“Climate change affects all of us, but Africa is the most vulnerable and that is why these groups of United Methodists have organized themselves to take action that will mitigate the problem and heal the land.” — Jefferson B. Knight, a United Methodist from Liberia.
Responding to global climate issues
NEW YORK (UMNS) — When Jefferson B. Knight attended the Paris climate summit at the end of 2015, he already knew that climate change was not a theory for debate but a present-day crisis in Liberia and other parts of Africa. But he and other United Methodists are concerned that the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate accord undermines global goals to address those issues. Linda Bloom reports.
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Commentary: Desert encroachment in Nigeria
Hardin led three United Methodist-related colleges
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (UMNS) — Few if any United Methodist educators could match the legacy of Paul Hardin III. The son of a Methodist bishop, Hardin was president of three United Methodist-related schools: Wofford College, Southern Methodist University and Drew University. He capped off his career as chancellor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Hardin died July 1, at age 86. Sam Hodges reports.
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WCC again calls for North Korea dialogue
GENEVA (WCC) — The World Council of Churches today reiterated an urgent appeal issued by its executive committee in June for “all states engaged in the perilously escalating military confrontation” in the Korean region to refrain from further escalation and to pursue initiatives to reduce tensions and create a window for new dialogue.
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Heritage center offers new grant
MADISON, N.J. — The African American Methodist Heritage Center offers a new grant to local United Methodist African-American congregations using innovative ways to recover, preserve and/or present their histories; or to individuals doing historical research or projects on African-Americans in Methodism. The grant, totaling $5,000, will be available every other year. Proposals are due July 31.
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Learn about the African American Methodist Heritage Center
New center for clinical pastoral education developed
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry announced the development of a new center for clinical pastoral education to meet the growing need for pastoral education resources within the denomination.
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Commentary: Preparing for the shift
WASHINGTON — The Rev. Doug Powe, incoming Lewis Center for Church Leadership director, says that demographic shifts will bring increased diversity to the neighborhoods around most churches in the coming decades. Rather than simply ignoring changes, churches can prepare for this shift, he writes.
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Wespath to launch 2 new funds
GLENVIEW, Ill. — Wespath Benefits and Investments will launch two new fixed income funds for institutional investors: the Social Values Choice Bond Fund and the U.S. Treasury Inflation Protection Fund. The two funds will become available to institutional investors July 1.
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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.
Thursday, July 13
Super early-bird deadline for Leadership Institute 2017 — The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, will offer the institute Sept. 27-29. Details
See more United Methodist events
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