“You’re not going to hear me say, ‘This is how you should vote on Aug. 2.’ What I do hope is that you better understand people in different places and you understand the issues.” — The Rev. Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, at a town hall on abortion and faith.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Church holds forum on abortion ahead of big vote
LEAWOOD, Kan. (UM News) — Ahead of a vote on a state constitutional amendment in Kansas, the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection took on one of the most divisive issues in the state and the U.S. at large in a town hall event on faith and abortion. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Kentucky Conference
Conference responding to deadly floods
CRESTWOOD, Ky. — The Kentucky Conference is mobilizing in response to devastating flooding from torrential rain overnight July 27-28 that has submerged hundreds of houses and businesses and claimed at least 16 lives in Eastern Kentucky. Alan Wild reports.
Read story
Read Bishop Fairley’s statement
View conference flood updates
Great Plains Conference
Pastor and wife open home to Ukrainian
OMAHA, Neb. — John Finch, born Vladimir Vladimirovich in Ukraine, has had a difficult journey in his 20 years. That includes time spent in a Ukrainian orphanage. After many plot twists, he’s found a stable home and lots of love and support as the adopted son of the Rev. Andrew Finch and Meagan Finch. They are a United Methodist couple in Omaha. David Burke has the story.
Read story
East Ohio Conference
57 walls in two days
BEREA, Ohio — Members of The United Methodist Church of Berea spent two days in the church parking lot constructing 57 walls for a free home for a needy family. The three-bedroom home will be placed in the city of Wooster. One special thing about the project was that people of all ages could help, said the Rev. Carrie Antczak of The United Methodist Church of Berea. Rick Wolcott has the story.
Read story and watch video
Global Ministries
54 missionaries commissioned
ATLANTA — With pandemic restrictions easing a bit, Global Ministries has coordinated gatherings overseas to commission 54 missionaries. The new missionaries also got a few days for fellowship, worship and training together in the regions they serve. Christie R. House reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Native American International Caucus
Letter addresses boarding-school investigation
SELBYVILLE, Del. — The United Methodist Church’s Native American International Caucus has released an open letter to general agency leaders who have taken on the work of truth and healing after Methodist involvement in Native American boarding schools. The caucus expresses its interest and expectation that its members will be engaged as consulting partners in the work.
Read letter (PDF)
Learn more about Native American International Caucus
EVENTS
Monday, Aug. 1-Saturday, Aug. 13
Online course: Delivering an Effective Sermon
Monday, Aug. 22-Friday, Sept. 30
Online course: Biblical Faith Regarding Women
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Blistering summer challenges churches
DALLAS (UM News) — Across much of the U.S., as well as Europe, it’s been a summer of record-setting heat, presenting challenges and opportunities for United Methodist ministry. Churches have opened as cooling centers and carried on with mission work, albeit with adjustments. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Book aims to empower dementia caregivers
CLEVELAND (UM News) — People want to support caregivers of dementia patients but usually don’t know how to best help. A new book by Elizabeth Shulman, a former United Methodist pastor and health care chaplain, offers group exercises to empower caregivers and to help congregations be in ministry with them. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
Listen to “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast with Shulman
UM News: Retired bishop serves memory care unit as chaplain
United Methodists in Nigeria distribute 50 tricycles
JALINGO, Nigeria (UM News) — A partnership between the United Methodist Southern Nigeria Conference and the Beautiful Gate Handicap Center recently improved the lives of people with mobility issues. At a commissioning ceremony, Nigeria Area Bishop John Wesley Yohanna encouraged churchgoers to have hope and be thankful to God. Ezekiel Ibrahim reports.
Read story
Valuing Life series explores mental health
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, explores the ways United Methodists value life and help others experience the abundance of life Jesus promises. In the fifth installment of a seven-part series, Ask The UMC looks at mental health and ways local churches can support those who are suffering.
Read story
Read other installments
Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference
Services scheduled for the Rev. Eason-Williams
WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — The family of the Rev. Autura Eason-Williams has scheduled both a viewing and funeral for the longtime United Methodist leader and Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference district superintendent, who was killed July 18 in a carjacking. The viewing will be from 4 to 8 p.m. U.S. Central time Aug. 2, at Anthony Funeral Home, 135 S. 16th St., West Memphis, Arkansas. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Aug. 3, at Saint Paul United Methodist Church, 2949 Davies Plantation Road, Lakeland, Tennessee.
See details
UM News: District superintendent killed in carjacking
Associated Press: 2nd teen charged in death of district superintendent
United Methodist Communications
Podcast-a-thon coming Aug. 2
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Communications plans to hold the inaugural United Methodist Podcast-a-thon on Aug. 2. The daylong event will showcase eight podcasts from the United Methodist general agencies delivered via Facebook Live on the ResourceUMC Facebook page.
