"We continue to monitor the COVID numbers as well as vaccines in the areas of the world our delegates live." — Sara Hotchkiss, General Conference business manager.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Virus bedevils General Conference planning
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — After two postponements, organizers continue working to hold General Conference next year. The business manager says staff know how important the coming legislative assembly is as the denomination weighs a potential split. However, the delta variant presents new challenges. Heather Hahn reports.
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Greater Things Are Yet to Be Done, Tennessee Conference
Bishop suggests ways to help flooding victims
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — "When disaster strikes, The United Methodist Church always responds," writes Tennessee Conference Bishop William McAlilly in his blog. In the past 18 months, his episcopal area has endured a tornado, COVID-19, a Christmas Day bombing and now catastrophic flooding that has claimed more than 20 lives. Noting that the area is not yet safe for untrained volunteers to enter, McAlilly recommends that the best way to help right now is to donate money for relief efforts.
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Donate to Tennessee Conference disaster response
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Bishop addresses accusations against ex-chaplain
WASHINGTON — A former American University chaplain has surrendered his clergy credentials after facing multiple complaints of sexual misconduct, writes Baltimore-Washington Conference Bishop LaTrelle Easterling in a statement. Earlier this year, the person who filed the first complaint also filed a lawsuit against Mark Schaefer, the former chaplain; American University and the Baltimore-Washington Conference. That lawsuit is in its early stages.
Read Bishop Easterling's statement
Read Religion News Service story
Holston Conference
COVID-19 surge alters annual conference plans
KINGSPORT, Tenn. — After months of planning for an in-person annual conference on Aug. 27-28, Holston leaders responded to rising COVID-19 cases by creating a "hybrid" session for business that would allow voting members to either participate online or meet in person. But tensions have been high as the conference rapidly shifts gears. Annette Spence has the story.
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Associated Press
Proud Boys leader sentenced for burning church flag
WASHINGTON — Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys extremist group, was sentenced Aug. 23 to more than five months in jail for tearing down and burning a Black Lives Matter banner from Asbury United Methodist Church in downtown Washington and bringing two high-capacity firearm magazines into the nation's capital days before the Jan. 6 riot. The Rev. Ianther Mills, senior pastor of the church, told the judge it was an "act of intimidation and racism." Alanna Durkin Richer reports.
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PRESS RELEASES
Perkins School of Theology
Bishop Harvey to lecture at Perkins
DALLAS — Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey is the featured speaker for this year's Roy D. Barton Lecture at Perkins School of Theology. Harvey, who leads the Louisiana Conference and serves as president of the Council of Bishops, will speak on "Tales From the Edge of the Inside." The combination in-person and online event will be Sept. 20, with Harvey's talk beginning at 7 p.m. U.S. Central time.
Read press release
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.
Doubter's Parish
When the church is its own worst enemy
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Martin Thielen, a retired United Methodist pastor, has a website through which he writes for people who struggle with Christian faith. His latest Doubter's Parish post is titled "The Self-Destructive American Church." The United Methodist Church is among those denominations he addresses.
Read blog post
UM News: Retired pastor starts online 'Doubter's Parish'
RECENT HEADLINES
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EVENTS
Monday, Oct. 4-Friday, Oct. 15
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