Daily Digest - September 8, 2022

NEWS AND FEATURES

Ask The UMC
More disaffiliation questions answered 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In the fourth installment of its “Is The United Methodist Church really…?” series, Ask The UMC answers three more questions related to disaffiliation, including inquiries about the status of appointed clergy and members after their congregation decides to disaffiliate. The series is a response to widespread misperceptions or misinformation that some congregations are receiving as they discern their next steps.
Read Q&A
Read Part 1 on theology and pensions
Read Part 2 on human sexuality
Read Part 3 on Paragraph 2548.2

Texas Conference
Church aims to close pandemic learning gap
PASADENA, Texas — Sunset United Methodist Church has a new after-school tutoring program called Grace Period, and it’s aimed at helping low-income kids overcome the pandemic learning gap. The Texas Conference has helped with funding. Maleri McHam reports.
Read story

Mississippi Conference
Justice-seeking part of call to #BeUMC 
PHILADELPIA, Miss. — The Rev. Lydia Michelle Dailey, former senior pastor of the four United Methodist congregations in the Philadelphia Parish, shares how she sees justice as essential in the process of making disciples of Jesus Christ. Mt. Zion, one of the churches in the parish, was burned to the ground in 1964 for its involvement in the U.S. civil rights movement. 
Read story 

Northern Illinois Conference 
Church helpers travel to Kentucky
CHICAGO — Members of First United Methodist Church of Morris, Illinois, lent a hand in Betsy Lane, Kentucky, which is still recovering from massive flooding. The church’s Early Response Team spent five days working to clean up and remove mud at a residence. Flooding from the nearby creek caused about two feet of water to enter the basement.
Read story
UM News: Kentucky churches care for neighbors hit by floods

West Virginia Conference
Ginnie Lowther, known for GC photo ministry, dies at 87
BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — The Rev. Mary Virginia "Ginnie" Settle Lowther, a longtime West Virginia Conference leader who provided souvenir photo services at several General Conferences, died Sept. 4 at 87. She was in the first class of deacons ordained as full conference members in 1997, served in the connectional ministries office and held several conference leadership positions. A celebration of her life will be held Sept. 24 at First United Methodist Church, Williamstown.
Read obituary


PRESS RELEASES

United Women in Faith
Learn about work of women’s organization  
NEW YORK — Three members of United Women in Faith who are closely involved with the group’s National Mission Institutions will discuss their work and the impact it has during a free Zoom forum. The women will talk about their callings to serve organizations that are transforming lives and communities. The virtual conversation will take place at 4 p.m. U.S. Eastern time Sept. 27.
Read press release
Register

United Methodist Communications
Agency seeks ethnic panel volunteers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Communications is seeking people in leadership roles within local United Methodist churches to participate in upcoming ethnic leader panel discussions. Panelists will be invited to take part in online surveys and focus groups throughout the year. People may volunteer for the agency's Latino leader and/or Black leader panels. Additional panels will be introduced soon.
Read press release
Black Leader Panel volunteer interest
Latino Leader Panel volunteer interest


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. 

Creating a Culture of Renewal
Seeing aging congregations as a gift
CASPER, Wyo. — Many United Methodist pastors are serving congregations where most members are in their senior years. “For so long, we have bemoaned the aging of the church,” writes the Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter. “But I have a different take on it now.”
Read commentary


RECENT HEADLINES

Mission trip strengthens partnership, ministries

2022 annual conference reports


EVENTS

Sunday, Oct. 2
World Communion Sunday

Wednesday, Oct. 19-Saturday, Oct. 22
SBC21 National Summit on Mass Incarceration