“When I was knocking on doors, the people of Helena did not see a refugee. The people of Helena did not see a person of color. The people of Helena saw the better of two candidates.” — United Methodist Wilmot Collins, mayor-elect of Helena, Montana.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Refugee U.S. mayor-elect is United Methodist
HELENA, Mont. (UMNS) — Major news organizations in the U.S. and beyond covered the recent story of a Liberian refugee getting elected mayor of overwhelmingly white Helena. Wilmot Collins also happens to be a longtime, active United Methodist. Sam Hodges reports.
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Deaconesses speak out about violence against women
QUEZON CITY, Philippines (UMNS) — United Methodist deaconesses took part in an ecumenical gathering that addressed the vulnerability of women to violence and called for an end to that violence. Gladys Mangiduyos has the story.
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New York Conference
Church gives sanctuary to second immigrant
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Just a week after Marco Reyes Alvarez left sanctuary at First and Summerfield United Methodist Church, a second Ecuadorean immigrant has taken refuge at the church. Joanne S. Utley reports.
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Louisiana Conference
New life for church's 1943 Christmas film
ALEXANDRIA, La. — During World War II, First United Methodist Church here made a feature film of the Christmas story for Advent, getting help from an Army communications team stationed nearby. The film was lost, found, lost again and recently found once more. Restored by Louisiana Public Broadcasting, the film will get a special screening at the church on Dec. 17.
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Mountain Sky Area
Lucile Wheatley, bishop's widow, dies at 100
ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Lucile Elizabeth Wheatley, wife of the late Bishop Melvin Wheatley, died Nov. 23 at age 100. Her husband was bishop of what is now the Mountain Sky Area from 1972 to his retirement in 1984. During World War II, she and her husband protected the Fresno, California, home of a Japanese-American family who had been interned. Like her husband, she advocated for the full inclusion of LGBTQ Christians in the life of The United Methodist Church.
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COMMENTARIES
Many Voices, One Faith
Taking up my cross
DALLAS (UMNS) — For Nicole Melki, following Jesus comes with its own set of obstacles. Melki, who is LGBTQ, feels called to be part of a church that often has excluded her. “Following Jesus means staying when I have been told to leave,” Melki writes in the latest installment of “Many Voices, One Faith,” a forum for sharing theological perspectives on topics of interest in The United Methodist Church.
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Many Voices, One Faith home page
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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.
Tuesday, Dec. 5
Webinar: Serving Children Beyond the Christmas Wish List
Share your story or tips with us at [email protected].
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