"You don’t feel like a stranger in this country when you see that other people have a good heart."
— Hana Saleh on the welcome that Heartsong United Methodist Church in Cordova, Tennessee, extended to the mosque next door.
NEWS AND FEATURES
United Methodists bond with Muslim neighbors
CORDOVA, Tenn. (UMC.org) — In 2010, tensions were mounting in the U.S. in places with growing Muslim populations. A pastor in Florida was threatening to burn Qurans, and protesters were fighting the construction of mosques in some communities. Despite these stories in national headlines, two faith communities near Memphis decided to give love a chance. Their friendship lasts to this day.
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Church helped ease the pain in Filipino siege
MARAWI, Philippines (UMNS) — The United Methodist Church was instrumental in alleviating the pain of Filipino civilians enduring the five-month siege of Marawi City by pro-Islamic State forces, says a United Methodist chaplain in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Gladys Mangiduyos reports.
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InfoServ
How long is the Christmas season?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Do you know when the Christmas season begins and ends? InfoServ, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, has the answer in this week’s installment of Ask the UMC.
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Ask the UMC
PRESS RELEASES
Council of Bishops
Booklet offers resources Way Forward has used
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Council of Bishops offers an 88-page booklet that contains some of the resources the Commission on a Way Forward has used so far in its work. The booklet contains information on three proposals the bishops will discuss in their respective areas. The bishop-appointed commission has the task of trying to move the denomination past its impasse around homosexuality.
See booklet
Read UMNS story on three models under consideration
COMMENTARIES
What’s at stake when schism is an option?
WASHINGTON — The Rev. Lovett H. Weems Jr., senior consultant for the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, writes about the schism threat facing The United Methodist Church. He draws on Methodist history, the recent experience of other mainline Protestant denominations and the crucial role of the trust clause in maintaining unity. “The easier it is to leave, the more congregations will leave,” he asserts.
Read essay
RECENT HEADLINES
Migrant churches provide piece of home
Commentary: Sharing the stories of refugees
EVENTS
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have a United Methodist event to share, you can add it to the calendar with this submission form.
Wednesday, Jan. 10-Tuesday, March 20
Online workshop: One new habit, one big goal — change your life in 10 weeks
Monday, Jan. 15-Monday, Jan. 29
Online class: How to build and provide a course online
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