Daily Digest - October 25, 2012

"I like for us to look forward to meals, to savor what we're eating, to be conscious of where it came from, how it was grown, and in a spiritual manner, to be very conscious of it being a gift from God." - Martha Stamps, former restaurant owner and now "food minister."

Tennessee faith groups fight youth obesity

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - United Methodist leaders in Tennessee and across the nation are standing together to fight against a growing health issue among children. Seventeen percent of U.S. children and adolescents are considered obese. United Methodists are joining with first lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign.
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Food fight in the church kitchen? You bet!

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Martha Stamps is waging a war against sugary cereal. And while she's at it, the "minister of food" at West End United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tenn., also may take on canned fruits, canned spaghetti and the accompanying meatballs and children's juice boxes.
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Services set for Marjorie Louise Duecker

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (UMNS) - Visitation for Marjorie Louise (Clouse) Duecker, the widow of Bishop Robert Sheldon Duecker, will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, at the D. O. McComb & Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home, 1140 Lake Ave. in Fort Wayne. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at First Wayne Street United Methodist Church, 300 E. Wayne St. in Fort Wayne. She died Monday, Oct. 22, at the age of 88.
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Walk in the footsteps of the Wesley brothers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - All United Methodist lay and clergy leaders are invited to participate in a 10-day Wesley Pilgrimage April 15-24, 2013, in England, where they can walk in the footsteps of John and Charles Wesley. The United Methodist Board of Discipleship is sponsoring the trip. The registration fee of $1,795 includes 10 nights' lodging, most meals, ground transportation to pilgrimage sites and all admission fees. This event qualifies for three continuing education units. Registration deadline for the 2013 Wesley Pilgrimage is March 15.
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Jewish groups pull out of interfaith dialogue

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - Mainstream Jewish establishment groups have upped the ante in a battle with Christian churches that was sparked by a mild letter calling on Congress to investigate whether military aid to Israel violates U.S. law. Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, is among the 14 Christian leaders who endorsed the letter.
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Caucus interim director named

DETROIT (UMNS) - The Methodist Federation for Social Action, an unofficial progressive caucus, has announced that Jill A. Warren is stepping down as the group's executive director. The MFSA board has named Chett Pritchett, the group's development and communications associate, as interim executive director, starting Nov. 1.