Daily Digest - April 4, 2023

“That’s a good name. Just the word itself refers to the light of Christ and that we are to be a beacon of love for all people.” — The Rev. Lynda Ferguson, on the idea of Lighthouse Congregations. 


NEWS AND FEATURES

Lighthouse Congregations offer hope amid schism
MORGANTON, N.C. (UM News) — Lighthouse Congregations declare themselves to be solidly United Methodist and offer a safe, supportive place for people who mean to stay in the denomination after their local church has voted to disaffiliate. The designation has caught on, especially in the North Carolina and Western North Carolina conferences, where many church websites now sport the Lighthouse Congregation logo. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
 
United Methodist Communications
Meeting the sacred in Holy Week Art Walk
GREENSBORO, N.C. — When John and Gayle Rose were asked to create a piece of art that reflects their Christian faith, they found themselves at the foot of the cross. They were among the artists who contributed to West Market Street United Methodist Church’s Art Walk — a new way of interpreting the Stations of the Cross. Jimmy Tomlin has the story. 
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Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference
Syble Spain, bishop’s widow, dies 
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Syble Spain passed away April 1 at the age of 96. She was preceded in death by her husband of 74 years, United Methodist Bishop Robert H. “Bob” Spain. A service to celebrate her life will be at 2 p.m. U.S. Central time April 7 at Brentwood United Methodist Church.
Read obituary


PRESS RELEASES

United Methodist Communications
Agency releases annual report
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Communications has released its 2022 Annual Report highlighting the agency’s communications initiatives and activities on behalf of The United Methodist Church around the world. “The past year was a time of challenges and celebration,” said Dan Krause, the agency’s top executive. 
Read press release 
Read report

Southern Methodist University
Rare Hebrew Bible to be exhibited at SMU
DALLAS — A rare, 1,100-year-old Hebrew Bible will be on exhibit April 18-20 at Bridwell Library, part of Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. The Bridwell exhibition marks the first public appearance of the Bible in the U.S., following recent exhibitions in London and Tel Aviv. The Bible, known as the Codex Sassoon for its 1929 purchaser David Solomon Sassoon, will be on auction at Sotheby’s in May and could fetch between $30 million and $50 million. 
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. 

West Virginia Conference
Love conquers vandalism and racism
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — It’s been three years since the Rev. Brad Bennett received a call that one of his churches, Trinity United Methodist Church, had been vandalized. The damage has been repaired, but realizing that the incident was racially motivated has taken longer to accept. “I grieve over the bias that remains in our communities,” he writes. “From the outpouring of support from the community, I know that I am not alone.”
Read commentary


RESOURCES

United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy
Webinar focuses on thriving United Methodists
DENVER — The United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy plans to hold a webinar titled “Remaining & Thriving United Methodists” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. U.S. Mountain time April 20. The webinar will include a panel of six speakers from North Carolina, Texas and Colorado, who will explore how United Methodists who have lost their church homes by disaffiliation are forming new churches and helping other congregations flourish. 
Learn more and register


RECENT HEADLINES

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EVENTS

Monday, April 10-Saturday, May 20
Online course: Autism and the Church — All Part of Jesus’ Puzzle

Sunday, April 23
Native American Ministries Sunday