"The present request for a declaratory decision may be the most important matter that the Judicial Council has ever faced.” — Council of Bishops brief regarding the constitutionality of three plans for reshaping The United Methodist Church.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Arguments mount on Way Forward plans
DALLAS (UMNS) — Nearly 30 briefs, totaling hundreds of pages, confront the Judicial Council as it prepares to consider the constitutionality of three plans for reshaping The United Methodist Church. The case emerges from the Way Forward process aimed at preserving denominational unity amid longstanding division over homosexuality. Sam Hodges reports on arguments made in the briefs.
Read story
Florida Conference
Churches, Family Promise battle homelessness
ORLANDO, Fla. — Churches involved in Family Promise are constantly scrambling to care for struggling families in central Florida. And it may be about to get worse. The U.S. federal government is discontinuing much of its aid to Hurricane Maria refugees who made their way to Florida in the storm’s aftermath. Yvette Hammett reports on the work of the homeless ministry, which has United Methodist partners across the country.
Read story
United Methodist Communications
Camp meetings still fish with a large net
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMC.org) — Francis Asbury praised this early evangelism tool by referencing Jesus’ call to “fish for people.” The format has changed, but some camp meetings still meet today. The Rev. Joe Iovino has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century
2018 National Prison Summit set for October
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Strengthening the Black Church for the Twenty-First Century will hold its fourth National Prison Summit on Mass Incarceration Oct. 25-27 at Cathedral of Praise Church. The event aims to help local church leaders, pastors, laity, educators, community leadership and elected officials learn a holistic ministry to serve the incarcerated, formerly incarcerated and people affected by incarceration. The theme this year is “Beyond the Walls: Strengthening Churches, Organizations to Restore Communities.”
Read press release
RESOURCES
Greater New Jersey Conference
Clergywomen’s group releases devotional
NEPTUNE, N.J. — Homemade salsa, the Word of God and a creative spark brought a group of clergywomen together to write a year-long devotional. The women call themselves the Salsa Sisters. Kayla Harrison reports.
Read story
COMMENTARIES
South Carolina Conference
Shining a light on mental illness
COLUMBIA, S.C. — It’s time to take the shame out of treatment for mental illness and that’s something churches should address, writes the editor of the South Carolina Advocate in a commentary that touches on her own family’s experiences with mental illness. “Millions of Americans struggle with mental illnesses….It’s not something they can control, and it’s not something they can just ‘get over’ or fix with the right spiritual mindset,” Jessica Brodie writes.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Seeing a Way Forward: Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey
UMW stresses faith with advocacy
EVENTS
Saturday, Sept. 29-Sunday, Sept. 30
Lecture series at First United Methodist Church in Rogers, Arkansas, featuring Bishop Minerva Carcaño
NEWS AND FEATURES
Arguments mount on Way Forward plans
DALLAS (UMNS) — Nearly 30 briefs, totaling hundreds of pages, confront the Judicial Council as it prepares to consider the constitutionality of three plans for reshaping The United Methodist Church. The case emerges from the Way Forward process aimed at preserving denominational unity amid longstanding division over homosexuality. Sam Hodges reports on arguments made in the briefs.
Read story
Florida Conference
Churches, Family Promise battle homelessness
ORLANDO, Fla. — Churches involved in Family Promise are constantly scrambling to care for struggling families in central Florida. And it may be about to get worse. The U.S. federal government is discontinuing much of its aid to Hurricane Maria refugees who made their way to Florida in the storm’s aftermath. Yvette Hammett reports on the work of the homeless ministry, which has United Methodist partners across the country.
Read story
United Methodist Communications
Camp meetings still fish with a large net
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMC.org) — Francis Asbury praised this early evangelism tool by referencing Jesus’ call to “fish for people.” The format has changed, but some camp meetings still meet today. The Rev. Joe Iovino has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century
2018 National Prison Summit set for October
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Strengthening the Black Church for the Twenty-First Century will hold its fourth National Prison Summit on Mass Incarceration Oct. 25-27 at Cathedral of Praise Church. The event aims to help local church leaders, pastors, laity, educators, community leadership and elected officials learn a holistic ministry to serve the incarcerated, formerly incarcerated and people affected by incarceration. The theme this year is “Beyond the Walls: Strengthening Churches, Organizations to Restore Communities.”
Read press release
RESOURCES
Greater New Jersey Conference
Clergywomen’s group releases devotional
NEPTUNE, N.J. — Homemade salsa, the Word of God and a creative spark brought a group of clergywomen together to write a year-long devotional. The women call themselves the Salsa Sisters. Kayla Harrison reports.
Read story
COMMENTARIES
South Carolina Conference
Shining a light on mental illness
COLUMBIA, S.C. — It’s time to take the shame out of treatment for mental illness and that’s something churches should address, writes the editor of the South Carolina Advocate in a commentary that touches on her own family’s experiences with mental illness. “Millions of Americans struggle with mental illnesses….It’s not something they can control, and it’s not something they can just ‘get over’ or fix with the right spiritual mindset,” Jessica Brodie writes.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Seeing a Way Forward: Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey
UMW stresses faith with advocacy
EVENTS
Saturday, Sept. 29-Sunday, Sept. 30
Lecture series at First United Methodist Church in Rogers, Arkansas, featuring Bishop Minerva Carcaño
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