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Daily Digest - December 15, 2020


"They need food, clothing, shelter, pots, plates and cutlery. They also need medical assistance. Practically, they need everything to start a new life." — The Rev. Dercia Marrengula, Cabo Delgado district superintendent, on families displaced by insecurity in northern Mozambique.

NEWS AND FEATURES

United Methodists flee insecurity in Mozambique
BEIRA, Mozambique (UM News) — The United Methodist Church is responding to a growing humanitarian crisis in the Cabo Delgado province of northern Mozambique as attacks by Islamist insurgents have escalated, forcing thousands of people from their homes. Eurico Gustavo reports.
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Baltimore-Washington Conference
Sign language lessons for the holidays

LAUREL, Md. — The Rev. Leo Yates is taking time this Christmas season to teach common holiday terms in American Sign Language to help Deaf people be included in the festivities. At the end of a 60-minute session, participants usually can sign the Christmas carol "O Come, All Ye Faithful." Erik Alsgaard reports.
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Memphis Conference
College ministry expands to be multi-campus

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — While COVID-19 has led the Memphis Wesley Foundation to move most ministries online, the pandemic has not prevented the campus ministry from expanding and reaching more students. Morgan Stafford, Memphis Wesley Foundation, writes about the ministry's expansion across multiple college campuses.
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PRESS RELEASES

Council of Bishops
Bishops urge trust in God for better 2021

WASHINGTON — Despite the tribulations brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, United Methodist bishops call on their fellow Christians to be optimistic about 2021 and to trust that God will make things better in the coming year. In the 2020 Advent letter released Dec. 15, the bishops urged people of faith to continue to have love, joy, hope and peace.
Read press release
Read letter

Wespath
Top pension executive plans to retire in 2021

GLENVIEW, Ill. — Barbara Boigegrain, top executive of Wespath Benefits and Investments, has announced her intention to retire at the end of 2021. She is the United Methodist pension agency's longest-serving chief executive officer and general secretary, with more than 26 years leading the organization.
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 the UM News staff.

Our public discourse should model the life of Jesus
NEPTUNE, N.J. (UM News) — Divisive rhetoric and actions following this year's presidential election caused Greater New Jersey Bishop John Schol to reflect on the role our faith can play in resolving conflict.
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RECENT HEADLINES

Black United Methodists want changes

Commentary: The church is not yet a great multitude

EVENTS

Monday, Jan. 11-Friday, Feb. 19

Online class: Preparing Fields — Cultivating Hope and Growth in the Small Church


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