Daily Digest - February 7, 2020

“We are wanting to help General Conference do its best work.”Bishop David Bard on calling for a special session of the Michigan Conference to consider forwarding the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace legislation to the 2020 General Conference.


NEWS AND FEATURES

Conferences to vote on forwarding protocol legislation

LANSING, Mich. (UM News) — At least two United Methodist annual conferences plan to vote next month on whether to forward legislation to the 2020 General Conference for the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation. Though the protocol itself made international news with its announcement in early January, the legislation to enact it has just been released. Sam Hodges reports. 
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Read protocol legislation

Church helps train marginalized women, youth
FIZI, Congo (UM News) — The United Methodist Church in East Congo has collaborated with the Congolese government to open a vocational training center for women and youth. Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda said he sought out the partnership to help the faithful in his episcopal area — many of whom are women who cannot read or write or are victims of sexual violence — provide a better life for themselves. Philippe Kituka Lolonga has the story.
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Faith & Leadership 
Helping churches help themselves and their communities

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Wesley Community Development, a nonprofit supported by the Duke Endowment, helps North Carolina churches better manage their assets. The goal is to strengthen churches financially while also providing resources for community development. Yonat Shimron reports for Faith & Leadership. 
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Response Magazine
Providing sanctuary in Northern Ireland

BELFAST, Northern Ireland — The East Belfast Mission of the Methodist Church in Ireland has been working to facilitate reconciliation between Catholics and Protestants and support marginalized neighbors. Kim Cooper, the community chaplain, works to bridge the gap between community and church. Her salary is supported by United Methodist Women’s mission giving. Niles Sprague has the story.
Read story


PRESS RELEASES

General Council on Finance and Administration

Agency offers more data on denomination finances
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The General Council on Finance and Administration is providing information about the financial realities of the general church to help with ongoing conversations within the denomination. The agency’s board plans to review feedback when it meets in-person in March.
Read press release
Financial narrative: The possible impact of proposed legislation

Higher Education and Ministry
Agency offers to administer conference loans, scholarships

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Annual conferences can now farm out administration of student loans and scholarships to the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry. The North Carolina Conference was one of the first to utilize the service.
Read press release
 

RECENT HEADLINES 

New effort starts for same-sex weddings
 

Theological e-Academy is ‘game changer’ in East Africa 
 

EVENTS

Monday, Feb. 24-Saturday, April 4 

Online Bible study: The Promise of New Hope 

 



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