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Daily Digest - August 20, 2020

“People can come; they can be casual. They can pull their boat up to attend if they want. It’s meeting people where they are, which is exactly what Jesus does for us.”The Rev. Ingrid Beguinistain Akers, Lake Palestine United Methodist Church in Chandler, Texas, on the church’s outdoor worship service.


NEWS AND FEATURES

Churches embrace outdoor worship during pandemic

GULF SHORES, Ala. (UM News) — During the coronavirus pandemic, churches have had to weigh whether to continue worshipping online only or to reopen buildings in limited capacities. Others have begun to move outside. Joey Butler reports and Mike DuBose has photos.
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North Texas Conference 
Historic appointment of Asian Indian elder

COPPELL, Texas — The Rev. Sumesh Jacob is an ordained elder in the Church of South India and a summa cum laude graduate of Perkins School of Theology. He’s also the first elder of Asian Indian origin to be appointed full time in the North Texas Conference. Bishop Michael McKee chose him to serve First United Methodist Church in Coppell, a Dallas-area community with a large Asian Indian American population. 
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United Methodist Communications
Mentoring program benefits everyone

FORT WORTH, Texas — A mentoring program that matches volunteers to schoolchildren benefits the mentors as much as it does the mentees, participants say. As part of the Kids Hope USA program, volunteers step up for one hour a week to be a faithful friend to a child who needs extra support. Crystal Caviness reports.
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New 2020 annual conference reports posted 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2020 annual conference reports. New this week are Illinois Great Rivers, Indiana, South Georgia and West Virginia. 
Read reports


PRESS RELEASES

United Methodist Communications
Emerging leaders to discuss dismantling racism

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The next town hall session in a series on anti-racism will feature a panel of younger leaders discussing their strategies for changing the world and their encouragement for partners in this work. The panelists for the Aug. 26 conversation are Ann Jacob, the Rev. Theon Johnson III, Andres De Arco and Katelin Hansen.
Read press release


RECENT HEADLINES 

Panelists urge action on race issues


Methodists crucial in fight for women’s vote


EVENTS

Thursday, Sept. 17

Webinar: Asian Americans, COVID-19 and Race

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