“The steeple was taken off the top, turned on its side and then kind of injected into the side of the building. It was really something to see.” — Arkansas Conference Bishop Laura Merrill, on tornado damage at Wynne (Ark.) First United Methodist Church.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Churches hard hit by storms
WYNNE, Ark. (UM News) — Storms generating multiple tornadoes swept across three regions of the U.S., leaving at least 32 people dead and creating widespread and severe property damage, including at least three United Methodist churches in Arkansas. United Methodist relief and recovery efforts there and elsewhere are gearing up. Sam Hodges reports.
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187 churches sue North Georgia Conference
MARIETTA, Ga. (UM News) — The North Georgia Conference is facing a lawsuit jointly filed by more than 180 of its churches and another filed by one church. The lawsuits respond to the conference’s hold on disaffiliation amid what conference leaders called widespread “defamatory” misinformation. Heather Hahn reports.
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South Carolina Conference
Churchgoers help girl with grave disease
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Thanks to the donations and prayers of South Carolina United Methodists and others, one little girl from Guatemala is in South Korea getting a bone marrow transplant that is expected to save her life. Jessica Brodie reports on how South Carolina United Methodists came to know and support the 10-year-old girl.
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Church and Society
Congresswoman works for justice
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez, the first Latina United Methodist to be elected to Congress, spoke to staffers at the United Methodist Board of Church and Society to mark Women’s History Month. Ramirez said her local church, Humboldt Park United Methodist in Chicago, prepared her to work for justice. Jessica M. Smith reports.
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UM News: First United Methodist Latina sworn into US Congress
PRESS RELEASES
Religion and Race
Agency board participates in March for Justice
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race board of directors gathered in San Antonio March 24-26 for its spring board meeting. The board also participated in the 27th annual Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice, which celebrates the civil rights leader’s efforts for social change and increases awareness of the safety and security of migrant farm workers.
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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 UM News staff.
Greater New Jersey Conference
A Lenten meditation about getting unstuck
NEPTUNE, N.J. — In extreme conditions, it is our human nature to look for an escape to someplace better. Recently, the Rev. Kate Monahan came upon a quote that said if you find yourself in a dark place and think you’ve been buried, you may have actually been planted. “What if these less-than-ideal conditions are sometimes the very things we need to grow?” she writes.
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RESOURCES
United Methodist Communications
Resources for Native American Ministries Sunday
ATLANTA — Native American Ministries Sunday is April 23, and resources are available to mark the date. The Native American Ministries Pastor and Leader Kit includes posters; pre-written emails and other social media content; infographics; videos; and pew cards. Donations made on this Special Sunday help develop and strengthen Native American ministries in annual conferences and communities.
Download resources
RECENT HEADLINES
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EVENTS
Monday, April 10-Friday, May 5
Online course: 12 Secrets for a Top-Notch Church Website
Monday, April 17-Monday, May 1
Online course: Leading Missional Small Groups
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