NEWS AND FEATURES
Bishops, others denounce WCA’s vaccine plan
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Wesleyan Covenant Association announced plans to raise funds to ensure General Conference delegates in Africa, Eurasia and the Philippines have access to vaccines. However, bishops and other United Methodist leaders challenge the ethics of that plan. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read press release
Read central conference bishops’ statement (PDF)
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Church hosts healing service after synagogue standoff
SOUTHLAKE, Texas — White’s Chapel United Methodist Church hosted a Jan. 17 service of community healing put on by Congregation Beth Israel of nearby Colleyville, Texas. The synagogue was the scene of a hostage-taking two days earlier. All four hostages, including Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, escaped. The abducting gunman was killed. Cytron-Walker spoke at the community healing service and right away thanked White’s Chapel for making its space available. James Hartley reports.
Read story and watch video report
Watch recorded service
California-Nevada Conference, World Council of Churches
Extending prayer, aid to Tonga after eruptions
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — United Methodists and other faith leaders are calling for prayer and aid for Tonga after a massive volcanic eruption and tsunami on Jan. 15 wreaked significant damage on the archipelago. About 35% of the population is part of the Free Wesleyan Church, and The United Methodist Church has several Tongan congregations.
Read Bishop Minerva Carcaño’s statement
Read Government of Tonga press release
Read World Council of Churches statement
The United Methodist Foundation of Western North Carolina
Stained glass finds new life as churches merge
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The windows at Mouzon/Selwyn United Methodist Church have illuminated 80 years of baptisms, weddings, funerals and worship services. As the building comes down, these beautiful works of art will live on in a new United Methodist church formed by merging congregations.
Read story
Advocate: Lakewood/East Dallas
Couple gets Eleanor Roosevelt award
DALLAS — The Rev. Bill Matthews and his wife of 67 years, Norma, have been given the Eleanor Roosevelt Lifetime Achievement Award by the Dallas chapter of the United Nations Association of the United States of America. The United Methodist couple was cited for work in ministry, education, communications, advocacy and international bridge building. Renee Umsted reports.
Read story
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.
Firebrand
African Americans, the Bible and historical criticism
ATLANTA — Odell Horne Jr., a United Methodist and doctoral candidate at Evangelical Seminary in Pennsylvania, writes about what he sees as the problems of the Eurocentric approach to Scripture. He also argues that the work of Black biblical scholars as well as the African early church fathers can lead Christians to see the Bible in a new light.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Wespath
Get insight into mental health issues
GLENVIEW, Ill. — Two virtual seminars on mental health first aid will be offered on March 10 and 24. The free events will be led by Chris White, a hostage and crisis negotiator and mental health trainer.
Read press release and register
Foundation for Evangelism
Online session on local church grants
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — The Foundation for Evangelism will have an online session on applying for local church grants at 2 p.m. U.S. Eastern time Jan. 25. Registrants will receive a link to the recording so they can watch even if they cannot attend live.
To register
RECENT HEADLINES
Filipino churches step up after super typhoon
Remembering Jay Weaver of Big Daddy Weave
EVENTS
Tuesday, Jan. 25-Friday, Feb. 25
Navigating Next: Equipping Leaders for Their Next Season of Ministry
Bishops, others denounce WCA’s vaccine plan
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Wesleyan Covenant Association announced plans to raise funds to ensure General Conference delegates in Africa, Eurasia and the Philippines have access to vaccines. However, bishops and other United Methodist leaders challenge the ethics of that plan. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read press release
Read central conference bishops’ statement (PDF)
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Church hosts healing service after synagogue standoff
SOUTHLAKE, Texas — White’s Chapel United Methodist Church hosted a Jan. 17 service of community healing put on by Congregation Beth Israel of nearby Colleyville, Texas. The synagogue was the scene of a hostage-taking two days earlier. All four hostages, including Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, escaped. The abducting gunman was killed. Cytron-Walker spoke at the community healing service and right away thanked White’s Chapel for making its space available. James Hartley reports.
Read story and watch video report
Watch recorded service
California-Nevada Conference, World Council of Churches
Extending prayer, aid to Tonga after eruptions
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — United Methodists and other faith leaders are calling for prayer and aid for Tonga after a massive volcanic eruption and tsunami on Jan. 15 wreaked significant damage on the archipelago. About 35% of the population is part of the Free Wesleyan Church, and The United Methodist Church has several Tongan congregations.
Read Bishop Minerva Carcaño’s statement
Read Government of Tonga press release
Read World Council of Churches statement
The United Methodist Foundation of Western North Carolina
Stained glass finds new life as churches merge
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The windows at Mouzon/Selwyn United Methodist Church have illuminated 80 years of baptisms, weddings, funerals and worship services. As the building comes down, these beautiful works of art will live on in a new United Methodist church formed by merging congregations.
Read story
Advocate: Lakewood/East Dallas
Couple gets Eleanor Roosevelt award
DALLAS — The Rev. Bill Matthews and his wife of 67 years, Norma, have been given the Eleanor Roosevelt Lifetime Achievement Award by the Dallas chapter of the United Nations Association of the United States of America. The United Methodist couple was cited for work in ministry, education, communications, advocacy and international bridge building. Renee Umsted reports.
Read story
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.
Firebrand
African Americans, the Bible and historical criticism
ATLANTA — Odell Horne Jr., a United Methodist and doctoral candidate at Evangelical Seminary in Pennsylvania, writes about what he sees as the problems of the Eurocentric approach to Scripture. He also argues that the work of Black biblical scholars as well as the African early church fathers can lead Christians to see the Bible in a new light.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Wespath
Get insight into mental health issues
GLENVIEW, Ill. — Two virtual seminars on mental health first aid will be offered on March 10 and 24. The free events will be led by Chris White, a hostage and crisis negotiator and mental health trainer.
Read press release and register
Foundation for Evangelism
Online session on local church grants
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — The Foundation for Evangelism will have an online session on applying for local church grants at 2 p.m. U.S. Eastern time Jan. 25. Registrants will receive a link to the recording so they can watch even if they cannot attend live.
To register
RECENT HEADLINES
Filipino churches step up after super typhoon
Remembering Jay Weaver of Big Daddy Weave
EVENTS
Tuesday, Jan. 25-Friday, Feb. 25
Navigating Next: Equipping Leaders for Their Next Season of Ministry
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