“People may not always remember even the most powerful sermons they hear preached. But when you take words that express faith and you combine them with a melody, that’s memorable, somehow. That sticks with us.” — Zebulon M. Highben, director of Chapel Music at Duke University Chapel.
NEWS AND FEATURES
United Methodist Communications
Hymns can be healing
SUWANEE, Ga. — “The language of God” is what Karen Crenshaw Swenson calls hymns. The retired librarian and journalist says hymns inspired her to support civil rights in the 1960s and more recently cope with the coronavirus pandemic. Jim Patterson reports.
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Holston Conference
Bishop, cabinet tackle white privilege
ALCOA, Tenn. — As part of the denomination’s anti-racism initiative, Holston Conference Bishop Dindy Taylor and her cabinet have been reading books and meeting weekly to learn more about white privilege and find ways to dismantle systems that still bind people of color. The self-examination process sometimes leads to confession and tears. Annette Spence reports.
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North Georgia Conference
Vaccine volunteers put faith into action
ATLANTA — Clergy and laity across the North Georgia Conference are volunteering in dozens of ways to help others get the COVID-19 vaccine, including participating in vaccine trials, using church facilities for vaccine clinics and lending a hand to their local health departments. Sybil Davidson has the story.
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Virginia Conference
Bishop discusses COVID-19 with White House adviser
GLEN ALLEN, Va. — Bishop Sharma Lewis spoke recently with nationally renowned scientist Dr. David Agus as part of the conference’s COVID Connection video series. Agus, who advised the Trump administration about COVID-19 and is continuing to do so in the Biden administration, spoke with Lewis on the importance of vaccines, when things will get back to normal and safe worship practices. Madeline White reports.
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Watch interview
PRESS RELEASES
United Methodist Men
Civil rights leader joins Wesley society
LOS ANGELES — The Society of John Wesley inducted the Rev. James Lawson as a fellow. Lawson trained civil rights activists in nonviolent protesting during the 1960s, work that he continues to this day. The society was established by the United Methodist Men Foundation to recognize people who exemplify the characteristics of Methodism’s founder.
Read press release
Village at Glencliff
Church’s homeless medical respite receives grant
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Village at Glencliff has been awarded a $270,000 grant to provide medical respite care on the campus of Glencliff United Methodist Church for people experiencing homelessness. The grant is one of nine provided nationally by the Centers for Disease Control Foundation and the National Institute for Medical Respite Care. The village, a medical respite/bridge housing community of 22 micro homes, will open in the spring.
Read press release
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 the UM News staff.
United Methodist Communications
Faith, integrity and anti-racism
MINNEAPOLIS — The history of racism and Christianity in America are intertwined, and many white supremacists have been radicalized in Protestant churches, writes Pastor Laquaan Malachi. “If you truly believe that your faith is different from theirs, then people should be able to tell the difference in your living.”
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RESOURCES
United Methodist Publishing House
Pastors join in anti-racism webinar
INDIANAPOLIS — “Justice or Just Us?” explores what it means to be a faith community that’s committed to anti-racist and justice-seeking work. The Revs. Jevon Caldwell-Gross, Nicole Caldwell-Gross and Rob Fuquay — who all serve at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church — will lead the webinar at 2 p.m. U.S. Central time Feb. 25. Amplify Live will host the webinar.
For more information and to register
RECENT HEADLINES
Churches serve as warming centers, shelters
Book revisits pastor’s reticence on civil rights
EVENTS
Wednesday, Feb. 24
Church and Society Justice Talks: A Look Ahead to 2021
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