NEWS AND FEATURES
Video recaps church homosexuality debate
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The General Conference delegates who meet this month will be charting the future of an international denomination that already looks very different than it did eight years ago, when the last regular session of General Conference met. In a video, Heather Hahn gives an overview of The United Methodist Church’s homosexuality debate and how the denomination got here.
Watch video and read transcript
Faith & Leadership
Churches embrace native plant gardens
LAUREL, Md. — The National Wildlife Federation’s Sacred Grounds program is helping churches such as St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Laurel and Jones Memorial United Methodist in Washington, D.C., increase native plant gardens. The program offers houses of worship a practical way to invest in creation care and encourage community connection. Leslie Quander Wooldridge has the story.
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United Methodist Communications
How to encounter God in everyday life
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The phrase “thin places” dates back to the ancient Celts, who used it to describe those times when people feel closest to God, as if the veil between the natural world and spiritual world becomes very thin. On the “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast, the Rev. Jane Ellen Nickell discusses how to discover these sacred spaces and encounter God in a real way.
Listen to podcast
COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Digest 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.
Greater New Jersey Conference
Discovering ‘the change we need’
NEPTUNE, N.J. — Following encounters with people on the roadside asking for money, the Rev. William M. Williams III was reminded of Acts 3. Williams writes that sometimes, like the beggar who greeted Peter and John at the temple gate, we find ourselves asking for our idea of change when God may have something more significant to offer us. “It might not be the change we’re asking for, but it may be the change we need.”
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RESOURCES
Pre-General Conference video resources
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — As The United Methodist Church approaches a major legislative gathering that will determine its future, UM News is providing video resources to help people better understand how the legislative assembly works and what legislation is under consideration. The latest installment includes conversations with the top executives of United Methodist Men, Church and Society and Religion and Race.
Watch videos
United Methodist Congress of the Deaf
Deaf prayer vigil helps prepare for General Conference
BALTIMORE — The Rev. Lisa Holder of Christ Church of the Deaf and the Rev. Leo Yates Jr., pastor of Magothy Deaf Church, will lead a prayer vigil in American Sign Language in preparation for the upcoming General Conference. After a short briefing about the legislative assembly, Scriptures and prayers will be shared. The vigil will be held via Zoom at 1 p.m. U.S. Eastern time on April 13.
Register for event
RECENT HEADLINES
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EVENTS
Monday, April 15-Friday, April 26
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Monday, April 15-Saturday, May 4
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