“These are challenging times. But we are also grateful to all the faithful members for all their giving.” — The Rev. Moses Kumar, top executive of the denomination’s General Council on Finance and Administration.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Denominational giving drops for third year
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Overall giving to denomination-wide ministries dropped in 2021 for the third consecutive year. At the same time, collections surged for the fund that supports United Methodist bishops. Heather Hahn reports.
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West Ohio Conference
Super Bowl rivalry wins for hunger relief
CINCINNATI — After an emotional Super Bowl loss, Cincinnati had one needed triumph: The city's United Methodists “beat” their Los Angeles partners in a friendly competition for hunger relief. Churchgoers in both cities raised more than $56,000 combined — fitting for Super Bowl 56. Nick Federinko has the story.
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Religion Unplugged
With sandwich ministry, church becomes hero
EDISON, N.J. — When New Dover United Methodist Church closed its doors in 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19, parishioners went home and made sandwiches. To date, members of the New Jersey church have made almost 100,000 of them. Tracy Simmons has the story.
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WITN-NBC
Church to cover funerals for plane-crash victims
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. — First United Methodist Church in this coastal North Carolina city pledged to cover the funeral expenses of all eight people killed in a private plane crash. Among the people killed in the Feb. 13 crash were four 10th-graders at a local high school. The WITN web team reports.
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Africa University, Discipleship Ministries
Correction: New scholarship fund honors Dotson
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Junius B. Dotson, who was the top executive at United Methodist Discipleship Ministries until his death last year, is being honored by the Black Staff Association of The United Methodist Church with a scholarship fund in his name at Africa University. More than $100,000 has been collected so far, which will be awarded to undergraduate students in the College of Business, Peace, Leadership and Governance at the university in Zimbabwe. An item in the Feb. 18 Friday Digest had the amount collected to date incorrect. UM News regrets the error.
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UM News: Discipleship's top executive dies of cancer
RESOURCES
United Methodist Communications
Course explores communicating amid change
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Communications is relaunching its “Communicating During Seasons of Change” four-week facilitated online course. The training will run 1-2 p.m. U.S. Central time on Tuesdays and Thursdays March 7-April 1. Supplemental resources and discussions will be provided each week. The deadline to register is March 2.
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To register
RECENT HEADLINES
Bishop Yambasu Agriculture Initiative harvests first crops
Black church honors past, points to future
EVENTS
Monday, March 14-Monday, March 28
Developing a Dynamic Praise & Worship Experience