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Daily Digest - June 23, 2022

“We want to do everything we can to grow Scouting through The United Methodist Church.”Bishop John Schol.

NEWS AND FEATURES

New era for church and Boy Scouts of America
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) —The United Methodist Church will continue to partner with the Boy Scouts of America but in a new relationship that should lighten the load for local churches. The shift comes after a difficult two years that has included the BSA’s child sex abuse-related bankruptcy proceeding and the pandemic. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story 
 
United Methodist Communications
Connection congregation lives up to its name
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When two churches in the Donelson neighborhood voted to merge in 2019, the combined congregation made a statement with their choice of name for the new entity. Connection United Methodist Church has been living up to its name ever since. In addition to a close relationship with Hickman Elementary School, Connection allows two other churches to worship there and houses a counseling service that bills on a sliding scale. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story 

Upper New York Conference
Finding Jesus at a truck stop
BREEZEWOOD, Pa. — Chaplain Bruce Maxwell is a deacon from the Upper New York Conference serving the Susquehanna Conference in a unique ministry setting: a truck stop. Many individuals have found Christ there through Maxwell’s encouragement. He shares the story of Billy, who had a hard upbringing and has struggled with drug addiction. Through reading the Bible and learning more about Jesus, Billy has made progress. Maxwell has the story.  
Read story 

New 2022 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2022 annual conference reports. New this week are the Alabama-West Florida, Baltimore-Washington, Holston, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Peninsula-Delaware and South Georgia conferences.
Read reports 

Victoria Advocate
Church embraces different music styles 
VICTORIA, Texas — At First United Methodist Church, there are two distinct types of music used in worship services: a traditional choir with pipe organ in the main church and contemporary music to help people reach out to God in an adjacent service called Ignite. Catherine Kohn takes an in-depth look at how the church makes the two-styles approach work.
Read story 


PRESS RELEASES

Bank of America 
Bank grant supports Claflin University’s center
ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Bank of America plans to invest $500,000 to support the Claflin University’s Center for Social Justice and the Pathways From Prison Program. The Pathways From Prison Program provides incarcerated individuals in South Carolina access to the university’s academic programs. United Methodist-related Claflin University is one of the 11 institutions supported by the denomination’s Black College Fund.
Read press release 


COMMENTARIES

UM News includes in the Daily Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not the UM News staff.

Creating a Culture of Renewal
The role of the church in addressing gun violence
CASPER, Wyo. — Churches often feel overwhelmed with the idea of taking on potentially divisive issues, the Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter acknowledges. However, she says churches have a positive role to play in addressing the tragedy of mass shootings. It starts with recognizing there is no single answer. 
Read commentary  


RESOURCES

Gammon Theological Seminary
Survey of Black views extended to June 30
ATLANTA — The deadline for Black clergy and laity to respond to a survey on The United Methodist Church’s future has been extended to June 30. United Methodist Gammon Theological Seminary is collaborating with several Black United Methodist organizations on the survey. 
Take survey 


RECENT HEADLINES

Africa University celebrates its 28th commencement

Commentary: United Methodist bishops in global perspective


EVENTS

Monday, July 11-Saturday, July 23
Online course: Called to Preach

Monday, Aug. 1-Wednesday, Aug. 3
Black Clergywomen of The United Methodist Church Annual Meeting




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