“When I came here, I was trying to sit and not preach, but the Holy Spirit was pushing me again. I found myself back into ministry.” — The Rev. Botrous Tutu on officially becoming a licensed local pastor in the Holston Conference.
Once tortured for faith, now pastor
ALCOA, Tenn. (UMNS) — The Rev. Botrous Tutu, tortured in Sudan for refusing to renounce his faith in the 1990s, put on a clergy robe and celebrated his official status as a licensed local pastor in The United Methodist Church. Annette Spence reports for the Holston Conference.
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Deaf lay minister commissioned
WILMINGTON, Del. (UMNS) — The Peninsula-Delaware Conference recently commissioned a certified lay minister who is deaf — a first for the conference. Karen Miller, a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Wilmington, will do deaf ministry in her community. UM Disability reports.
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2016 annual conference reports
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — United Methodist News Service is posting reports from all the annual conference sessions. New reports this week include Texas, the Dakotas, Holston and Alabama-West Florida.
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Commentary: OK to pause sexuality debate?
COLUMBIA, S.C. (UMNS) — The Council of Bishops proposal on sexuality was designed for “those in the ever-present middle,” writes Jessica Brodie in a commentary for the South Carolina Advocate. “Is it so wrong to take a collective breath, turn inward and study this thing a little more before we are pressed into a vote?” Brodie asks.
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Saint Paul names new president
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (UMNS) — The Rev. Neil Blair has been named president of Saint Paul School of Theology, beginning July 1. Blair, an ordained elder in the Dakotas Conference and a Saint Paul alum, most recently served as executive director for Institutional Advancement for the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
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Ferrum College announces new president
FERRUM, Va. (UMNS) — Joseph Carson Spooner has been appointed the 11th president of United Methodist-related Ferrum College and will assume his new role on Aug. 1. Spooner currently serves as the dean of Jonathan Edwards College at Yale University. Jennifer L. Braaten is retiring as president after 14 years of service.
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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.
Friday, July 15
Deadline for School of Congregational Development 2016 — Wednesday-Saturday, Aug. 17-20. The workshops for United Methodist clergy and lay leaders will be in Evanston, Illinois, outside Chicago. United Methodist Discipleship Ministries and Global Ministries sponsor the gathering. $425. Details
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