"We want to send a joint message that The United Methodist Church is behind them as they try to reunite as a church." — Thomas Kemper, speaking about why two United Methodist general agencies are helping to fund a special annual conference in long-divided Burundi.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Agencies help fund Burundi reunification
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Two United Methodist factions that have long operated separately in Burundi plan to join for a special annual conference next month. The denomination’s finance and mission agencies are helping to fund the meeting in a rare move since both agencies cut funding to the East Africa Episcopal Area in 2012 over still unresolved auditing concerns. Heather Hahn reports.
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World Council of Churches
WCC meets with China Christian Council
SHANGHAI (WCC) — Christian unity was the overarching theme of a January visit from a World Council of Churches delegation with the China Christian Council and the Three-Self Patriotic Movement. The delegation also visited the East China Theological Seminary, one of the five regional seminaries of the China Christian Council.
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Oklahoma Conference
Oklahoman finds home parallels in Ukraine
OKLAHOMA CITY — In Perechyn, Ukraine, a weekly small group for women of Roma ethnicity reminded Sarah Nichols of her own church small group in Oklahoma. Nichols, who directs Project Transformation in the Oklahoma Conference, talks about the similarities.
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North Texas Conference
Church offers refuge from bitter cold
GARLAND, Texas — Axe Memorial United Methodist Church here became an overnight shelter during the bitter cold that gripped much of Texas earlier this week. Other local churches assisted, providing cots and meals. More than 60 people took advantage of the emergency warming station.
Watch WFAA-TV report
Church in Zimbabwe introduces kids to computers
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — The United Methodist Church has helped roll out a program that gives children access to computers at an early age. Murewa Day Care Center, the pilot school for the e-learning initiative, recently graduated 62 young students. The goal is to have computer laboratories at all United Methodist-run schools in Zimbabwe by 2025. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.
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Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UMNS
RESOURCES
General Council on Finance and Administration
Jan. 24 webinar planned on U.S. tax reform
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The new U.S. tax law has implications for employers, nonprofits, churches and individuals. The General Council on Finance and Administration, the denomination’s finance agency, will sponsor a webinar on the tax reform at 11:30 a.m. CST Jan. 24. The webinar is limited to the first 250 registrants.
Register for webinar
RECENT HEADLINES
'Black Archives Matter' campaign catches on
Commentary: Sharing the stories of refugees
EVENTS
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have a United Methodist event to share, you can add it to the calendar with this submission form.
Monday, Jan. 22-Friday, Feb. 2
Online lay servant workshop: Teach adults
Share your story or tips with us at [email protected].
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