“It is an act that brings you into a spiritual relationship with the whole body of Christ. In which you are becoming one with them and they are becoming one with you.” — The Rev. Taylor Burton-Edwards on baptism.
Top court reviews agency structure plan
ST. LOUIS (UMNS) — The Judicial Council will meet Oct. 21-24 and review a revised plan to restructure The United Methodist Church. In 2012, the council voided a similar plan just after it was approved by the 2012 General Conference. Linda Bloom reports.
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Renewing waters: Church teachings on baptism
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Baptism marks Christians’ initiation into the church and the beginning of a lifetime of discipleship. For umc.org, Joe Iovino explains what United Methodists teach about the sacrament.
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Methodist University students help with flood cleanup
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — A group of students from Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina, planned to spend their fall break cleaning up St. Paul’s Waccamaw United Methodist Church on Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Chick Jacobs has the story for the Fayetteville Observer.
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Church sexual ethics website relaunched
CHICAGO (UMNS) — The United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women has launched a redesigned website, umsexualethics.org, that offers resources to address sexual ethics and misconduct. The site includes materials for victims and those accused of sexual misconduct, as well as individuals in conference leadership charged with handling cases of sexual misconduct in a congregation.
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Visit website
Living Grace’ video contest winners announced
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Three winners of the “Living Grace” video contest have been selected and will each receive $3,000 to accelerate their careers and celebrate their gospel-centered, soul-bearing stories. The contest asked Christians to tell stories of a journey, community and reconciliation in 3-minute videos. It was funded through the Foundation for Theological Education, and partners include the United Methodist Publishing House and Leadership Education at Duke Divinity School.
Watch the winning entries:
- "SCARS” by Russel Joyce
- "Hope” by Barnabas Prontnicki
- "Listening Space: Uncommon Grounds” by Joel Limbauan
How young church reaches new people in Seattle
SEATTLE (UMNS) — The Pacific Northwest Conference has put together a video on Valley & Mountain Fellowship, a 5-year-old United Methodist congregation, drawing people toward spiritual growth in southeast Seattle’s Hillman City neighborhood.
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Looking ahead
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, email [email protected] and put Digest in the subject line.
Saturday, Oct. 17
Bill Mallard Lay Theology Institute at Emory University's Candler School of Theology in Atlanta — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT. Ahead of the 2016 General Conference, the gathering will focus on “Holy Conferencing: From Wesley to 2016" on Oct. 17 and continue April 9. The Rev. Kevin Watson, assistant professor of Wesleyan and Methodist studies, will address John Wesley’s understanding of conferencing as a means of grace and its impact on the development of early Methodism. $50; $25 for students. Details.
You can see more educational opportunities and other upcoming events in the life of the church here.
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