TODAY’S HEADLINES
WCA and Good News still lobbying
DALLAS (UM News) — Good News and the Wesleyan Covenant Association have in recent years encouraged congregations to leave The United Methodist Church for the Global Methodist Church. The two traditionalist caucuses are clearly aligned with that new denomination, but both plan to be at the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, lobbying on legislation. Some United Methodists are unhappy about that. Sam Hodges reports.
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California-Nevada, Great Plains conferences
Churchgoers compete in Super Bowl challenge
ELK GROVE, Calif. — Great Plains Conference Bishop David Wilson and Missouri Conference Bishop Bob Farr invited colleagues in the California-Nevada, California-Pacific and Oregon-Idaho conferences to a friendly competition to see which Super Bowl team’s fans could collect the most food for food pantries in their mission fields. While totals are still being tallied, Elk Grove United Methodist Church in California reports collecting 504 pounds of food. The Rev. April Sousa has the story.
Read California-Nevada Conference story
Read Great Plains Conference story
Immigration Law & Justice Network
Ministry helps mom, daughter escape trafficking
ANNANDALE, Va. — With hopes of fleeing an abusive marriage and getting her daughter away from the violence in her native Haiti, Fabienne accepted an offer to come to the U.S. and work. Like many in her situation, Fabienne instead found herself a victim of human trafficking and debt bondage. Thanks to the help of a partner of the Immigration Law & Justice Network, The United Methodist Church’s immigration law ministry, both Fabienne and her daughter have received visas and are building the life she’d initially dreamed.
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United Methodist Communications
Meet Bishop Tom Berlin
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast’s “meet a bishop” series profiles Florida Conference Bishop Tom Berlin. The lifelong United Methodist and prolific author talks about following a call he heard as a summer camp counselor all the way to being elected to the episcopacy in 2022.
Listen to podcast
PRESS RELEASES
Advocate Press
New book on ‘Banned Black History Sermons’
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Advocate Press has released the Rev. Amiri Hooker’s book, “My Banned Black History Sermons.” The United Methodist pastor’s book features several sermons that were rejected from a sermon website.
Read press release
RESOURCES
Wesley Theological Seminary
Forum looks at repairing political breach
WASHINGTON — Wesley Theological Seminary President David McAllister-Wilson is scheduled to moderate a panel discussion at a forum on healing breaches in civic life. The forum, titled “With Malice Toward None, With Charity for All,” is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern time Feb. 21 both online and at Washington National Cathedral. Speakers include Republican Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah and Democratic Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland. Registration in advance is required for both online and in-person attendance.
Register
Resurrection, a United Methodist Church
Church plans Art of Hospitality Conference
LEAWOOD, Kan. — The ShareChurch Ministry at Resurrection, a United Methodist Church, has scheduled the Art of Hospitality Conference for April 16-17, in person in Leawood. Led by nine speakers, including the Rev. Adam Hamilton and authors Yvonne Gentile and Debi Nixon, the conference offers an in-depth immersion into the art of creating exceptional guest experiences. This year will include new sessions, scalable solutions, interactive workshops and more. Super early-bird rates for registration end Feb. 23.
Learn more and register
EVENTS
Monday, Feb. 26-Friday, March 8
Online course: Mentoring Young People in Their Faith
Monday, March 11-Friday, April 26
Online course: Finance and Church Administration
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Concerns mount about General Conference prep
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Delegates to The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking assembly are raising alarms that they have yet to receive critical information that they usually receive months ahead of the big event. General Conference organizers promise that the information is coming soon. Heather Hahn reports.
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Register for Feb. 29-March 1 delegate orientation
Church leaders bridge faith, politics in Burundi
BUJUMBURA, Burundi (UM News) — A trio of United Methodists has successfully navigated leadership in the church and politics in this East African country. Their beliefs are linked with their approach to governance, and they credit their accomplishments to the profound teachings of The United Methodist Church and their faith in God. The Rev. Isaac Broune has their stories.
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Church members dial in for fellowship
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church provides Sunday worship service through the church’s conference phone line so participants who can’t attend in person can stay connected. The callers typically don’t have access to Zoom or Facebook Live. Church member Tina Boone coordinates the dial-in service and finds joy in providing a time of fellowship for her callers. Vernon Jordan has the story.
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United Methodists among flood survivors in Tanzania
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (UM News) — Flooding in Tanzania’s Masai and Morogoro districts affected more than 6,300 people, including 300 members of The United Methodist Church. A local United Methodist congregation lost its temporary church. The Tanzania Conference is appealing for help to support survivors and continue its mission of evangelizing to the Masai people, a population of seminomadic herders and warriors from East Africa. Asaph Sungura Ally has the story.
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Missouri Conference
Bishop calls for prayer for Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri Conference Bishop Robert D. Farr is calling for prayer and steps to stop gun violence after shooters opened fire at a parade celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl win. The shooting left one woman dead and 22 injured, half under the age of 16. “I refuse to accept that mass shootings are ‘normative,’” the bishop writes. “Just because something is, doesn’t mean it should be.” He also provides resources for addressing violence.
Read statement
Council of Bishops
Bishops’ president offers Lenten message
WASHINGTON — Council of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton shared a message as Christians around the world began the season of Lent. For United Methodists, the season comes after painful disaffiliations and before General Conference gathers to shape the denomination’s future. Bickerton writes that United Methodists “not only need this season of Lent, we need the disciplines and devotion this season calls us to remember.”
Read message
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