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First delegations near gender parity
CHICAGO (UMNS) — Of the 11 U.S. annual (regional) conferences that have elected delegates so far for the 2016 United Methodist General Conference, women are close to achieving parity with men, the July “Women by the Numbers” report from the Commission on the Status and Role of Women shows.
Byrd Bonner elected vice chair of interfaith board
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Byrd Bonner, president of the United Methodist Church Foundation, has been elected by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility to serve as the vice chair of its board of directors. The center is a coalition of active shareholders who view the management of their investments as a catalyst for change, especially in promoting justice and sustainability in the world.
Digital agreement links Methodist museum, Duke
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) — The World Methodist Museum has a new director, Jackie Bolden, and is working with Duke Divinity School Library to preserve some correspondence of John Wesley and others through the library’s digital archive.
Looking ahead
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, email [email protected] and put Digest in the subject line.
Border Crisis Prayer Vigil, Tuesday, July 15 — 5-10 p.m. CT, Gathering at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Gethsemane Campus, 6856 Bellaire Blvd. in Houston. It is sponsored by the Texas Annual (regional) Conference Hispanic Ministries Committee. Details.
Deadline to register for School of Congregational Development 2014, Tuesday, July 15 — Gathering Thursday-Sunday, Aug.14-17 sponsored by the United Methodist boards of Discipleship and Global Ministries at Matthews United Methodist Church, Matthews, 801 S. Trade St., Matthews, N.C. $425. Details.
Free webinar “What’s the Job of Conference and District Lay Leaders?” Wednesday, July 16 — 6:30 p.m. CT. Jodi Cataldo of the United Methodist Board of Discipleship will facilitate a conversation on these ministries. Details.
Free webinar “Creating a Culture of Innovation Part 1: Can My Leaders Innovate?” Thursday, July 17 — 6:30 p.m. CT. This 90-minute session led by Craig Kennet Miller of the United Methodist Board of Discipleship will introduce tools for implementing new ministry strategies in local churches. Details.
Deadline to register for online course “United Methodism 101,” Tuesday, July 22 — United Methodist Communications will offer the course July 23-Sept. 3. $9.99. Details.
Free webinar “Congregations as Discipling Communities” Tuesday, July 22 — 6:30 p.m. CT. This webinar will focus on a model where congregations can create safe, open and relational spaces where disciples at all stages of their faith journey can share their experiences. Details.
Introduction to United Methodist Board of Church and Society seminar program, Wednesday-Friday, July 23-25 — Youth group and young adult leaders are invited to attend a three-day “In Focus” familiarization event about United Methodist Seminars on National and International Affairs. The program will introduce the seminars and will explain how to organize and lead a group for these tailored study experiences in the U.S. capital. Details.
Korea Peace March and Vigil, Friday-Saturday, July 25-26 — The event in Washington, sponsored in part by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, will include an ecumenical roundtable and focus on how to establish lasting peace and eventual reunification on the Korean Peninsula. Details.
Festival of Wisdom and Grace, Monday to Thursday, July 28-31 — Columbia (S.C.) Area Bishop Jonathan Holston will be the conference preacher at this time of worship and learning at Lake Junaluska (N.C) Conference and Retreat Center. The theme is “Living Ordinary Time with EEEE’s — Enthusiasm, Encouragement, Engagement and Empowerment.” Details.
Deadline to register for United Methodist conference “Walking with Palestinian Christians,” Wednesday, July 30 — Gathering Thursday-Friday, Aug. 7-8 sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries and host Ginghamsburg Church, 6759 S. County Road 25A, Tipp City, Ohio. Details.
Deadline for early-bird registration for “Make Worship More Creative” workshops in the Upper New York Conference, Friday, Aug. 1 — Day-long workshops featuring worship coach Jason Moore will be Monday, Sept. 8 through Thursday, Sept. 11 at different churches around the conference. Cost is $25 per person, and $65 per church. Details.
Webinar “Plan Your Year Round Stewardship Campaign,” Tuesday, Aug. 5 — 7-8 p.m. ET. Course teaches how a congregation can develop a holistic process that will help people grow in faith and give generously, led by the Rev. Paul B. Nickerson, former pastor and now owner of Nickerson Coaching. $10. Details.
Annual meeting of MARCHA (Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic Americans), Thursday, Aug. 7 to Sunday, Aug. 10 — Gathering will be at Hacienda Hotel LAX in Los Angeles. The Rev. Alexia Salvatierra, lecturer at New York Theological Seminary and expert on faith-rooted advocacy, will be the main speaker. Bishops Minerva Carcaño and Warner Brown will preach. Details.
Free webinar “S.O.S. for Teachers Schedule, Organization, Safety,” Thursday, Aug. 7 — 7-8p.m. ET,Help for a successful Christian education season, led by Jane Kintzi, a consultant at the Parish Resource Center. Details.
Lion & Lamb Christian Festival, Friday-Sunday, Aug. 8-10 — A number of United Methodist entities, including the Indiana Annual (regional) Conference, are sponsors of this gathering at Fort Wayne, Indiana. $25. Details.
Shreveport, Louisiana Skeeter Run, Saturday, Aug. 9 — The first of six 5K and one-mile run/walks in the Louisiana Annual (regional) Conference to support Imagine No Malaria, the denomination’s initiative to eradicate preventable deaths from the disease. The other five runs will take place across the state on Saturday, Oct. 11. $20 registration. Details.
Deadline to apply for Ethnic Local Church Grants, Sunday, Aug. 10 — The grants, distributed by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, aim to strengthen ethnic minority local churches through education, advocacy or leadership development as they engage in social justice. Details.
Deadline for early-bird discount on 2015 United Methodist Program Calendars, Sunday. Aug. 31 — Order before date and receive 10 percent discount. Use Promo Code CAL15EP.
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