Daily Digest - June 19, 2020

“It is the convergence of economic hardship, the lack of adequate health care, broken systems, antiquated structures, police brutality, the absence of accountability, the continuance of white privilege and power, all combining into a mass outpouring with one clear message: Enough is enough.”Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, president of the Council of Bishops.


NEWS AND FEATURES

Bishops pledge more effective anti-racism campaign

WASHINGTON (UM News) — United Methodist bishops chose Juneteenth, a day commemorating the end of slavery, to announce a major new anti-racism campaign. They promised “uncompromising action in dismantling racism.” Jim Patterson reports.
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Watch announcement
Renewed vigor in the fight against racism

AU students condemn US racism, ethnic tribalism
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — International students at Africa University have condemned racism in the U.S., which they likened to the tribalism they said is rife on the African continent. Eveline Chikwanah reports. 
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Great Plains Conference 
Pandemic adds to clergy stress

WICHITA, Kan. — Many pastors are under more stress than ever as they try to hold churches together during the COVID-19 pandemic. Self-care strategies, such as getting offline regularly and finding time for baking, gardening or other diversions, have become even more important. David Burke reports.
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Michigan Conference
Flood relief continues in Michigan

SANFORD, Mich. — The aftermath of the May 19 flooding in Michigan looks more like the damage caused by a tornado, said Bishop David Bard as he toured the devastation. Repairs and rebuilds are expected to take 18 to 24 months.
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PRESS RELEASES

United Methodist Publishing House
Abingdon book debuts as top-10 bestseller 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The killing of George Floyd and the protests it ignited worldwide have awakened many people’s desire to end racism. That increased interest means the paperback of “Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America” will debut at No. 9 on the New York Times bestseller list. Jennifer Harvey wrote the book published by Abingdon Press. 
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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 
Silence is violence

BATON ROUGE, La. — The Rev. Ali Young recognizes that many pastors are reluctant to address uncomfortable topics such as racism from the pulpit, but she feels that silence goes against a pastor’s call to be a prophetic voice. “We cannot be more concerned about offending people than we are about people of color being killed by police,” she writes. “We cannot simply condemn racism, we need to be anti-racist.”
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RECENT HEADLINES

Local churches show resilience in crisis

Black father prepares sons for racial injustice


EVENTS

Wednesday, June 24
 
Dismantling Racism: A Service of Lament

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