“I thinks it’s fair to say that a lot of people who worked on this, starting with the bishops, really were demoralized by the Judicial Council decision.” — The Rev. Don Underwood, one of the United Methodists seeking to bring back agency reform to General Conference.
C2016: Where is the zeal for agency reform?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — A determined group of United Methodists is bringing back a slightly revised version of the agency restructuring that General Conference passed but the denomination’s top court overturned. However, they are doing so without the advocacy of some major players in denominational leadership. Heather Hahn reports on what has changed.
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After tornadoes, bishop calls for prayer
GLEN ALLEN, Va. (UMNS) — Richmond Area Bishop Young Jin Cho is calling for prayer after tornadoes swept through Virginia, causing damage and killing at least one United Methodist. “But even as we grieve, we are responding with the love and hope of Christ,” the bishop said.
UMCOR prepares Fiji response
NEW YORK (UMNS) — The United Methodist Committee on Relief is reaching out to its partners, including the Methodist Church in Fiji, in response to the severe cyclone that struck the island nation. A United Methodist missionary couple, Wesley and Jerusha Neal, who both teach at the Davuilevu Theological College, said the storm destroyed homes, downed power lines, and interrupted the water supply. Linda Unger reports for UMCOR.
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Congressional briefing includes Palestinian villagers
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — The Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, joined a Palestinian delegation from the village of Wadi Foquin participating in a Feb. 23 Capitol Hill congressional briefing. The village illustrates the continuing violence waged in Palestinian-held lands in the Bethlehem district of the West Bank.
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Food is focus at Caring for Creation event
DECATUR, Ga. (UMNS) — The ninth annual national Caring for Creation Conference, April 8-9 at Decatur First United Methodist Church, will focus on food, food systems and faith. The conference is designed to help participants to think and pray deeply about food: the way we produce it, the way we consume it, and its importance in our faith. Early-bird reduced registration continues until March 15.
Historic images now available online
MADISON, N.J. (UMNS) — The United Methodist Commission on Archives and History announced it has finished posting online its photo albums focused on the denomination's ministry outside the U.S. between 1900 and 1950. The final total is 33,675 pages from 178 albums now accessible to the public.
South Carolina UMW: ‘For such a time as this’
COLUMBIA, S.C. (UMNS) — The South Carolina United Methodist Women know that they have been placed, like Esther, “for such a time as this.” The 2016 United Methodist Women Legislative Day featured speakers and workshops urging the women to take action on problems facing the state of South Carolina — specifically, the need for quality education and welfare for all children. Allison Trussell reports for the Advocate.
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Lent-Easter quiz: A question about Easter
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMC.org) — What is Eastertide? You can test your knowledge of the season with this and other questions from now until Good Friday.
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Looking ahead
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, email [email protected] and put Digest in the subject line.
Thursday, March 3
Webinar “Faith Formation in Children and Youth” ─ 6 to 7 p.m. CST. This webinar will look at the different characteristics of babies, toddlers, preschoolers, elementary-age children, tweens and teens, as well as the best ways to guide faith formation with each group. Elizabeth Christie, a Christian educator with The United Methodist Church, will lead. Practical Resources for Churches, an ecumenical group, presents this webinar. Details
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