"Throughout Scripture, God commands us to treat workers with respect, dignity and fairness. Exploitation or underpayment of workers is incompatible with Christ’s commandment to love our neighbor — a love that extends to all persons in all places, including the workplace.” — Living Wage Model, United Methodist Book of Resolutions.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Ask The UMC
Does the church support workers' rights?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — From the beginning, the Methodist movement has focused particular attention on the concerns of workers. Justice, dignity and equality for workers are an integral part of The United Methodist Church’s social teachings and heritage. Ahead of Labor Day in the U.S., Ask The UMC explores the church’s stance on workers’ rights.
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Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference
Bishop McAlilly recovering after car accident
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bishop William McAlilly is recovering from multiple fractures sustained in an Aug. 25 car accident. The bishop underwent surgery Aug. 26 to repair injuries to his leg and ankle. According to the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference, the surgery was successful and the bishop remains in good spirits. Amy J. Hurd, director of communications, said McAlilly continues to communicate regularly with his staff. “Because of the bishop’s vision that the mission and ministry of the new Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference be led by strategic teams, TWK's operational and ministry work is able to continue and thrive even in his absence,” Hurd said via email. She said the bishop, his family and conference staff appreciate the outpouring of support and prayers.
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Mississippi Conference
Mississippian to lead denomination’s lay leaders
JACKSON, Miss. — Members of the Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders recently elected LaToya Redd Thompson, the Mississippi Conference’s lay leader, to lead the global organization. “It’s important as we face a potential divide as a church that everyone knows the AACLL acts with a focus on its mission and purpose,” she said. Jasmine Haynes reports.
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Michigan Conference
Camp Michigamme celebrates 100 years
MICHIGAMME, Mich. — Campers marked 100 years of ministry at Camp Michigamme with celebrations and a worship service. Also, for the first time, the Northern Skies District Conference was held at the camp. Camp Michigamme is the only district-owned camp in the Michigan Conference. James Deaton has the story.
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KERA News
Pastors: Counseling could be affected by abortion law
DALLAS — Four United Methodist pastors have written Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, saying the state’s abortion law could infringe on their ability to counsel members of their congregations. The ministers argue that they face a chilling effect from the possibility of criminal or civil penalty if, with their guidance, parishioners elect to leave the state to terminate a pregnancy. Christopher Connelly and Bret Jaspers report.
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Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Remembering former Gammon president
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Rev. Walter Henry McKelvey Sr., president of United Methodist Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta from 1997 to 2010, died Aug. 15 at the age of 81. McKelvey began his career in the Methodist Church’s Central Jurisdiction, which segregated African Americans from much of the denomination. He also served in three United Methodist conferences: South Carolina, Holston and Western North Carolina.
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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.
UM Disability
Halting discrimination against Deaf and hard-of-hearing
LAUREL, Md. — Audism is an “-ism” that many have not heard of, acknowledges the Rev. Dr. Leo Yates Jr. Simply put, it means discrimination against people who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing. Yates suggests ways churches can help combat audism, and he offers examples of United Methodist churches from Texas to the Philippines that are finding ways to include Deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
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RESOURCES
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Justice and healing for Native American children
WASHINGTON — The Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Conference Committees on Native American Ministries invite United Methodists to observe a special time of prayer and action from Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, as they remember the atrocities experienced by tribal children once taken from their families and placed in boarding schools. The Native American International Caucus offers resources and suggested activities for raising awareness.
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RECENT HEADLINES
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EVENTS
Monday, Sept. 19-Friday, Sept. 30
Online course: Embracing Personal Prayer
Monday, Sept. 26-Friday, Oct. 7
Online course: Exploring the Landscape of Spiritual Formation