Daily Digest - November 3, 2023

“It’s very important that we understand that this is not a merger. This is not a first step towards the next step. There’s no such next-step plan at this moment in time.” — Roland Fernandes, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, on adding leadership of the Board of Higher Education and Ministry to his responsibilities beginning next year.


TODAY’S HEADLINES

Boards’ move comes as agencies face challenges
ATLANTA (UM News) — Roland Fernandes of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries will add overseeing the Board of Higher Education and Ministry to his duties on July 1 after the Rev. Greg Bergquist retires. The move may be a precursor to other shifts at boards and agencies as finances tighten in The United Methodist Church. Jim Patterson has the story.
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North Texas Conference
Small church makes 1,300 cards for troops
SHERMAN, Texas — Friendship United Methodist Church is small, but 10 of its members have collaborated to bless U.S. military personnel in a big way. This year alone, they’ve made more than 1,300 handcrafted greeting cards that are placed in care packages distributed to service members by Operation Gratitude. Monica Frazier reports.
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Learn more about Operation Gratitude

Kentucky Conference
65 years of serving God in music ministry
CRESTWOOD, Ky. — Ruth Ann Beard has seen a change or two in her 65 years as organist at Crestwood United Methodist Church. Beard, 85, recently retired as organist after a career that spanned two buildings, 10 bishops and 14 senior pastors. She said she had actually been thinking of retiring for a couple of years but stayed on to make sure the church’s music ministry was in a solid place. Alan Wild has the story.
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Alabama-West Florida Conference
New churches partner with established congregations
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Over the past year, 10 new United Methodist churches have been started in the Alabama-West Florida Conference thanks to the strength of the United Methodist connection. Many well-established congregations are stepping forward and supporting the new churches to ensure bright futures for these growing communities. The Rev. Kelli Hitchman-Craig reports.
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Louisiana Conference
Pastor reflects on Israel-Hamas war
LAFAYETTE, La. — The Rev. Jessica Lowe of First United Methodist Church of Downtown Lafayette lived in Jerusalem for nearly a year working as a volunteer in 2015. When Hamas launched 3,000 missiles from Gaza into Israel on Oct. 7, Lowe’s thoughts returned to the Holy Land, where she lived and worked alongside Israelis and Palestinians almost every day. From her perspective, the war is shocking and disheartening but not surprising. Mark Lambert has the story.
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PRESS RELEASES

Council of Bishops
Bishops to elect new officers, discuss future
WASHINGTON — The Council of Bishops will meet Nov. 6-11 at Lake Junaluska Assembly in North Carolina to discuss the future of the denomination, prepare for the upcoming General Conference, elect new officers and address other topics. More than 100 bishops from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America are expected to attend. The meeting will open Nov. 6 with a memorial service for bishops and spouses who have died since the council last met in May.
Read press release


RESOURCES

Finance and Administration
Webinar offers guide on gift receipts
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Nov. 8 webinar about how to handle gift receipts is being offered free by The United Methodist Church’s General Council on Finance and Administration. The webinar, “Maximizing Church Donation Receipts: A Guide to Financial Stewardship,” will take place at 11 a.m. U.S. Central time, led by Leticia Mayberry Wright. Participants must register in advance.
Read press release
To register


EVENTS

Thursday, Nov. 9
Coffee Chat: Caretaker, pastor, chauffeur — who is caring for you?

Monday, Nov. 27-Saturday-Dec. 23
Biblical Women, Advent Waiting, and 21st Century Lives


TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK

Church court reverses call for extra General Conference  
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s top court has reversed course in calling for another regular session of the denomination’s lawmaking assembly between 2025 and 2027. However, the Judicial Council maintained its earlier ruling that no new delegates be elected to the coming General Conference, except under very limited circumstances. Heather Hahn reports.
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Bishop Grove led with wisdom, love
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (UM News) — Bishop William Boyd Grove, a strong United Methodist voice for ecumenism and social justice, died Oct. 27 at age 94. He was the first ecumenical officer of the Council of Bishops, a hymn writer and a lover of his native Appalachia. Colleagues and family recall his loving support and wisdom. Sam Hodges has a feature obituary. 
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Bishop Machado, father figure and revered leader, dies
KINSHASA, Congo (UM News) — Retired Bishop João Somane Machado of the Mozambique Area is being remembered as a father figure with an infectious laugh who contributed immensely to the growth of The United Methodist Church in Africa and globally. Machado died Oct. 25 at the age of 77. Eveline Chikwanah has a feature obituary.
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High court orders church-exit suits be dismissed
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that a judge had unlawfully interfered in The United Methodist Church’s disaffiliation policies and ordered that she dismiss two congregations’ lawsuits challenging those policies. The Oklahoma rulings could have implications for other cases around the United States dealing with United Methodist disaffiliation rules. Heather Hahn reports.
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Bishop Lunge to lead ecumenical group in Congo
LODIA, Congo (UM News) — United Methodist Bishop Daniel O. Lunge of the Central Congo Episcopal Area has been elected provincial president of the Church of Christ in Sankuru, Congo, a union of 95 Protestant and Evangelical Christian denominations. Lunge said he was honored by the trust placed in him. François Omanyondo has the story.
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