“I think the vast, inclusive number of women’s voices that we have represented in the writings is beautiful and wonderful.” — The Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli on The CEB (Common English Bible) Women’s Bible.
Women's edition of Bible offers new light
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The CEB (Common English Bible) Women’s Bible offers an index of all the female characters in Scripture. It provides biographical sketches of many of them, and brief, Scripture-based articles on such topics as fertility, miscarriage, menopause and God as mother. All editors of and contributors to the new edition are women, and many are United Methodists. Sam Hodges reports.
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Agency report: Finance and Administration
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — In 2016, the General Council on Finance and Administration placed a priority on professional development for staff while increasing the services they offer to the rest of the denomination. Part of a series of reports on the work each general agency accomplished last year.
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Church returns help received after storm
ALBANY, Ga. (UMNS) — After devastating storms in early January, members of El Faro, a Hispanic United Methodist congregation, helped area churches clean up and recover. This week, Albany First United Methodist returned that help by assisting people sheltering at El Faro after the deadly Jan. 21-22 storms. Kara Witherow reports for the South Georgia Conference.
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Conference responds to storms
Ruth Thomas, bishop's widow, has died
ATLANTA (UMNS) — Ruth Naomi Wilson Thomas, wife of the late Bishop James Samuel Thomas, died Jan. 17. She was 95. In 1964, her husband made history when he was elected bishop and assigned to the previously all-white Iowa Conference. As the wife and partner of the bishop, Thomas also helped break racial barriers.
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Scholarships available for ecumenical event
MINNEAPOLIS (UMNS) — The Council of Bishops is offering scholarships for young adults, ages 21-35, to attend the National Workshop on Christian Unity and United Methodist Ecumenical and Interreligious Training. The gatherings will be May 1-4 in Minneapolis. The deadline for scholarships is Feb. 28.
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Methodism in Cuba: Singing the spirit
Methodism in Cuba has eclipsed its pre-revolutionary beginnings and emerged as a visible and vital part of Cuban society. Writer Linda Bloom and photographer Mike DuBose visited the island for United Methodist News Service just before Fidel Castro’s death. Their four-part report, “Singing the Spirit in Cuba,” begins next week.
LOOKING AHEAD
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.
Mondays, Jan. 30-March 20
Leadership training for new children’s ministers — 8 p.m. CST for eight weeks. This eight-week interactive distance-learning series features seasoned children’s ministers with expertise in particular areas to support children’s ministers through those first steps. The series from Discipleship Ministries offers the foundational pieces for visioning and organizing children’s ministry. Details
Wednesday, Feb. 8
Webinar “3 Reasons Your Church's Brand Matters” — 1 p.m. CST. During this free, 45-minute event, participants can ask real-time questions to learn why churches should care about branding, how branding has helped the denomination and ways United Methodist Communications can serve local churches. Register
More United Methodist events
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