"It was not just an addendum; it was part of the major sense of who Methodists are. You don’t have a choice. You have to be involved. … Being active in your church means you do, you don’t just say. You speak up, you speak out and you walk out, and you do." — Ridge Pilcher, 78, on the call to service.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Serving God and others: Honoring United Methodist vows
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMC.org) — Founder John Wesley called the early Methodists to live out their faith by “doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all [people].” That call to service is one of the reasons 78-year-old Ridge Pilcher joined The United Methodist Church six years ago. Julie Dwyer reports on the pledge of service in the fourth in a five-part series on membership vows.
Read story
Read Part 1: A promise to pray
Read Part 2: What it means to witness
Zimbabwe Area
Zimbabwean women train in organic farming
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — Grocery stores around the world are expanding their organic food aisles, and Zimbabwean farmers are stepping up to meet the demand — with United Methodist help. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.
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Michigan Area
UMCOR grant provides flood relief
MIDLAND, Mich. — When seven inches of rain fell overnight on June 22, three Michigan counties flooded so severely that Governor Rick Snyder declared the area a disaster. FEMA help has been slow in coming, but a $100,000 UMCOR grant has two case managers at work. Kay DeMoss reports.
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Greater New Jersey Conference
Mission Movers commissioned to transform Jersey City
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Six United Methodist communities came together to celebrate their commissioning: a sending forth into the mission field of their own municipality. Identifying homelessness as an area where they can make a difference, the communities — who have dubbed themselves the Mission Movers — are committed to creating a more equitable Jersey City. Laura Wise reports.
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South Carolina Conference
South Carolina church helps with blessing boxes
WINNSBORO, S.C. — Jane Hinnant and other members of First United Methodist Church in the heart of Fairfield County have found a way to spread blessings to those in need. With the Blessing Box Ministry, the church gives boxes of basic non-food items, from cleaning supplies and paper products to hygiene items. Jessica Brodie has the story.
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PRESS RELEASES
Connectional Table
Connectional Table names top staff executive
CHICAGO — The Rev. Kennetha Bigham-Tsai, who has served on the West Michigan Conference cabinet, will be the Connectional Table’s chief connectional ministries officer starting Jan. 22. In that role, Bigham-Tsai will be the top staff executive of the body that acts as a sort of church council for the denomination, coordinating mission, ministry and resources. She has been a member of the Connectional Table since 2012.
Read press release
Religion and Race
Facing the Future 2018
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race plans its third “Facing the Future” conference for clergy serving in cross-racial/cross-cultural appointments. The conference is scheduled for May 7-9, 2018, in New Jersey. Early registration is open through Jan. 14.
To register
COMMENTARIES
Many Voices, One Faith
Joining Jesus in the neighborhood
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — “Being a disciple is a state of being where we learn to look and listen for God’s next move,” writes the Rev. Stephen Handy in the latest installment of “Many Voices, One Faith,” a forum for sharing theological perspectives on topics of interest in The United Methodist Church. For Handy, God’s “next move” was being appointed the first African-American pastor in an Anglo church’s more than 200-year history.
Read commentary
Many Voices, One Faith home page
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EVENTS
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.
Thursday, Dec. 7
Appalachian Christmas at Lake Junaluska
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