Daily Digest - July 25, 2019

“She really brought an incredible and a unique insight into what needed to be done in the world.”Ellen Kirby, former executive with United Methodist Women, and a friend and colleague of the late Peggy Billings.


NEWS AND FEATURES

Peggy Billings, social justice advocate, dies at 90

NEW YORK (UM News) — Shaped by her Mississippi childhood and time as a missionary in Korea, Peggy Billings had a lifelong commitment to civil rights and social justice. The former staff executive for United Methodist Women and the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries died July 19 at the age of 90. Linda Bloom has the story.
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Virginia Conference
Church supports couple during fight for parental rights

ARLINGTON, Va. — The pastor and people of Walker Chapel United Methodist Church supported Jay Timmons and Rick Olson in their fight for the parental rights for their son, born via surrogacy. Forrest White reports on the family’s struggle and the role played by the church.
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Great Plains Conference
VBS draws from three churches, three cultures

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Three cultures were represented at Bristol Hill United Methodist Church’s vacation Bible school this year. Contingents of African children and Micronesian children came from two other churches. “We all recognize we’re all people, and bottom line, we’re all Christians and all worship Jesus,” said the Rev. Bruce Draper. David Burke reports.
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New 2019 annual conference reports posted 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting annual conference reports. New reports this week are Mountain Sky and Kivu. 
Read reports

Asbury Theological Seminary
Asbury president responds to alumni, student letter

WILMORE, Ky. — The Rev. Timothy C. Tennent, president of Asbury Theological Seminary, responded to open letter from seminary alumni and students calling for the school to “repent” of harm done to LGBTQ people. “It has become increasingly clear to many around the world that, despite the importance of the issues you raised, the deeper issue facing many in the contemporary western church is the authority of Scripture,” he writes.
Read response
Read alumni, student letter

Dakotas Conference
Leadership program helps pastors with business skills

MITCHELL, S.D. — Pastors in South Dakota and Minnesota who wish to lead more complex church systems are learning at the Non-Profit Church Leadership Program. The focus is on stewardship of financial resources, human resources, vision, strategy, community and communications. Dylan Dethlefsen reports.
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