“He always was watching and looking for places where he could not only identify but then empower pastors and lay leadership to take on significant tasks.” — Dakotas Area Bishop Bruce Ough, speaking about his former mentor, James Armstrong.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Remembering a former bishop, social activist
NEW YORK (UMNS) — Three longtime United Methodist leaders are among those remembering a former bishop whose faith in their abilities, as well as in other young church members, helped create a lasting legacy for the denomination. A. James Armstrong died July 17 in Winter Park, Florida, at 93. Linda Bloom has the story.
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Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, Philadelphia Inquirer
Conference forgives debt for black churches
OAKS, Penn. — Black United Methodist churches in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference with large outstanding balances will have those debts cancelled as an “act of justice.” The measure was approved during the 2018 annual meeting. Many of the 29 predominantly black churches have been carrying debts since the 1968 desegregation of the church when they inherited deteriorating church structures, said the Rev. David W. Brown. John W. Coleman reports.
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Read Philadelphia Inquirer story
South Carolina Conference
Home, at last, from Haiti
CHAPIN, S.C. — A mostly youth mission team from Chapin United Methodist Church and a family from Leesville United Methodist Church were stranded in Haiti earlier this month because of fuel-price riots. Safely home, the team and family shared about their experience, including their continuing commitment to Haiti, with Jessica Brodie.
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United Methodist Communications
Using all our gifts
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMC.org) — The Rev. Charlie Baber, author and artist behind the Wesley Bros. comic, explains the need for Christians to use all of their gifts in serving God. His interview with the Rev. Joe Iovino is part of the Get Your Spirit in Shape series.
Watch video and read story
October Judicial Council docket
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The docket for the October meeting of the United Methodist Judicial Council has 14 items, including the request from the Council of Bishops that the top court rule on whether the proposed legislation for the One Church, Connectional Conference and Traditional plans passes the constitutional test. The Judicial Council meets Oct. 23-26 in Zurich.
Full Judicial Council October docket
PRESS RELEASES
Higher Education and Ministry
United Methodist students can borrow more
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist students can now borrow twice as much money for college from the United Methodist Student Loan Fund, the Office of Loans and Scholarships at the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry announced. The amount students can borrow was doubled to $10,000 a year with a lifetime maximum of $40,000.
Read press release
RECENT HEADLINES
Uniting Methodists get strategic https://www.umnews.org/en/news/uniting-methodists-get-strategic
One year later, church continues support for landslide survivors https://www.umnews.org/en/news/one-year-later-church-continues-support-for-landslide-survivors
EVENTS
Tuesday, July 24
Tuesdays in the chapel
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