“These are the people that have built your church. They’re the pillars of your community. They have given their time, talent and treasure. And now when they need you the most, what has your church got for them as a ministry?” — Daphne Johnston, executive director of the Respite Ministry at First United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.
Church values gifts of those with dementia
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (UMC.org) — People with dementia still have plenty to offer, says the executive director of a respite care program at Montgomery First United Methodist Church. Daphne Johnston says the group does art, music, pet therapy, yoga and more. “So we do these things together, to send to the hospital, to send to the nursing home, to send to shut-ins. We travel all over the city to sing in different places. ... I think my group thinks they’re the Rockettes,” she said.
Watch video
10 ways churches can minister to those with dementia
British Methodists look at their identity
BIRMINGHAM, England — The annual British Methodist Conference, meeting June 22-29, reaffirmed the importance of being an interdependent and diverse church, reflecting on the fundamental importance of “connectionalism” to Methodist identity.
Read conference news releases
Methodists, Anglicans propose new relationship
BIRMINGHAM, England — The Methodist Church in Britain and the Church of England have published a joint report, “Mission and Ministry in Covenant,” which proposes that presbyters from each denomination be eligible to serve in the other and that the Methodist Church recognize the office of a president-bishop.
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34 young clergy grants awarded
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry has announced 34 recipients of the 2017 Young Clergy Initiative grants. The goal of the Young Clergy Initiative is to increase the number of young clergy in the denomination.
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UMW holds third dialogue for peace
BURG SCHLAINING, Austria — United Methodist Women held a third round of the Women’s Peace Dialogue June 27-29 at the Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution. The event brought together 25 female leaders from 15 Eastern European and Central Asian countries.
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2 Wesley Pilgrimages offered in 2018
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist clergy and laity will have an additional opportunity to join the Wesley Pilgrimage in England during 2018. For the first time, Discipleship Ministries will offer two pilgrimages in one year.
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No Daily Digest on July 3-4
There will be no Daily Digest on July 3 or on the Fourth of July. The digest will resume on July 5. The staff at United Methodist News Service wishes everyone a wonderful holiday.
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 10-Friday, July 21
Online Lay Servant Workshop: Rediscovering Our Spiritual Gifts — Participants in this two-week online workshop will learn about spiritual gifts — and how to help fellow congregants learn more about their own gifts. Participants are expected to read the Discipleship Resources book, “Each One a Minister,” by William J. Carter, and “Spirit Gifts,” by Patricia Brown. This course from BeADisciple.com has been approved by Discipleship Ministries as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries and qualifies for 10 contact hours for lay speakers. This course also is eligible for 1.0 CEU. Cost: $70. Details
See more United Methodist events
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