“I like to say we’ve been in a COVID-forced reformation.” — The Rev. Duane Anders, pastor of the Cathedral of the Rockies/First United Methodist Church, in Boise, Idaho.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Churches urged to relaunch, not just reopen
DENTON, Texas (UM News) — Church leadership experts are urging pastors and churches not to miss an opportunity for change as COVID 19-restrictions lift. Pastors themselves say it’s important to continue the innovation and experimentation that marked church life in the pandemic. Sam Hodges offers the latest story in an occasional series on the post-pandemic church.
Read story
UM News: Rural churches emerging from coronavirus
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas
Clergy featured in vaccination videos
SAN ANTONIO — Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas has done a series of videos featuring clergy of the Rio Texas Conference asking people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The public service announcements are in English and Spanish and include a diverse group of clergy.
Watch sample video
See more from Methodist Healthcare Ministries on the vaccines
The Raleigh News & Observer
Man, deported from sanctuary, has died
DURHAM, N.C. — Samuel Oliver-Bruno, a Mexican man who took sanctuary at CityWell United Methodist Church in 2018, has died. Oliver-Bruno was in a very bad car accident in Veracruz, Mexico, in April 2020, after he was deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Oliver-Bruno succumbed to his injuries this week. Laura Brache reports.
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UM News: Church extends support to deported man
United Methodist Communications
Finding unexpected joy in memory care
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Retired and looking for a way to serve, United Methodist John Bell feared that volunteering with his church’s program for people with memory loss would be a sad experience, but it soon became apparent that instead there was a great deal of joy. One of the reasons for the success of the Respite Ministry program, leaders believe, is the love that radiates throughout. Crystal Caviness reports.
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The McGovern Report
Podcast features the Rev. Don Messer
MITCHELL, S.D. — The Rev. Don Messer, a longtime United Methodist leader, talks with The McGovern Report podcast about his efforts to promote health in Africa and combat violence against transgender people. The podcast is the voice of the McGovern Center for Leadership and Public Service at United Methodist-related Dakota Wesleyan University.
Listen to podcast
Read about Center for Health and Hope newsletter (PDF)
New 2021 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2021 annual conference reports. New this week are the Alaska, Burundi, East Ohio, Missouri, Pacific Northwest, Susquehanna and West Virginia conferences.
Read reports
RESOURCES
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
Financial lessons for the post-pandemic church
WASHINGTON — In the aftershocks of the COVID-19 crisis, many churches face a period of financial reckoning. The Rev. Lovett Weems and Ann Michel of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership offer eight tips for helping churches navigate uncharted territory.
Read tips
RECENT HEADLINES
Bishop Yeakel, caring leader, dies at 93
United Methodist health partnership offers hope
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