Daily Digest - May 12, 2023

“It is a way to put our social evangelization in motion.” — Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda, on supporting women living with HIV in eastern Congo.


TODAY'S HEADLINES

Hope for people living with HIV in Congo
BUKAVU, Congo (UM News) — Thanks to funding from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, more than 100 women living with HIV in the Kivu Conference are receiving counseling, transportation help and microcredit loans. The effort, which also includes food support for malnourished children, is part of the church’s Maternal and Child Health Program in East Congo. Philippe Kituka Lolonga reports.
Read story

Igniting Imagination
A church built on 'improbable friendships'
GALVESTON, Texas — The Rev. Michael Gienger, a United Methodist elder, began at Galveston Central Church when it was down to four people. The church has rebounded and become widely recognized for innovation and effectiveness in ministry with those on the margins. Gienger, a champion of “improbable friendships,” was interviewed by the Revs. Lisa Greenwood and Owen Ross for a recent “Igniting Imagination” podcast.
Listen to interview

Dakotas Conference
Reflecting on 40-year ministry journey
MITCHELL, S.D. — As he reaches retirement, the Rev. Juwle Nagbe is reflecting on a career that led him from Liberia to North Dakota. His quest to be ordained was delayed in 1989 by civil war in Liberia, but he landed in America, where he studied at Emory University and Duke Divinity School. He later organized a worship community in North Dakota for Liberian refugees. Doreen Gosmire has the story.
Read story

KERA News
Church's migrant caseload to rise
DALLAS — Oak Lawn United Methodist Church has, since 2019, assisted asylum-seeking migrants after they’ve been processed at the border and begun travel within the U.S. The church’s caseload is expected to rise from 100 migrants a week to 100 every weekday, now that the pandemic-era border policy Title 42 is coming to an end. Stella M. Chavez reports.
Read 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 UM News staff.

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Ways to observe Mental Health Awareness Month
PITTSBURGH — May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In a blog for Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, the Rev. Erik Hoeke emphasizes that churches can play an important role in the health and well-being of the wider community by raising awareness and destigmatizing struggles with mental health.
Read commentary


RESOURCES

ResourceUMC
Advocating for women at annual conference
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Conference Commission on the Status and Role of Women is sharing with counterpart groups in other conferences how to be an effective presence at annual conference gatherings. Strategies include monitoring, spotlighting women leaders and sponsoring an information table. The Rev. Crystal Jacobson reports.
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Methodist Federation for Social Action
Webinar discusses the Palestinian Nakba
WASHINGTON — Ilan Pappé, an Israeli historian, and Samia Khoury, a Palestinian Christian writer, plan to lead a webinar at noon U.S. Central time May 17 on the Palestinian Nakba. To understand the present turmoil in the Holy Land and work for a just peace for those who live there, they argue it is important to know about the Nakba, the forcible removal of Palestinians from their homes in 1948.
To register


EVENTS
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, you can add it to the calendar by clicking here.

Monday, May 15-Monday, June 26
Online course: Leading Like Nehemiah 

Monday, May 15-Monday, Aug. 14
Online course: Passionately Christian, Compassionately Interreligious 


TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK

Historian urges bishops: Reclaim 'vile' heritage
CHICAGO (UM News) — At a time of shrinking institutions and church rolls, a United Methodist historian challenged bishops to take inspiration from John Wesley and submit to being “more vile.” Ashley Boggan, top executive of Archives and History, encouraged episcopal leaders to learn from history to work toward a brighter future. Heather Hahn reports.
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Black caucus draws closer to African partners
PITTSBURGH (UM News) — During its 56th General Meeting, Black Methodists for Church Renewal built on its efforts to become a more global organization. Gathering in person for the first time since 2020, The United Methodist Church’s Black membership caucus emphasized its relationship with Africa University and then sent representatives to the first gathering of the new United Methodist Africa Forum in South Africa. John W. Coleman reports.
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Bishops call for General Conference in 2026
CHICAGO (UM News) — As they deal with rising church disaffiliations, United Methodist bishops see a need for the denomination’s top lawmaking body to hold an additional meeting in 2026. The bishops’ recommendation supports a ruling by the denomination’s top court. In the meantime, the denomination’s finance agency is asking the church court to reconsider its ruling. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read press release

United Methodists killed in Congo flooding
KALEHE, Congo (UM News) — Over 175 people, including 15 United Methodists, died after torrential rains overflowed the Chibira River in South Kivu. One church family lost 13 members. Philippe Kituka Lolonga reports.
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Collier had impact at denominational, personal levels
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Rev. Karen Y. Collier achieved noteworthy firsts for Black clergywomen in The United Methodist Church and helped create the Women of Color Scholars program. M. Garlinda Burton remembers her mentor and friend, who died May 5 at age 73.
Read remembrance

Global Ministries
Commentary: Mutual respect key to mission partnership
ATLANTA — A lot of intense listening took place during meetings of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries in Mozambique last month, writes Roland Fernandes, the agency’s top executive. Attendees included representatives from each annual conference in Africa, executive committee board members and senior staff and representatives from other United Methodist agencies. “The intention … for this event was to intensely listen and learn about our partners’ contexts, priorities and vision for God’s mission in Africa,” Fernandes said.
Read commentary

Bishop releases statement on expected trial
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (UM News) — United Methodist Bishop Minerva Carcaño, who has been suspended for more than a year, is facing a church trial after a Western Jurisdiction committee brought charges under church law. The charges are undisclosed. "While I regret that my complaint process has reached the place of an expected trial, I continue to have faith in our disciplinary procedures, and even greater faith in our God who does bring forth light in moments of darkness and healing in brokenness,” she said in a May 9 statement. “I am in prayer for a trial process that is led by our United Methodist commitment to fairness and justice."
UM News: Suspended bishop moves toward church trial
Western Jurisdiction statement