"It is in looking at ourselves – warts and all – that we begin to understand others and enable or empower them to join us in the human journey toward equality and justice." — The Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell.
Commentary: Jordanian pilot’s murder parallels lynchings
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The news of the burning of a Jordanian pilot by Islamic State militants prompted the Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell reluctantly to look again at the pictures of the lynchings and burning of blacks by the KKK and by others. An Internet search reveals that those pictures often appeared on postcards that were widely circulated, he writes in a UMNS commentary.
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NCC condemns horrific violence by ISIS
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — Pointing to “the utter bankruptcy of this extremist ideology, which looks to horrific violence to prop up its credibility,” the U.S. National Council of Churches joins the world “in grief and outrage at ISIS’s executions of Japanese hostages Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto, and Jordanian hostage Moath al-Kasasbeh.”
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`New' Harper Lee book has biblical title
DALLAS (UMNS) — The recent news that Harper Lee has a second book coming out — 55 years after publication of "To Kill a Mockingbird" — stunned the literary world. She chose a biblical title in "Go Set the Watchman." The 88-year-old Lee is a United Methodist, and members of the denomination are among the many eager to read this second Lee novel. Sam Hodges reports.
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Pastor knows costs of heroin all too well
BEL AIR, Md. (UMNS) — The Maryland governor’s war on heroin comes too late for the Rev. Craig McLaughlin, pastor at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church. His 19-year old daughter overdosed on heroin last March. He and his wife, Lisa, are now sharing their story with anyone who will listen. WJZ-TV in Baltimore reports on the story.
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UMCOR offers disaster training by region
NEW YORK (UMNS) — All five U.S. jurisdictions of The United Methodist Church have scheduled volunteer disaster training during 2015. “We are responding to God's call to care for our neighbors,” said Cathy Earl, executive secretary for U.S. Disaster Response for the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
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Letters campaign: reauthorize child-nutrition programs
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — Thousands of churches representing nearly 50 diverse U.S. Christian denominations, including The United Methodist Church, will participate in Bread for the World’s 2015 "Offering of Letters: Feed Our Children" campaign. This year’s campaign urges Congress to strengthen national child-nutrition programs when the law governing them comes up for reauthorization.
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Looking ahead
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, email [email protected] and put Digest in the subject line.
Tuesday-Friday, Feb. 10-13
Thought in Leaders Conference — This conference at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver features practical workshops, theological education talks, faculty lectures, ministry panels and special guest speakers. Details.
Sunday, Feb. 15
Transfiguration Sunday — Worship resources from United Methodist Discipleship Ministries
Connectional Table's last panel on human sexuality, Wesleyan identity and the life of the church — This panel, starting on this date, is available for online streaming at umc.org/connectional-table-webcast.
You can see more educational opportunities and other upcoming events in the life of the church here.
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