“The United Methodist Church is universal. We are happy to see our Wespath brothers and sisters step in today and put a smile on the faces of these students.” — The Rev. Kalema Tambwe, South Kindu District superintendent, on support for student pastors in Congo.
Wespath supports student pastors in Congo
KINDU, Congo (UM News) — Wespath Benefits and Investments, the pension agency of The United Methodist Church, is providing financial support to 12 theology students from Beni attending Kindu Methodist University. The students no longer receive regular assistance from their families due to insecurity in the region. Chadrack Tambwe Londe reports.
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NEWS AND FEATURES
Global Ministries
UMCOR assists 3 conferences after storms
ATLANTA — Three early relief grants from the United Methodist Committee on Relief will help speed recovery in conferences hit by harsh weather. The grants were approved to help tornado victims in the Alabama-West Florida Conference, communities in the North Georgia Conference hit by strong winds and hail, and those impacted by flooding in the California-Nevada Conference. Gifts to UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response and Recovery increase UMCOR’s ability to support conference disaster response ministries across the U.S. Barbara Dunlap-Berg reports.
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Give to UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response and Recovery
Church and Society
United Methodist leads climate symposium
NEW YORK — A symposium on “Securing People’s Wellbeing and Planetary Sustainability” was chaired by the Rev. Liberato Bautista, the United Methodist Board of Church and Society’s executive for United Nations and International Affairs. The Jan. 24 forum featured remarks by Bautista about how the intersecting threats to people and the planet keep meeting in the arena of religion. James Kang reports.
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knoxnews.com
Church finds fresh ways to reach out
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A 73-year-old church is reinventing itself by having meetings at a brewery and golf entertainment venue, as well as more traditional ministries such as feeding people in the community. Bearden United Methodist Church is led by the Rev. Brad Hyde, who says he’s concentrating on developing relationships using traditional and new ideas. John Shearer has the story.
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PRESS RELEASES
United Women in Faith
Tyrell retires from UWF
NEW YORK — Hortense Tyrell has retired as United Women in Faith’s Director of National Ministries. She has served for more than 36 years in a variety of roles with the women’s organization and the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. “Serving the ministries of United Women in Faith has been a great honor and privilege,” Tyrell said.
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COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Daily Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not UM News staff.
Global AIDS Committee
Support the fight against AIDS
WASHINGTON — For years, the United Methodist Global AIDS Committee has been hard at work promoting HIV and AIDS awareness and de-stigmatization while providing resources and education. But there is more work to be done. Bishop Julius C. Trimble, chair of the committee, issues an appeal for support to achieve an HIV- and AIDS-free world.
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RECENT HEADLINES
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EVENTS
Thursday, Feb. 2
United Women in Faith webinar: Faith Talks on Black History Month
Saturday, Feb. 11
United Methodist Rural Advocates webinar
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