Daily Digest - November 29, 2023

“Everyone contributed within their means, and every gift was valuable and celebrated with joy. It was a team effort.”The Rev. Lloyd Nyarota, on how the United Methodist connection led to a new sanctuary in Chitenderano Circuit in Zimbabwe.


NEWS AND FEATURES

Zimbabwean, US partners unite to build new sanctuary

RUSAPE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — A Zimbabwean community had struggled for years to raise resources to complete a new United Methodist sanctuary. A partnership between a South Carolina United Methodist church, Chitenderano Circuit and a group of former church members now living mostly in other countries helped finish the project. Kudzai Chingwe has the story. 
Read story

Ask The UMC
Regionalization requires effective communication

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With regionalization legislation headed to General Conference, the Ask The UMC team is exploring the impact of regionalization on the worldwide church. In Part 3 of a new series, the Rev. Taylor W. Burton Edwards writes that effective communication is key to effective regionalization.
Read story
Read previous installments

Global Ministries
UMCOR support continues in Ukraine

ATLANTA — Support from the United Methodist Committee on Relief has reached an estimated 73,000 people in Ukraine. Those displaced by the war there have received food, water, shelter and emergency supplies. UMCOR also has provided a grant to the Mines Advisory Group to find, remove and destroy landmines. Christie R. House reports.
Read story

United Methodist Communications 
Unwrapping the sights and sounds of Christmas
 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As the season of Advent approaches, United Methodist pastor and author Matt Rawle joins the “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast to delve into the sights, sounds and other sensory experiences of Christmas. He offers suggestions for creating a more meaningful Advent.
Listen to podcast

Baltimore-Washington Conference
Conference to post ‘clear openings’ 

FULTON, Md. — Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling has announced by video that the Baltimore-Washington Conference will begin posting to its website “clear openings” — that is, names of churches that will be receiving a new pastor. The conference will invite clergy to apply for one or more openings. Easterling described this as an addition to what she called the “time-tested” appointment process, not a replacement. “An application does not guarantee an appointment to a particular church, nor does it prevent the (conference) cabinet from considering individuals who did not apply,” she stressed. 
Watch video
 

PRESS RELEASES

Council of Bishops
Retired Bishop McConnell dies at age 94 

WASHINGTON — Bishop Calvin D. McConnell, a retired bishop of The United Methodist Church, has died at the age of 94. McConnell was elected to the episcopacy by the Western Jurisdiction in 1980 and served the Portland and Seattle areas before retiring in 1996. UM News is working on a feature obituary.  
Read press release


RESOURCES

Love Your Neighbor Coalition
Webinar offers a Palestinian view 

WASHINGTON — Love Your Neighbor Coalition, a coalition of United Methodist advocacy groups, and Friends of Wadi Foquin will present an update on the state of affairs in the West Bank village Wadi Foquin in light of the current war in Gaza. The purpose of the webinar is to educate congregational leaders on how they can engage and advocate for peace with justice for Palestine through the Friends of Wadi Foquin, a United Methodist development effort. The webinar is scheduled for 7 p.m. U.S. Eastern time Dec. 5.
Learn more
Register 


RECENT HEADLINES

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New leadership strengthens mission initiative


EVENTS

Monday, Dec. 4-Wednesay, Dec. 6

Gammon Theological Seminary Founders Day

Monday, Jan. 8-Monday, March 4
Online course: Women Speak of God


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