NEWS AND FEATURES
Short docket brings church-exit questions
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s top court has set its shortest fall docket in years. However, the Judicial Council continues to face questions related to church exits and the COVID-delayed General Conference. Heather Hahn has an overview.
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See docket
Florida Conference
Pastors work to bring comfort, stop racism
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The U.S. remains stuck in the quicksands of racial injustice. That thought went through the Rev. Debbie Salinger’s mind when she learned of the racially motivated killing of three Black people on Aug. 26. Salinger is the senior pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church, about 20 minutes from the Dollar General store that was the site of the hate crime. Joe Henderson reports.
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Oklahoma Conference
Disaffiliation vote halted by state court stay
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Supreme Court has put Church of the Servant’s plans for a disaffiliation vote on hold while the Oklahoma Conference appeals a lower-court ruling. The state supreme court granted the conference’s request for a stay of the vote, scheduled for Sept. 5, after a lower court ruled that the conference must administer an additional disaffiliation vote. The church’s votes for departure last year fell short of the two-thirds majority required by church law.
Read Oklahoma Conference statement (PDF)
Michigan Conference
Help for tornado, storm victims
LANSING, Mich. — After two people died and 400,000 were left without power, the Michigan Conference Disaster Response Team stepped in to help. Severe storms and seven tornadoes struck Aug. 24-25 in several counties across the lower half of the state. The Rev. Robert Miller, interim co-disaster response coordinator, says there will be a substantial need for debris removal, cleanup and personal hygiene kits. Conference staff have the story.
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Higher Education and Ministry
Youth energy inspires agency work
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Workshops on prayer, belonging and mentoring were among the offerings of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry at YOUTH 2023. The July 25-28 event for junior and senior high school students gave the elders on hand energy, said Marcie Bigord, director of scholarships for the agency. That energy “inspires our work. The youth are what will carry the next generation,” she said.
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UM News: Youth connect with God, one another
Dakotas Conference
New shoes for the school year
BERESFORD, S.D. — Zion United Methodist Church continues its tradition of helping needy children with supplies for the new school year. Since 2018, church members have collected new shoes, socks, backpacks and other supplies. The week before school starts, children and their parents are invited to select shoes, have their feet washed and get new socks and school supplies. Doreen Gosmire has the story.
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PRESS RELEASES
Global Ministries
Grants awarded in Latin America, Caribbean
ATLANTA — Encounter with Christ has awarded 21 grants to 13 mission partners from the permanent fund of Encounter with Christ in Latin America and the Caribbean. The grants come from a ministry partnership among the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas and the Council of Evangelical Churches in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Rev. Douglas W. Ruffle has the story.
Read press release
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