Daily Digest - March 24, 2021

"I imagined us being the roaring crowd that health care providers never had. They deserve it more than athletes do." — Daphne Soleil, on the new "Community Healers" ministry she helped start at Christ United Methodist Church in Rochester, Minnesota.

NEWS AND FEATURES

Minnesota Conference
Ministering to health care heroes

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Daphne Soleil wanted to figure out a way to minister to health care workers, who she describes as the "heroes of the pandemic." She collaborated with physicians, nurses and chaplains at her church, Christ United Methodist, to start the "Community Healers" ministry. Christa Meland has the story.
Read story

Florida Conference
Meet the first woman to lead Gammon

LAKELAND, Fla. — As a Gammon Theological Seminary student in Atlanta, Candace Lewis was filled with conviction that she would one day change the world. Now a district superintendent with a doctorate, she is returning to the United Methodist seminary as the first woman to serve as its president-dean. Joe Henderson has the story.
Read story

Missouri Conference
Church youth raise more than $10,000

WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. — Youth at The Gathering, a multi-site United Methodist church in the St. Louis area, exceeded their $10,000 fundraising goal for clean water projects in Mozambique. Amelia Alonzo started a face mask business, one of several fundraising tactics employed by group members. Lauren Miers reports.
Read story

WYMT-TV Bishop Fairley tours flood damage
JACKSON, Ky. — Bishop Leonard Fairley, who leads the Kentucky Conference, traveled to eastern Kentucky on March 23 to survey damage left by flooding. "I'm here to hear those stories and to share those stories with the rest of our annual conference," he said. Emily Bennett has the story.
Read and watch story

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.

Black clergywomen's stories offer insights into racism
SYLVANIA, Ohio (UM News) — Many of the Black clergywomen who have made advances in The United Methodist Church are pioneers. The Rev. Josephine Whitely-Fields, author of a new book chronicling these women’s stories, feels they can serve as inspiration for other women of color aspiring to ministry and provide insight to a denomination seeking to dismantle racism.
Read commentary
New feature invites essays on racism
UM News: Clergywomen share challenges, rewards in new book

RESOURCES

United Methodist Communications
Training series focuses on Christian communications

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Knowing how best to deliver messages effectively and efficiently can be a challenge for any local church. In response, United Methodist Communications is launching a series of ecumenical virtual communications learning conferences aimed to assist all who seek to share the gospel. The first offering, "Leveraging Communication for Greater Connection," will take place at 10 a.m. U.S. Central time April 20-21.
To register

RECENT HEADLINES

Judge rules for SMU over jurisdiction

Celebrating a trailblazer for women's ministries

EVENTS

Monday, April 19-Saturday, May 1
Online course: Hope and Justice for Creation


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