, The United Methodist Church is splintering because congregations are moving in a variety of directions.
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