"I will relieve the necessities of my poor brethren, who are members of thy body; for he that loveth not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" — Future Bishop Richard Allen on why he became a frontline worker during an 18th-century epidemic.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Methodists led response in earlier epidemic
PHILADELPHIA (UM News) — When yellow fever sickened thousands and ground government to a halt in 1793, a U.S. founding father turned to two trailblazing African American Methodist leaders for help. Heather Hahn has the story.
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Dakotas Conference, Dakota News Now
Drive-in church draws new worshippers
WOONSOCKET, S.D. — The Spirit of Faith congregation here is growing attendance at services during the coronavirus pandemic by worshipping drive-in movie style. The church began the practice before the health emergency during the summer of 2018 and has met at a lumberyard, a lake during a fishing derby, a ballpark and a grocery store. Nowadays the congregation meets in the church parking lot.
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PRESS RELEASES
Global Ministries
Young adult global mission class canceled for 2020
ATLANTA — The 2020 international class of Global Mission Fellows, a popular United Methodist program for young adults, has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Current candidates can reapply for next year through an expedited process. The annual US-2 class is not expected to be affected in the same way.
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United Methodist Women
Resist racism, United Methodist Women urge
NEW YORK — United Methodist Women decried the February shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia, and the death of Sean Reed, who livestreamed his own killing by police in Indianapolis. UMW said in a statement that they encourage all members and friends to recommit to The United Methodist Church's Charter for Racial Justice and resist racism in "our hearts, our homes, our communities and our country."
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UM News: Georgia shooting sparks call to end 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.
Central Texas Conference
Bishop withdraws online communion support
FORT WORTH, Texas — Central Texas Conference Bishop Mike Lowry initially supported offering online communion during the COVID-19 emergency. In a self-described "mea culpa" blog post, he shares why he changed his mind.
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New England Conference
Opposed at first, bishop now backs online communion
METHUEN, Mass. — New England Conference Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar's further reflections on online communion caused him to switch to favoring it as an option for churches during the coronavirus pandemic.
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RESOURCES
Archives and History
Heritage Sunday resources now available
MADISON, N.J. — Worship, preaching, study and discussion resources are now available for Heritage Sunday, a denomination-wide Special Sunday to be observed May 24. "Our denominational roots and Wesleyan heart and soul — the things that have and continue to make United Methodists who they are — are important compass points to guide our living into an unanticipated, unprecedented 'new normal,'" said the Rev. Alfred T. Day, top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History.
Read press release and get resources
RECENT HEADLINES
Churches have much to consider before reopening
Georgia shooting sparks call to end racism
EVENTS
Monday, May 18-Friday, May 29
Online course: Having difficult congregational conversations
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