Read press release
Visit ResourceUMC Facebook page
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Church holds forum on abortion ahead of big vote
LEAWOOD, Kan. (UM News) — Ahead of a vote on a state constitutional amendment in Kansas, the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection took on one of the most divisive issues in the state and the U.S. at large in a town hall event on faith and abortion. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Kentucky Conference
Conference responding to deadly floods
CRESTWOOD, Ky. — The Kentucky Conference is mobilizing in response to devastating flooding from torrential rain overnight July 27-28 that has submerged hundreds of houses and businesses and claimed at least 16 lives in Eastern Kentucky. Alan Wild reports.
Read story
Read Bishop Fairley’s statement
View conference flood updates
Great Plains Conference
Pastor and wife open home to Ukrainian
OMAHA, Neb. — John Finch, born Vladimir Vladimirovich in Ukraine, has had a difficult journey in his 20 years. That includes time spent in a Ukrainian orphanage. After many plot twists, he’s found a stable home and lots of love and support as the adopted son of the Rev. Andrew Finch and Meagan Finch. They are a United Methodist couple in Omaha. David Burke has the story.
Read story
East Ohio Conference
57 walls in two days
BEREA, Ohio — Members of The United Methodist Church of Berea spent two days in the church parking lot constructing 57 walls for a free home for a needy family. The three-bedroom home will be placed in the city of Wooster. One special thing about the project was that people of all ages could help, said the Rev. Carrie Antczak of The United Methodist Church of Berea. Rick Wolcott has the story.
Read story and watch video
Global Ministries
54 missionaries commissioned
ATLANTA — With pandemic restrictions easing a bit, Global Ministries has coordinated gatherings overseas to commission 54 missionaries. The new missionaries also got a few days for fellowship, worship and training together in the regions they serve. Christie R. House reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Native American International Caucus
Letter addresses boarding-school investigation
SELBYVILLE, Del. — The United Methodist Church’s Native American International Caucus has released an open letter to general agency leaders who have taken on the work of truth and healing after Methodist involvement in Native American boarding schools. The caucus expresses its interest and expectation that its members will be engaged as consulting partners in the work.
Read letter (PDF)
Learn more about Native American International Caucus
EVENTS
Monday, Aug. 1-Saturday, Aug. 13
Online course: Delivering an Effective Sermon
Monday, Aug. 22-Friday, Sept. 30
Online course: Biblical Faith Regarding Women
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Blistering summer challenges churches
DALLAS (UM News) — Across much of the U.S., as well as Europe, it’s been a summer of record-setting heat, presenting challenges and opportunities for United Methodist ministry. Churches have opened as cooling centers and carried on with mission work, albeit with adjustments. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Book aims to empower dementia caregivers
CLEVELAND (UM News) — People want to support caregivers of dementia patients but usually don’t know how to best help. A new book by Elizabeth Shulman, a former United Methodist pastor and health care chaplain, offers group exercises to empower caregivers and to help congregations be in ministry with them. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
Listen to “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast with Shulman
UM News: Retired bishop serves memory care unit as chaplain
United Methodists in Nigeria distribute 50 tricycles
JALINGO, Nigeria (UM News) — A partnership between the United Methodist Southern Nigeria Conference and the Beautiful Gate Handicap Center recently improved the lives of people with mobility issues. At a commissioning ceremony, Nigeria Area Bishop John Wesley Yohanna encouraged churchgoers to have hope and be thankful to God. Ezekiel Ibrahim reports.
Read story
Valuing Life series explores mental health
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, explores the ways United Methodists value life and help others experience the abundance of life Jesus promises. In the fifth installment of a seven-part series, Ask The UMC looks at mental health and ways local churches can support those who are suffering.
Read story
Read other installments
Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference
Services scheduled for the Rev. Eason-Williams
WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — The family of the Rev. Autura Eason-Williams has scheduled both a viewing and funeral for the longtime United Methodist leader and Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference district superintendent, who was killed July 18 in a carjacking. The viewing will be from 4 to 8 p.m. U.S. Central time Aug. 2, at Anthony Funeral Home, 135 S. 16th St., West Memphis, Arkansas. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Aug. 3, at Saint Paul United Methodist Church, 2949 Davies Plantation Road, Lakeland, Tennessee.
See details
UM News: District superintendent killed in carjacking
Associated Press: 2nd teen charged in death of district superintendent
United Methodist Communications
Podcast-a-thon coming Aug. 2
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Communications plans to hold the inaugural United Methodist Podcast-a-thon on Aug. 2. The daylong event will showcase eight podcasts from the United Methodist general agencies delivered via Facebook Live on the ResourceUMC Facebook page.
Read press release
Visit ResourceUMC Facebook page
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