Daily Digest - April 15, 2020

"It's a challenge to want to go and hug someone when you see them crying or you see their heads are low and not be able to help in that way." — The Rev. Kimberly Davis, a United Methodist and chaplain with the Chicago Police Department.

NEWS AND FEATURES

Modeling non-anxious leadership during pandemic
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — As the U.S. coronavirus death count mounts and the economy suffers, United Methodist bishops, pastors and chaplains keep reminding the faithful that God is with us. Jim Patterson reports.
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Church leaders urge African Americans to stay healthy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Black leaders in The United Methodist Church issued a call to action for their communities to take COVID-19 guidelines seriously. In the wake of recent findings that African Americans are dying from the disease at disproportionate rates in the U.S., Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century, in partnership with United Methodist Discipleship Ministries, hosted a virtual summit on April 9. Kathy L. Gilbert reports.
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Register to watch summit recording

Ask The UMC
Understanding human suffering

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When tragedy strikes, it is common to ask why. United Methodists often turn to their faith for answers, but answers don't come easily. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, looks to the words of Jesus and John Wesley to offer comfort during tough times.
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United Methodist Communications
The need for giving when church doors close

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Although there are no offering plates making their way down the pews these days, pastors are still at work and ministry needs are growing. Crystal Caviness writes about how United Methodists can help.
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Global Ministries
Methodists in Mongolia envision the future

ATLANTA — The Mongolia Mission Initiative, which grew out of a hospice care ministry, became part of the Southeast Asia and Mongolia Provisional Central Conference in 2016. Currently, the mission includes 13 churches led by national leaders and plans are underway for a self-sustaining future. Christie R. House has the story.
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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.

Collaboration can help eradicate COVID-19
NEW YORK (UM News) — Multilateralism is often misconstrued to be about the global and not about local and daily life. But the novel coronavirus pandemic is showing that the local and the global are simultaneous realities, writes the Rev. Liberato C. Bautista, who leads the U.N. office of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society.
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RESOURCES

United Methodist Communications
Support Native American ministries

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Yankton Sioux Tribe on the White Swan Reservation in South Dakota was still recovering from flooding when the coronavirus pandemic was declared. The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference helped the tribe purchase food and supplies to distribute during the crisis. The support was made possible through giving on Native American Ministries Sunday. This year, the United Methodist Special Sunday will be celebrated on April 26. During this time of social distancing, churches can encourage members to give online or choose a different date to celebrate.
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RECENT HEADLINES

Military chaplains deployed in pandemic

Covenant groups unite isolated Moscow seminary students

EVENTS

Thursday, April 16

Webinar on U.S. COVID-19 employment law


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