“The rain season here is changing drastically. What we have been experiencing over the past 10 years is beyond human understanding.” — Clement Mahafaky, a resident of Andranokaky, Madagascar, who received food aid from The United Methodist Church.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Church addresses food insecurity in Madagascar
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (UM News) — With help from the United Methodist Committee on Relief, members of Ambodifasika United Methodist Church distributed food and other support to people affected by climate change in the southern part of the country. Periods of extended drought and flooding have left many in the region facing food insecurity and extreme poverty. Esdras Rakotoarivony reports.
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Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
Stroud returns to former church a reinstated elder
PHILADELPHIA — Thanks to her May 21 reinstatement by clergy members of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, the Rev. Irene Elizabeth “Beth” Stroud can preach and serve Holy Communion as an elder again. She did so for the first time in 20 years on June 16 at First United Methodist Church of Germantown in Philadelphia. That’s where she was serving as an associate pastor in 2004 when a church trial led to the withdrawal of her ministerial credentials because she admitted to being in a committed relationship with another woman. John W. Coleman reports.
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UM News: Defrocked pastor reinstated after LGBTQ bans lifted
Church and Society
Series looks back at Civil Rights Act prayer service
WASHINGTON — To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill this year, the United Methodist Board of Church and Society is observing landmark days that have occurred throughout the building’s history. On June 22, 1964, a service of “Prayers and Thanksgiving” was held on the front lawn of the United Methodist Building in recognition of the U.S. Senate’s passage of the bill for the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
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South Carolina Conference
Conference OKs forgiving direct-billing debt
GREENVILLE, S.C. — The South Carolina Annual Conference approved giving churches that owe back debt in direct-billing charges a year of jubilee. Conference voters passed a resolution June 10 that forgives approximately $3.3 million in debt owed by churches experiencing hardship. The conference has used a direct-billing system since 2003 to handle clergy benefits coverage. Jessica Brodie reports.
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United Methodist Communications
Following a ‘holy nudge’ from self-doubt to self-discovery
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A “holy nudge” led Jordan Cramer on a journey from self-doubt to self-discovery while earning his Master of Divinity degree. On a new episode of the “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast, he shares his story of commitment and faith.
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COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Digest commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not UM News staff.
Creating a Culture of Renewal
Coping with the emotions of appointment changes
CASPER, Wyo. — The Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter offers fellow United Methodist pastors five steps for finding closure when changing appointments. She also seeks to dispel a common misconception: “that you and your congregation can quickly shift appointments without any consequences.”
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EVENTS
Monday, July 8-Friday, Aug. 30
Online course: Building Beloved Community in a Wounded World
Sunday, July 28-Thursday, Aug. 1
District Superintendents/Directors of Connectional Ministries Orientation
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