"Deaf people have been very dependent on hearing people for leadership. We want to even out that playing field." — The Rev. Kirk VanGilder, on a first-ever United Methodist certified lay servant's course for the Deaf.
Conference of the Deaf makes history
WAXAHACHIE, Texas (UMNS) — The Global Methodist Missions Conference of the Deaf, underway here through Aug. 4, offers worship, talks, presentations and plenty of networking opportunities. It’s also the scene for The United Methodist Church’s first-ever certified lay servant’s course specifically for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Sam Hodges reports.
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Filipinos to come home for a mission
MANILA (UMNS) — The National Association of Filipino-American United Methodists is hosting a homecoming convocation, set for Jan. 3-6, at Central United Methodist Church, in coordination with a local committee. Those invited to attend include Filipino United Methodists living in North America, the Pacific Islands, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America and all over Asia. Gladys Mangiduyos reports.
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Boost to ministry of deaconesses/home missioners
OKLAHOMA CITY — United Methodist deaconesses and home missioners are laity with a full-time call to mission-oriented service outside church walls. The ministry, established by United Methodist Women, has a partnership with Saint Paul School of Theology at Oklahoma City University to offer spiritual education. Holly McCray reports.
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Federal judge, active churchgoer, dies at 91
LINCOLN, Neb. — A retired federal judge, who was a United Methodist Sunday school teacher and delegate to six General Conferences, died July 28. Judge Warren Keith Urbom, who was 91, also oversaw more than 100 cases involving Native American activists during his judicial career. David Burke of the Great Plains Conference has this obituary.
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Scholarships help relieve clergy debt
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Office of Loans and Scholarships at the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry has awarded more than $1.66 million to 206 recipients of the Excellence in Clergy Leadership Scholarship. The scholarship was created to help United Methodist clergy avoid excessive educational loan debt, minimize financial stress and build financial acumen.
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Breastfeeding key for nutrition, development
ATLANTA — The Global Health unit of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries is promoting the 25th anniversary of World Breastfeeding Week this week as key to fostering sustainable development and ending malnutrition.
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Looking ahead
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have a United Methodist event to share, you can add it to the calendar with this submission form.
Friday, Aug. 4
A Good Death: What Church Leaders Need to Know About Death Preparation for Older Adults (webinar) — 10-11 a.m. CDT. The term “good death” seems like an oxymoron on the surface. Most people do not associate death with anything good. Instead, a less morbid term could be a faithful death. This webinar begins by looking at what a faithful death looks like. It will focus on techniques to assist older adult ministry leaders to help those they serve by imagining their own deaths and overcoming fears of the unknown. Details
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