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Daily Digest - April 7, 2021

"I knew that (getting a Black pastor) was a new experience for us, and it would likely bring up the inherent racism that white people have." — Ashley Moore, a member of the staff-parish committee at Fairlington United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Virginia.

NEWS AND FEATURES

Virginia church contemplates racism in the ranks
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (UM News) — Anonymous letters criticizing the appearance of an African associate pastor have led to self-reflection for a Virginia congregation and a "Do Not Harm" campaign seeking changes in The United Methodist Church. The hairstyle, clothing and accessories of the Rev. Chenda Innis Lee became an issue at Fairlington United Methodist Church. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
UM News: Renewed vigor in the fight against racism

Great Plains Conference
Bringing books to jails, prisons

HAYS, Kan. — Sarah Broman Miller, who teaches at Fort Hays State University, is on a quest to bring more books to jails, prisons and addiction recovery centers across Kansas. She's had book donations from Hays First United Methodist Church, and she's tapping other United Methodist churches, too. David Burke reports.
Read story

Chicago Tribune
Longtime editor of Christian Century dies

ELMHURST, Ill. — The Rev. James M. Wall, an ordained United Methodist elder who wrote about the intersection of faith and culture, died on March 22 at 92. He was editor and publisher of The Christian Century, a magazine of U.S. mainline Protestantism, from 1972 to early 1999. He also was a frequent blogger and wrote three books including "Church and Cinema. A Way of Viewing Film." Graydon Megan has his obituary.
Read obituary

La Mesa Courier
Amid development, church faces tough choices

LA MESA, Calif. — La Mesa First United Methodist Church, located in a growing suburb of San Diego, faced a property question familiar to many congregations in rapidly developing neighborhoods. Ultimately, the church chose not to sell the site of its daycare center, which serves more than 100 families. Jeff Clemetson reports on how the church made that decision.
Read story

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 the UM News staff.

Michigan Conference
Reflections on a career as an ordained elder

LANSING, Mich. — After nearly half a century as an ordained elder, the Rev. John Harnish considers the changes in the role of elders over the years and how appointments are decided.
Read commentary

RESOURCES

Global Ministries
Help to celebrate Earth Day

ATLANTA — Churches looking to plan a service around Earth Day, which is April 22, can download free resources from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Many churches pick a Sunday in April to mark the occasion and create awareness around environmental sustainability. The resources include an Earth Day sermon, litany and Scripture reading via video or text.
Download Earth Day materials

RECENT HEADLINES

Restructuring legislation gets a hearing

Clergyman takes on QAnon through podcast

EVENTS

Sunday, April 18

Native American Ministries Sunday


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