“As bishops, we must play our part in doing the absolute hard work of helping to craft a narrative about our sole aim to love God and love neighbor so deliberately that people will notice it and be transformed by it.” — Council of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton
NEWS AND FEATURES
Bishops urged to turn page on painful chapter
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UM News) — As a season of disaffiliations nears its end, Council of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton called on his fellow episcopal leaders to use their woundedness to help bring healing to the church and keep the story going. The bishops are meeting this week to talk about the future of the church and prepare for General Conference. Heather Hahn reports.
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Top court backs conference on church closure
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s top court reviewed questions stemming from a controversial church closure in North Carolina. The Judicial Council also released five other rulings after its fall deliberations at Africa University. Heather Hahn reports.
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Dakotas Conference
Church welcomes Pacific Islander community
BISMARCK, N.D. — On Sunday afternoons, you will find people from Micronesia worshipping at McCabe United Methodist Church. The people of this island country came for work in the area. However, the church’s connection to the Pacific Islander community goes beyond worship. Doreen Gosmire has the story.
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PRESS RELEASES
United Women in Faith
Women’s organization cuts costs
NEW YORK — Seven staff positions are being eliminated and United Women in Faith will move its headquarters as the agency cuts costs, the board announced during its Oct. 13-14 meeting. “We are in a place of urgency, and this urgency should not be a cause for despair, but a reason to rise to the occasion,” said ‘Ainise ‘Isama’u, president of the board. Five positions will be cut by the end of 2023, and two more will be eliminated next year. The new United Women in Faith headquarters will be in the Church Center for the United Nations, which is owned by United Women in Faith. Audrey Stanton-Smith reports.
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Disability Ministries Committee
Mageto honored by Deaf Caucus
DALLAS — The vice chancellor of Africa University was among those honored during the United Methodist Deaf Caucus gathering, which took place Nov. 2-5. The Rev. Peter Mageto received a Deaf Light award for his support in admitting and graduating a Deaf student at the United Methodist-supported institution in Zimbabwe. During the conference at Walnut Hill United Methodist Church, discussions included establishing a new membership coordination committee and strategizing to get the United Methodist Deaf Caucus recognized as an official caucus of the denomination. The Rev. Leo Yates Jr. has a report.
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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.
Holston Conference
Apple-butter tradition leads to All Saints reflection
BLUFF CITY, Tenn. — The Rev. Clayton Farmer of Elizabeth Chapel United Methodist Church reflects on how church members have kept the East Tennessee apple-butter tradition stirring even after they have gone to glory. Meet Fred, the perfect apple butter stirrer, who never tires, takes a break or lets the pot scorch.
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RECENT HEADLINES
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EVENTS
Tuesday, Nov. 7
Zoom webinar: Simplifying Ministry and Leadership in Small Churches
Monday, Nov. 27-Thursday, Dec. 21
Online course: Taking Back Advent — Moving Toward the Miraculous
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