“Many of these immigrants have risked their lives in front-line jobs every single day throughout this pandemic while worrying about losing DACA protections every single night.” — Claudia Marchan, director of the Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors and a DACA recipient, on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling to continue Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Supreme Court DACA decision brings joy
DREXEL, Mo. (UM News) — About 650,000 young people can sleep a little easier with the Supreme Court decision to continue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program that lets young, undocumented immigrants live, work and study in the U.S. without fear of deportation. However, the decision is not a permanent solution for citizenship. Kathy L. Gilbert reports.
Read story
Pastor among Dreamers waiting for citizenship
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Bishop to clergy: Preach about racism pandemic
BALTIMORE — Bishop LaTrelle Easterling called on clergy to speak to the pandemic of racism from the pulpit at least once a month. During rallies last week, Easterling also said wealthy churches need to partner with churches struggling economically and be politically active to push for changes in their communities. Erik Alsgaard reports.
Read story
Louisiana Conference
Pastor reflects on appointment in Floyd neighborhood
MINNEAPOLIS — Imagine moving over 1,000 miles to a new appointment and landing in the middle of a crisis. Within days of the Rev. Gregg Taylor’s move from Houston to Minneapolis, George Floyd was killed four blocks away from his new church. The senior pastor of Park Avenue United Methodist Church reflects on Floyd’s death and its effect on Minneapolis and his ministry. Todd Rossnagel reports.
Listen to podcast
Texas Conference
Church starts Furlough Kitchen
HOUSTON — St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church has established Furlough Kitchen Houston to provide free, chef-cooked meals to neighbors recently laid off or furloughed. A husband-and-wife catering firm, themselves upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, has been hired to help with the initiative. Some 1,400 takeout meals have been provided in recent weeks. Lindsay Peyton reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Clark Atlanta University
Scholarships for Rayshard Brooks’ children
ATLANTA — United Methodist-affiliated Clark Atlanta University and alumna/entrepreneur Aisha “Pinky” Cole are pledging full scholarships to the four children of Rayshard Brooks. Brooks was shot and killed June 12 by an Atlanta police officer who now faces a murder charge. The scholarships to Clark Atlanta, worth more than $600,000, will be accessible once Brooks’ children have finished high school. Clark Atlanta is one of the historically Black colleges supported by the church’s Black College Fund.
Read press release
Read NPR story
Vanco
Free app aims to connect with worshippers
MINNEAPOLIS — Vanco, a General Council on Finance and Administration partner, has introduced a free app to connect church leaders and churches in this time of transition. Through Vanco Mobile, members can connect, donate, plan and share in new ways.
Read press release
RECENT HEADLINES
Bishops pledge more effective anti-racism campaign
AU students condemn US racism, ethnic tribalism
EVENTS
Wednesday, June 24
Dismantling Racism: A Service of Lament
NEWS AND FEATURES
Supreme Court DACA decision brings joy
DREXEL, Mo. (UM News) — About 650,000 young people can sleep a little easier with the Supreme Court decision to continue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program that lets young, undocumented immigrants live, work and study in the U.S. without fear of deportation. However, the decision is not a permanent solution for citizenship. Kathy L. Gilbert reports.
Read story
Pastor among Dreamers waiting for citizenship
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Bishop to clergy: Preach about racism pandemic
BALTIMORE — Bishop LaTrelle Easterling called on clergy to speak to the pandemic of racism from the pulpit at least once a month. During rallies last week, Easterling also said wealthy churches need to partner with churches struggling economically and be politically active to push for changes in their communities. Erik Alsgaard reports.
Read story
Louisiana Conference
Pastor reflects on appointment in Floyd neighborhood
MINNEAPOLIS — Imagine moving over 1,000 miles to a new appointment and landing in the middle of a crisis. Within days of the Rev. Gregg Taylor’s move from Houston to Minneapolis, George Floyd was killed four blocks away from his new church. The senior pastor of Park Avenue United Methodist Church reflects on Floyd’s death and its effect on Minneapolis and his ministry. Todd Rossnagel reports.
Listen to podcast
Texas Conference
Church starts Furlough Kitchen
HOUSTON — St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church has established Furlough Kitchen Houston to provide free, chef-cooked meals to neighbors recently laid off or furloughed. A husband-and-wife catering firm, themselves upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, has been hired to help with the initiative. Some 1,400 takeout meals have been provided in recent weeks. Lindsay Peyton reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Clark Atlanta University
Scholarships for Rayshard Brooks’ children
ATLANTA — United Methodist-affiliated Clark Atlanta University and alumna/entrepreneur Aisha “Pinky” Cole are pledging full scholarships to the four children of Rayshard Brooks. Brooks was shot and killed June 12 by an Atlanta police officer who now faces a murder charge. The scholarships to Clark Atlanta, worth more than $600,000, will be accessible once Brooks’ children have finished high school. Clark Atlanta is one of the historically Black colleges supported by the church’s Black College Fund.
Read press release
Read NPR story
Vanco
Free app aims to connect with worshippers
MINNEAPOLIS — Vanco, a General Council on Finance and Administration partner, has introduced a free app to connect church leaders and churches in this time of transition. Through Vanco Mobile, members can connect, donate, plan and share in new ways.
Read press release
RECENT HEADLINES
Bishops pledge more effective anti-racism campaign
AU students condemn US racism, ethnic tribalism
EVENTS
Wednesday, June 24
Dismantling Racism: A Service of Lament
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