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Daily Digest - January 17, 2023

“Without the association’s help, my daughters would not have managed to sit for the examinations. They would have probably dropped out of school.” Clara Machingauta, on receiving support from the Twins Association of Zimbabwe.
 

NEWS AND FEATURES

Twins group supports multiples, mothers

CHITUNGWIZA, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Growing up, United Methodist twins Tendai Mayor and Farai Lawyer Katonha took turns going to school because their family couldn’t afford the school fees to send both. In 2016, the brothers launched the Twins Association of Zimbabwe to assist others like them. Eveline Chikwanah has the story. 
Read story

Alabama-West Florida Conference 
United Methodist connection brings tornado relief 

SELMA, Ala. — A record number of United Methodist early response teams have responded since a band of tornadoes devastated Selma and other Alabama communities. The United Methodist Committee of Relief, the denomination’s relief arm, also gave the Alabama-West Florida Conference a $10,000 solidarity grant for immediate needs. The conference has this update on the need and the church response.
Read story 

Judicial Council
Church court adds bishops’ request to docket

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Judicial Council has added to its docket a request from the Council of Bishops for clarification on the church court’s Decision 1451. The ruling said new delegate elections are not required for the coming General Conference scheduled in 2024. The bishops’ request asked for the court to rule on related questions. Briefs are due Feb. 16, and reply briefs are due Feb. 26.
See docket 
See bishops’ questions 
UM News: Church court says no new elections needed

New England Conference
Conference leaders celebrate ‘The Embrace’

BOSTON — New England Conference leaders, including Bishop Peggy A. Johnson, attended the unveiling of “The Embrace,” a monument to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King in Boston Common. “The Embrace” sits on the 1965 Freedom Plaza, which honors more than 60 local civil rights leaders, including the late Rev. Gil Caldwell. Beth DiCocco has the story.
Read story 
UM News: Rev. Gil Caldwell, civil rights pioneer, dies 

Religion News Service 
5 Black United Methodist churches receive funds

WASHINGTON — Cory United Methodist Church in Cleveland, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X spoke in the 1960s, is among 35 historic Black religious sites that will receive a portion of $4 million in grants. Altogether five United Methodist churches across the U.S. are among recipients of the preservation funding from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. Adelle M. Banks reports.
Read story

Indiana Conference
Setting the table for dinner church

CARMEL, Ind. — Ministers in the Indiana Conference are experimenting with “dinner church.” It’s an attempt to attract people who don’t want the typical Sunday church experience, but do want connection to a community. The new expressions of church address spiritual and physical hunger. Elyse Garverick reports.
Read story


RESOURCES

The Foundation for Evangelism
Local church grants available for outreach

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — The Foundation for Evangelism has opened the 2023 Equipping the Local Church grant cycle. A total of $350,000 is available for grants of $5,000 or $10,000 to small and medium-size congregations, or clusters of churches working together, in a Wesleyan-tradition denomination. A grant application webinar is set for 2-3 p.m. U.S. Eastern time Jan. 26.
Learn more
Register for webinar 


RECENT HEADLINES

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EVENTS

Monday, Jan. 30-Friday, Feb. 10

Online course: Closing Conversations — An End-of-Life Care Guide

Monday, Feb. 6-Friday, Feb. 17
Online course: Becoming Accountable Disciples

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