NEWS AND FEATURES
Bishops cancel May 8 General Conference
WASHINGTON (UM News) — At a March 22 meeting, the Council of Bishops decided it was not in the best interest of Thel United Methodist Church to hold the one-day special virtual conference at this time. Heather Hahn reports.
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Court clarifies decision on clergy session voting
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — With the United Methodist General Conference postponed twice because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Judicial Council has clarified a 2019 ruling related to the administrative process for clergy ahead of annual conference sessions. Linda Bloom reports.
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Holston Conference
In the kitchen, preparing meals for homeless
RADFORD, Va. — A spacious, well-lit, well-equipped kitchen has been the source of many meals over the past four decades. In her award-winning The Call to Cook blog, Annette Spence has the story of how a United Methodist campus ministry makes connections with food.
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'The Call' wins awards for writing, food blog
Religion News Service
Ninth Appalachian Trail chaplain named
WALLAND, Tenn. — Chris Estus, director of recovery ministries at Alamo Heights United Methodist Church in San Antonio, Texas, has been named the 2021 United Methodist Appalachian Trail chaplain. A ministry of the Holston Conference, the chaplaincy has recruited both laity and clergy to hike the 2,200-mile trail annually since 2013. Estus plans to begin his hike in late May after he becomes a licensed local pastor. Emily McFarlan Miller has the story.
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United Methodist Communications
Why is Good Friday called 'good'?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The New Testament describes Good Friday as a day of suffering that ends in Jesus’ crucifixion — events that sound like anything but good. A short video from United Methodist Communications and its Ask The UMC ministry examines the third-century history behind the phrase, as well as how remembering the day moves us to the hope of Easter.
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PRESS RELEASES
NFAAUM
Speaking out against anti-Asian violence
EVANSTON, Ill. — With a rise in harassment and violence against the Asian American community in the U.S., Asian and Asian American church leaders and groups, including the New Federation of Asian American United Methodists and the Asian American Language Ministry Plan, are urging United Methodists to speak out and address the systemic nature of hate crimes. “Shifting this hatred into the light of God will require that all of us condemn acts of racist hatred and move toward love, tolerance and justice,” the group’s statement said.
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UM News: Church leaders decry attacks against Asians
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference members join outcry against racism
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.
Confronting racism as a lifelong journey
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (UM News) — For Ben Judkins, understanding and responding to racism began with a question in second grade. Growing up in rural Appalachia before the Brown v. Board of Education decision, the lifelong United Methodist wondered why Black children in his town had to go to another school 45 miles away.
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New feature invites essays on racism
RECENT HEADLINES
A Lenten call to reflect on human dignity
Army chaplain returns to his native South Korea to serve
EVENTS
Thursday, April 8
Discipleship Ministries webinar: Seeing Working Class People
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