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Daily Digest - February 18, 2020


"The reason for planting the church is to bandage the wounds of inmates, officers, families and communities at large." — Zimbabwe Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa on the planting of a church near a maximum-security prison.

NEWS AND FEATURES

Zimbabwe area plants church for prisoners, officers
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — The Zimbabwe Episcopal Area has planted a church near Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison to evangelize to inmates, officers and their families. Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa has appointed a pastor in charge to strengthen outreach at the prison. Kudzai Chingwe reports.
Read story

PRESS RELEASES

United Methodist Men
Addressing Boy Scouts' bankruptcy filing

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Men announced continued support for Boy Scouts of America amid its bankruptcy filing to address hundreds of lawsuits related to abuse accusations. The bankruptcy will not affect local Scout meetings or programs for youth. However, United Methodist Men stressed that children's safety is paramount.
Read press release
NBC: Boy Scouts of America file for bankruptcy

The Upper Room
Bilingual spiritual-formation academy slated

SAN ANTONIO — The Academy for Spiritual Formation announced it will offer matching grant funds up to $5,000 to United Methodist conferences to help individuals participate in the next bilingual two-year academy, which begins Aug. 10. The academy is for both Spanish and English speakers. Bilingual skills are not required for participation.
Read press release
To apply

Status and Role of Women
Eurasian retreat focuses on women's call

ROSCHINO, Russia — The United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women co-sponsored the first women's retreat for clergywomen and laywomen in the Eurasia Episcopal Area. They discussed women's call to ministry. Bishop Eduard Khegay and his wife, Vika Nogay, attended the women's retreat.
Read press release
Watch video

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.

Seeking future liberation from past oppression
BOSTON (UM News) — Conflict in The United Methodist Church is about so much more than homosexuality, writes a gay African American pastor. To the Rev. Jay Williams, the conflict is about the denomination's history of oppression.
Read commentary

RESOURCES

United Methodist Communications
Learn about the Black College Fund

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Did you know The United Methodist Church supports the largest number of historically black colleges and universities in the U.S.? Through the denomination's Black College Fund, church members support 11 black colleges and universities. Those with the highest enrollments receive a slightly higher amount.
See resources

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