“It simply indicates the position of our conference with regard to the protocol and where the conference intends to head if the protocol passes.” — Lance Thomas on a resolution he introduced at the Northwest Texas Annual Conference.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Conference signals its plans post-separation
LUBBOCK, Texas (UM News) — The Northwest Texas Conference passed a nonbinding resolution indicating aspirations to join a new traditionalist Methodist church under the proposed protocol for separation. The conference appears to be the first to both endorse the protocol and specify what direction it would go should the legislation pass. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Texas Conference
A doctor’s perspective on delta variant
KATY, Texas — A delta variant-propelled surge in COVID-19 cases has Dr. Nicki Zeisig, a hospital physician, working seven days a week, 12 hours a day. Zeisig, wife of the Rev. Alex Zeisig of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church West Campus, shared with Lindsay Peyton what her hospital's scene is like these days.
Read story
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Bishop responds to Proud Boys leader’s sentencing
BALTIMORE — The jail sentence given to a leader of the far-right Proud Boys group for destroying a Black Lives Matter banner at Washington’s Asbury United Methodist Church and carrying illegal weapons, has Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling reflecting on the need for restorative justice. Others in the Baltimore-Washington Conference are responding to the sentence and sharing accounts of additional race-related church vandalism. Melissa Lauber reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Roberts Park United Methodist Church
Church helps launch grief ministry
INDIANAPOLIS — A nonprofit grief awareness, education and counseling ministry named “Ask Me Their Name” has been launched by Roberts Park United Methodist Church and The Garden Community Church. Deaths from the coronavirus pandemic inspired the program. The ministry has created pins and armbands with “Ask Me Their Name” printed on them, so those who wear them can indicate their willingness to talk about their loss. The effort will officially launch at 11:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern time on Aug. 30.
Read press release
Visit website
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities
Seminary honors bishop as distinguished alum
ST. PAUL, Minn. — United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, a seminary with United Church of Christ roots, has named United Methodist Bishop David Bard as its 2021 distinguished alum. Bard leads the Michigan Conference and serves as interim bishop of the Minnesota Conference.
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.
In defense of rural churches
GREENSBORO, N.C. (UM News) — Rural churches often feel overlooked and under-resourced, writes Sally Curtis AsKew, former member and clerk of the United Methodist Judicial Council. She and her husband, Albert, spent 40 years serving small rural churches, mostly on multiple church charges. While reestablishing the strong circuits of the past is a monumental task, she writes, it is one that annual conferences need to undertake.
Read commentary
EVENTS
Monday, Sept. 20-Friday, Oct. 1
Online course: Reconnecting with God
Wednesday, Sept. 29-Friday, Oct. 1
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection’s Leadership Institute 2021
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Church leaders concerned about BSA bankruptcy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The long relationship of The United Methodist Church and the Boy Scouts of America is strained as the BSA goes through a sex abuse-related bankruptcy and denomination leaders worry about liability for local churches that have sponsored Scouting troops. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Read press release
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.
Read story
Colleges, seminaries grapple with shot, mask mandates
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (UM News) — United Methodist-related colleges and United Methodist seminaries are scrambling with the rest of higher education as another fall term begins in the COVID-19 pandemic. Administrators are deciding vaccination and masking polices while also trying to make campus life as normal as possible. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Funding for bishops improves but still shaky
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — With increased giving and cost savings from retirements, the fund that supports United Methodist bishops is in better shape, and bishops will receive their first raise in three years. However, the denomination’s financial leaders still warn of possible troubles ahead for the Episcopal Fund. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read Finance and Administration press release
COVID-19 alters dreams at Africa University
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — At least 19 Africa University students and staff have lost loved ones to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the university grapples with online learning and other obstacles, it also is offering emotional support and encouragement. Barbara Dunlap-Berg has the story.
Read story
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Conference signals its plans post-separation
LUBBOCK, Texas (UM News) — The Northwest Texas Conference passed a nonbinding resolution indicating aspirations to join a new traditionalist Methodist church under the proposed protocol for separation. The conference appears to be the first to both endorse the protocol and specify what direction it would go should the legislation pass. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Texas Conference
A doctor’s perspective on delta variant
KATY, Texas — A delta variant-propelled surge in COVID-19 cases has Dr. Nicki Zeisig, a hospital physician, working seven days a week, 12 hours a day. Zeisig, wife of the Rev. Alex Zeisig of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church West Campus, shared with Lindsay Peyton what her hospital's scene is like these days.
Read story
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Bishop responds to Proud Boys leader’s sentencing
BALTIMORE — The jail sentence given to a leader of the far-right Proud Boys group for destroying a Black Lives Matter banner at Washington’s Asbury United Methodist Church and carrying illegal weapons, has Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling reflecting on the need for restorative justice. Others in the Baltimore-Washington Conference are responding to the sentence and sharing accounts of additional race-related church vandalism. Melissa Lauber reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Roberts Park United Methodist Church
Church helps launch grief ministry
INDIANAPOLIS — A nonprofit grief awareness, education and counseling ministry named “Ask Me Their Name” has been launched by Roberts Park United Methodist Church and The Garden Community Church. Deaths from the coronavirus pandemic inspired the program. The ministry has created pins and armbands with “Ask Me Their Name” printed on them, so those who wear them can indicate their willingness to talk about their loss. The effort will officially launch at 11:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern time on Aug. 30.
Read press release
Visit website
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities
Seminary honors bishop as distinguished alum
ST. PAUL, Minn. — United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, a seminary with United Church of Christ roots, has named United Methodist Bishop David Bard as its 2021 distinguished alum. Bard leads the Michigan Conference and serves as interim bishop of the Minnesota Conference.
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.
In defense of rural churches
GREENSBORO, N.C. (UM News) — Rural churches often feel overlooked and under-resourced, writes Sally Curtis AsKew, former member and clerk of the United Methodist Judicial Council. She and her husband, Albert, spent 40 years serving small rural churches, mostly on multiple church charges. While reestablishing the strong circuits of the past is a monumental task, she writes, it is one that annual conferences need to undertake.
Read commentary
EVENTS
Monday, Sept. 20-Friday, Oct. 1
Online course: Reconnecting with God
Wednesday, Sept. 29-Friday, Oct. 1
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection’s Leadership Institute 2021
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Church leaders concerned about BSA bankruptcy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The long relationship of The United Methodist Church and the Boy Scouts of America is strained as the BSA goes through a sex abuse-related bankruptcy and denomination leaders worry about liability for local churches that have sponsored Scouting troops. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Read press release
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.
Read story
Colleges, seminaries grapple with shot, mask mandates
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (UM News) — United Methodist-related colleges and United Methodist seminaries are scrambling with the rest of higher education as another fall term begins in the COVID-19 pandemic. Administrators are deciding vaccination and masking polices while also trying to make campus life as normal as possible. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Funding for bishops improves but still shaky
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — With increased giving and cost savings from retirements, the fund that supports United Methodist bishops is in better shape, and bishops will receive their first raise in three years. However, the denomination’s financial leaders still warn of possible troubles ahead for the Episcopal Fund. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read Finance and Administration press release
COVID-19 alters dreams at Africa University
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — At least 19 Africa University students and staff have lost loved ones to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the university grapples with online learning and other obstacles, it also is offering emotional support and encouragement. Barbara Dunlap-Berg has the story.
Read story
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