“This new class of bishops will bring important perspective and experience to the council's work related to implementing the proposal (for a commission on human sexuality).” — Dakotas-Minnesota Area Bishop Bruce Ough, the Council of Bishops president.
July conferences to elect 15 U.S. bishops
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The five U.S. jurisdictional conferences, starting July 13, will elect a total of 15 bishops. The new class of episcopal leaders will have at least some influence on the bishops’ planned commission on human sexuality. Heather Hahn reports.
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Bishops respond to fatal shootings
BATON ROUGE, La. (UMNS) — United Methodist bishops in Louisiana and Indiana responded to recent violence, including fatal shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota. The two black men were killed by police officers and their deaths were captured on video. Louisiana Area Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey and other United Methodist clergy held a July 7 prayer service for both Sterling’s family and the police. Indiana Area Bishop Mike Coyner addressed mass shootings and police shootings in an “E-pistle” that calls for United Methodists to be peacemakers.
Watch Bishop Harvey’s video
Read Bishop Coyner’s E-pistle
British Methodists: Call your MP
LONDON (UMNS) — As the 2016 British Methodist Conference came to a close July 7, church members were asked to contact their members of Parliament “to put the needs of the nation before party politics.” The conference unanimously said it abhorred the actions and words — in the wake of the UK vote to leave the European Union — that incite hatred, division and racism. Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, ecumenical officer for the United Methodist Council of Bishops, was among the conference guests.
Conference news reports
Full conference website
Making time for prison ministries
LANSING, Mich. (UMNS) — Victor Asbury is a United Methodist who balances work with seminary studies and a passionate commitment to prison ministries. An ex-offender himself, Asbury is helping to stock a library at a Michigan prison. Karin Orr reports for the Michigan Area of The United Methodist Church.
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Drew hosts interfaith conflict mediation event
MADISON, N.J. (UMNS) — Thirty-five emerging religious leaders from across the globe — Jewish, Christian and Muslim — are gathered at United Methodist-related Drew University this month to learn about the latest techniques in conflict mediation and peacemaking. The Drew Institute on Religion and Conflict Transformation is hosted by the university’s Center on Religion, Culture and Conflict.
Read press release
Global summits motivate young leaders
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The fifth Young Leaders Summit — the primary leadership development program of Young People's Ministries — was held earlier this year in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Since the first event was held in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2012, 159 young leaders from 23 countries in Africa and Southeast Asia have gone through the program.
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Church pals seal generation gap
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (UMC.org) — Here is a ministry idea. The Special Pals ministry at First United Methodist Church in Grand Junction connects senior adult church members and students as pen pals.
Watch video
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.
Wednesday-Friday, July 27-29
“Reimagining Incarceration and Re-entry” Conference — St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, at 5501 Main St., Houston, will host the conference about how communities can help individuals reintegrate after their release from prison. ProjectCURATE in partnership with Houston:revision is spearheading the conference. Details
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