“Whenever I saw someone walking into a worship service from one of Billy’s Sunday school classes, I just assumed I would be playing for second place.” — the Rev. Paul Rasmussen, senior minister of Highland Park United Methodist Church, on the Rev. William J. Abraham.
NEWS AND FEATURES
William Abraham, traditionalist scholar, dies at 73
DALLAS (UM News) — The Rev. William J. “Billy” Abraham, a longtime professor at Perkins School of Theology, helped shaped the traditionalist renewal movement within United Methodism and was regarded with respect and affection by many who disagreed with him. The Northern Ireland native died Oct. 7 at age 73. Sam Hodges reports.
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Read a remembrance of Abraham
Greater Northwest Area
Samoan churchgoers organize vaccine clinics
MEDFORD, Ore. — United Methodist Pastor Tau Moli has worked with community partners to put on a COVID-19 vaccine distribution clinic, specifically targeting members of the Samoan and Pacific Islander communities. According to the Oregon Health Authority, Pacific Islanders have the highest vaccination rates in the state but also the highest hospitalization rate for COVID-19. Kristen Caldwell has the story.
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Virginia Conference
The life and work of E. Stanley Jones
GLEN ALLEN, Va. — E. Stanley Jones’ granddaughter, Anne Mathews-Younes, spoke in a video about the famed Methodist missionary who served in India. Mathews-Younes made the presentation for the Virginia Conference’s Historical Society. Today, endowed professorships in evangelism bear Jones’ name.
Watch video
Learn more from the E. Stanley Jones Foundation
E. Stanley Jones professors of evangelism
United Methodist Communications
Church cultivates field of dreams
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Food pantries are full of canned and boxed items, but fresh produce can be harder to find. Concord United Methodist Church turned two adjacent empty lots into a field of dreams, full of hundreds of tomato, pepper, squash and okra plants. Everything grown in the garden goes to food pantries and feeding programs.
Watch video
PRESS RELEASES
United Methodist Ad Hoc Committee
Important information on BSA bankruptcy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist churches that have sponsored Boy Scout troops can expect to receive a “disclosure statement package” from the Boy Scouts of America regarding its pending bankruptcy proceeding. The United Methodist Ad Hoc Committee, which advocates for United Methodist interests within the bankruptcy process, has guidance for handling this mailing.
Read press release
UM News: BSA bankruptcy concerns church leaders
RESOURCES
Discipleship Ministries, ResourceUMC
Oct. 17 is Laity Sunday
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Laity Sunday, observed on the third Sunday in October, celebrates the ministry of all Christians to love God and neighbor. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate United Methodist Volunteers in Mission. This year’s theme is “Rise Up! And Revive God’s Gift” from 2 Timothy 1: 3-7.
See worship resources
Volunteers in Mission ideas
Webinar explores taking of indigenous land
DETROIT — The webinar “Whose Land? The Doctrinal Legitimization and Theft of the People’s Land” will be at 1 p.m. U.S. Eastern time Oct. 13 and will explore the ways that the Doctrine of Discovery is implicated and implemented in the seizure of indigenous lands from North America to Palestine. It is the second of a five-part series, “Stealing the Earth: The Conquering of Indigenous Peoples, the Role of Christianity and What Can Bring about Justice.”
Register for webinar
RECENT HEADLINES
Mt. Bethel countersues conference leaders
EVENTS
Thursday, Oct. 14
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