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Daily Digest - December 13, 2022

“Cancelling or skipping the 2020 General Conference and requiring new elections to be held would be tantamount to overturning the results of the 2019 elections …”
Judicial Council Decision 1451


NEWS AND FEATURES

Church court: No new elections needed for GC2024

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s top court concluded that the next gathering of General Conference scheduled for 2024 is to be designated the postponed 2020 session. That means the same lay and clergy delegates elected to serve in 2020 can vote at what many United Methodists expect to be a momentous legislative assembly. Heather Hahn reports. 
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Holston Conference
Reviving archives, one artifact at a time

ATHENS, Tenn. — Over the past three years, Daniel Ferkin has been organizing the Holston Conference’s once-messy archives. The treasure trove includes a circuit rider’s saddle and hewn logs from a house where Francis Asbury preached. One new challenge: preserving the histories of disaffiliating churches. Annette Spence reports.
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East Ohio Conference
Christmas lights show celebrates Jesus

MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio — Music, puppet shows, crafts, snacks and other activities have been added over the years to the annual Christmas lights show at Pleasant Hills United Methodist Church. “We’ve tried to turn it into a real event — made it into a storyline and invite people to stay and actually get to know them a little better rather than just have them run through to see the lights and leave,” said Bryan Haslett of the church. Brett Hetherington has the story.
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Michigan Conference
Online-only church launched

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — Tapestry Church Online was launched in October, with the goal of offering a vibrant faith community where set times for worship and geographical locations are no longer obstacles to participation. The goal is not to funnel worshippers to brick-and-mortar churches. The first trial worship services have offered worship songs by a praise team followed by pastoral conversations about Scripture. Glenn M. Wagner has the story.
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Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference
Where to begin in addressing climate change

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Community gardens and recycling initiatives are two ways congregations can help with the fight to save the planet from climate change, said Dan Joranko, the ministry coordinator for the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Creation Care team. “Everybody has a piece in this work — each congregation has gifts it can use to make an impact,” he said. Tyler Sprouse reports.
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WMAZ-CBS
Church builds mobile medical clinic

PERRY, Ga. — Perry United Methodist Church has built a “tin can miracle,” transforming a 40-foot cargo container into a solar-powered mobile OB-GYN clinic for people in Ghana. The church embarked on the project with Unto the Least of His, a ministry led by the Rev. Bobby Gale, a United Methodist. Jessica Cha has the story. 
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