Daily Digest - March 8, 2021

“Junius Dotson’s passion was to bring and continue to strengthen discipleship in local churches because he had been a pastor — a very effective and fruitful pastor — for so long.”The Rev. Mark Norman, friend of the late Discipleship Ministries chief executive. 


NEWS AND FEATURES

Dotson remembered for seeing all the people

HOUSTON (UM News) — While helming Discipleship Ministries, the Rev. Junius B. Dotson introduced the “See All the People” initiative. At his funeral service March 6, fellow United Methodists testified that for Dotson, “See All the People” was not just a catchy slogan but a way of life. Heather Hahn has the story. 
Read story

‘Girls, Jesus is calling YOU!’
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (UM News) — Today is International Women’s Day, a time to celebrate the achievements of women and to raise awareness about women's equality. In a March 3 video message for Women’s History Month, Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño of the California-Nevada Conference shared some of the lessons she has learned about the value of women in helping heal the world and the plan that God has for all of us. 
Watch video

North Carolina Conference
Responding to hate group using former church

LINDEN, N.C. — North Carolina Conference leaders expressed outrage and grief after learning a former church building sold to a private individual was then given to a group that advocates white supremacy. “I ask all United Methodists to join with all other Christians in rejecting white supremacy views, to pray for those who have such thoughts and to work to resist racism,” wrote the Rev. Gray Southern, district superintendent. 
Read statement
Read Washington Post story

Daily Herald
Church named ‘Cream of the CROP’

WHEATON, Ill. — Gary United Methodist Church has received the “Cream of the CROP” award. The church ranked in the top 50 in donations to the CROP Hunger Walk in 2020. CROP Hunger Walks are community-based walk events to support the global mission of Church World Service. Janet Mathis has the story. 
Read story


PRESS RELEASES

Discipleship Ministries
The Rev. Jeffrey Campbell named acting head

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Jeffrey Campbell, who oversees strategic programming at Discipleship Ministries, has been named the agency’s acting top executive. Campbell was selected to take on the work of the late Rev. Junius B. Dotson while the agency’s board searches for a top executive.
Read press release


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.

Lewis Center for Church Leadership
Confronting 3 crises in church 

WASHINGTON — Congregational leaders are in the precarious position of responding to three simultaneous crises: the pandemic, racial reckoning and political violence, writes David R. Brubaker. The Eastern Mennonite University professor offers steps for dealing with these crises.
Read commentary


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EVENTS

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