“Our role is to accompany conferences, pastors and laity to vision and strategize Hispanic/Latinx ministry in their specific contexts — to help our church fulfill the dream of becoming a beloved community where we all thrive.” — The Rev. Dr. Lydia Muñoz, executive director of the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Ask The UMC
What is the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry provides leadership, accompaniment and resources to support and expand the ministries of Hispanic/Latino people in The United Methodist Church. Approved by the 1992 General Conference, it was the first of the racial/ethnic plans to be established in the church. Ask The UMC has more on the plan and its work.
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California-Nevada Conference
World Communion service seeks racial healing
BERKELEY, Calif. — After worshipping together during Lent, Epworth and Easter Hill United Methodist churches will join together for World Communion Sunday events Oct. 1. Epworth, a predominantly white church, will host Easter Hill, a predominantly Black church, during morning worship, and then Easter Hill will host a presentation in the afternoon. The preacher at both gatherings will be Jack Jezreel, the founder of JustFaith Ministries in Louisville, Kentucky. Conference staff report.
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Download UM News meme for World Communion Sunday
Scarritt Bennett Center
Service for Bishop Talbert to be livestreamed
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A memorial service celebrating the life, labor and legacy of Bishop Melvin G. Talbert will be at 11 a.m. U.S. Central time Sept. 30 at Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville. The memorial service is being livestreamed by the Scarritt Bennett Center Facebook and YouTube pages.
To watch on Facebook
To watch on YouTube
UM News: Bishop Talbert, advocate for justice, dies
Indiana Conference
Elder opens Senate session
CARMEL, Ind. — The Rev. Kent Lundy, a United Methodist elder and military chaplain, was guest chaplain for the U.S. Senate and offered a prayer before its Sept. 27 session. Lundy said, in part, “Inspire these servant senators to rise to every challenge, by putting people over profits and freedom for all over privilege for a few.”
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Watch video
PRESS RELEASES
United Methodist Communications
General Conference delegates urged to save date
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Delegates for the postponed 2020 General Conference are encouraged to mark their calendars for a livestreamed orientation and briefing taking place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. U.S. Central time Feb. 29-March 1. United Methodist Communications and United Methodist News will host the online event, which also will be recorded for future viewing.
Read press release
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.
Wespath
Making money responsibly
GLENVIEW, Ill. — The money managers at Wespath Benefits and Investments are tasked with making money while staying true to Methodism’s Social Principles. Jon Strieter, analyst of impact investments, shares how the agency is getting better at gauging the latter by using an impact measurement and management tool that helps it understand how aligned Wespath’s portfolios are with socially conscious investing.
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RESOURCES
United Methodist Communications
Secure discount for Communications Learning Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Sign up by Sept. 30 to receive a 20% discount for Communications Learning Week, hosted by United Methodist Communications. The ecumenical training opportunity will be Oct.16-20. All of the learning week content will be recorded and stored in a learning portal that participants will have access to for six months after the event. Registration is open through Oct.12.
Learn more and register
EVENTS
Monday, Oct. 2-Monday, Nov. 20
Dreams: Unopened Letters from God
Friday, Oct. 13-Sunday, Oct. 15
Choir Music Weekend
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
Rural churches fuel economies
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — According to a study of 87 rural churches in North Carolina, each rural church contributes between $488,598 and $735,000 of value to its local economy each year. The economic contributions suggest rural churches should be measured by more than the length of their membership rolls and giving. Jim Patterson reports.
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Faith leaders advocate for peace, reunification of Koreas
SEOUL, South Korea (UM News) — The Fourth Roundtable for Peace on the Korean Peninsula, hosted by the Korean Methodist Church, The United Methodist Church and the World Methodist Council, featured special lectures and peace ministry reports on the status of reunification. The Roundtable also adopted a statement pledging to seek lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. The Rev. Thomas Kim reports.
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Filipino lay leaders call for autonomy
CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines (UM News) — United Methodist lay leaders in the Philippines are calling for the Philippines Central Conference to become autonomous from The United Methodist Church without going through the process laid out in the church’s Book of Discipline. The call was presented during the Board of Laity’s forum Sept. 2. However, the three newly elected bishops in the country, who attended the gathering, emphasized their commitment to preserving the unity of the church. Gladys P. Mangiduyos reports.
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California-Nevada Conference
Service, reception to welcome back bishop
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With her return to active ministry after a church trial acquitted her, Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño will lead a service of worship and Holy Communion at 5 p.m. U.S. Pacific time Oct. 1, World Communion Sunday, at First United Methodist Church in Sacramento. After the service, the California-Nevada Conference will hold a reception to welcome her back.
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UM News: Church court finds bishop not guilty
Duke Divinity School
A calling to creation care
OCRACOKE, N.C. — Climate change has meant more storms and hardship for people in the small community of Ocracoke, on Ocracoke Island. That reality is shaping the ministry of the Rev. Logan Jackson, pastor of Ocracoke United Methodist Church. Rebekah Ramlow offers mini-profiles of Jackson and five other Duke Divinity School alumni who are practicing creation care in different contexts.
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