NEWS AND FEATURES
Leaders study placement of new African bishops
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UMNS) — A group of church leaders wrestling with where to put five new African bishops considered presentations about areas where growth indicates the need for a new episcopal area. Phileas Jusu has the story.
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Learning how to ‘Do No Harm’
CHICAGO (UMNS) — Investigating a complaint of sexual misconduct within the church is painful for all involved. That’s why it’s crucial to follow a process that avoids inflicting secondary trauma and promotes healing, says Becky Posey Williams of the United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women. The upcoming quadrennial “Do No Harm” event, set for Oct. 11-13 in San Antonio, is designed to help. Linda Bloom reports.
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Religion News Service
Survey: More preaching on abuse in #MeToo age
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Half of Protestant pastors say they preach to their churches about domestic and sexual violence, an increase from four years ago, when only a third said they raised the issue, a new survey shows. During a panel discussion, United Methodist Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, said training and preaching are necessary to confront both abuse and harassment, but also can be used to address the earliest stages of a predator’s attempts to get to know a potential victim. Adelle M. Banks reports.
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Board of Global Ministries
Don’t reduce U.S. refugee admissions
ATLANTA — With more than 68 million people forcibly displaced from their homes, the U.S. government’s proposal to cut refugee admissions from a typical annual figure of 90,000 to 30,000 in 2019 — a new historic low — is immoral and “unacceptable from a humanitarian perspective,” writes Thomas Kemper, top executive, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. “We encourage United Methodists and others to oppose the current policy and to welcome sojourners from everywhere to everywhere.”
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Camp in Congo helps kids grow in their faith
BUKAVU, Congo (UMNS) — After 6-year-old Raisa Muzungu memorized and recited in public the names of all 66 books of the Bible — a skill he learned during United Methodist summer camp — a youth coordinator was so impressed that he promised to pay the child’s school fees for the 2018-19 academic year. The camp, organized by Young United Methodists of Kivu, helps children like Muzungu grow in their faith. Philippe Kituka Lolonga has the story.
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Michigan Conference
The power of the United Methodist connection
BIRCH RUN, Mich. — When asked about his journey from Mexico to Michigan and ordained ministry, the Rev. Rey Mondragon says: “I remember a movie called ‘The French Connection.’ Well, for me, it was the Methodist Connection.” The Rev. Jack Harnish profiles the first Mexican-American elder in the former Detroit Conference.
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New England Conference
How to help following gas explosion
BOSTON — New England Conference leadership is in conversation around the needs of those affected by the Merrimack Valley gas explosion on Sept. 13. The conference received an emergency $10,000 grant from the United Methodist Committee on Relief and put together a list of how United Methodists can help.
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