TODAY’S HEADLINES
Ask The UMC
Regionalization is already (partly) here
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The word “regionalization” has been used more frequently in recent months as legislation to put The United Methodist Church’s different geographic regions on equal footing heads to General Conference. In a new series, Ask The UMC explores the ways that regionalization already exists for central conferences, as well as the implications of enabling regionalization worldwide, including for United Methodists in the United States. The Rev. Taylor W. Burton Edwards reports.
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UM News: Regionalization plan heads to General Conference
Global Ministries
Solar trailers ready for disaster relief
ATLANTA — Solar microgrid trailers are ready to bring clean power to the sites of disasters. A newly unveiled trailer will be used by the North Georgia Conference and United Methodist Committee on Relief for disaster response. It is intended to power cell phones, Wi-Fi, refrigeration, lighting, medical devices and other critical services. When there is no environmental emergency, it can be utilized to help power other live events. Dan Curran has the story.
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Michigan Conference
Tips for starting, sustaining new ministries
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Matt Witkowski, director of Community Ministries at Trinity United Methodist Church, has some tips on starting a successful new ministry. He knows what he’s talking about, having launched projects around fly fishing and children with special needs. Witkowski suggests five ways to be successful. Kay DeMoss has the story.
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Candler School of Theology
Candler professor offers new history of Scripture
ATLANTA — Candler School of Theology Professor Jacob L. Wright is the author of the new book “Why the Bible Began: An Alternative History of Scripture and its Origins.” Publishers Weekly gave it a starred review and it’s been featured in The New Yorker magazine. Wright is professor of Hebrew Bible at Candler, one of the 13 United Methodist seminaries in the U.S.
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Read Publishers Weekly review
New 2023 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2023 annual conference reports. New this week is the Uganda-South Sudan Conference.
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The New York Times
Church takes in people living in cars
KIRKLAND, Wash. — Lake Washington United Methodist Church is highlighted in a recent, front-page New York Times article about financially struggling people who live in their cars. The church offers safe parking for women and families in that situation. Rukmini Callimachi reports.
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For more on church’s program
PRESS RELEASES
Council of Bishops
Retired Bishop Stockton dies at 93
WASHINGTON — Retired Bishop Thomas B. Stockton, who served churches in the Western North Carolina Conference before being elected to the episcopacy in 1988, has died at the age of 93. Stockton led the Virginia Conference until his retirement in 1996. UM News will have a feature obituary on Stockton in next week’s Daily Digest.
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RESOURCES
Society of St. Andrew
Advent devotionals available for order
BIG ISLAND, Va. — Advent is Dec. 3-24 this year. Once again, the Society of St. Andrew — a gleaning ministry and United Methodist partner — is making available daily Advent devotionals as a fundraiser. The theme this year is “The Gift of the Present.”
To order
EVENTS
Thursday, Nov. 2
Día de los Muertos virtual vigil for migrant deaths
Sunday, Nov. 26
United Methodist Student Day
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
Doing church after a disaffiliation vote
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — After losing a chunk of the congregation because of a painful disaffiliation vote, it was time to discern a new future for Memorial United Methodist Church in Michigan. With the help of a book about navigating conflict in church, the congregation is moving forward as members step up to replace church leaders who have left. Jim Patterson has the story.
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Korean United Methodists gather to celebrate spirituality
CHICAGO (UM News) — The 2023 special session of the National Association of the Korean American United Methodists was Oct. 2-5 in Northbrook, Illinois — its first in-person gathering since 2019. In his sermon at the opening worship service, Wisconsin Conference Bishop Hee-Soo Jung said, “The future of the church lies in reconciliation, acceptance, friendship, repentance and self-reflection.” The Rev. Thomas E. Kim reports.
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LGBTQ advocates plan for new day in church
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UM News) — Reconciling Ministries Network’s 2023 Convocation looked back at the group’s 40 years of advocacy for LGBTQ United Methodists. The gathering also included time for strategizing for next year’s General Conference in hopes of helping to create a much more inclusive church. Heather Hahn reports.
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Church supports school after laboratory fire
WEMBONYAMA, Congo (UM News) — A fire leveled the computer laboratory at the Institut Supérieur Pédagogique, a United Methodist teacher training school. The United Methodist Church in Central Congo raised over $12,000 to rebuild the lab and replace 45 laptops. François Omanyondo reports.
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East Ohio Conference
Female dorm at Africa University nears completion
CLEVELAND — A new women’s dormitory will be dedicated in February at Africa University, assisted by $1.5 million raised with the Teach Reach Bless campaign launched in 2020 by the East Ohio Conference. The dormitory will provide a safe, secure environment and a community of support for 92 female students on the United Methodist campus in Zimbabwe.
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