"Resistance is a gift. Redemption and liberation is what we need. Justice will shepherd us through."
— Norma P. Dollaga, a United Methodist deaconess who is part of a coalition opposing extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.
Filipino United Methodists condemn killings
MANILA, Philippines (UMNS) — United Methodists are among the leaders of an alliance of human rights lawyers, civic organizations, survivors and families of victims who are speaking out against extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. Gladys Mangiduyos has the story.
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Court sets oral hearing on gay bishop issue
NEWARK, N.J. (UMNS) — An oral hearing on a petition questioning whether a gay pastor can serve as a bishop in The United Methodist Church will open the spring meeting of Judicial Council, the denomination’s top court. The hearing — set for 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 25, at the Hilton Hotel at the Newark Penn Station in Newark — is the only portion of the council’s April 25-28 meeting that is open to the public. Linda Bloom reports.
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United Methodist seminary placed on probation
LEAWOOD, Kan. (UMNS) — The Higher Learning Commission, one of two agencies that oversees accreditation for Saint Paul School of Theology, has placed the school on a two-year probation. Kathy L. Gilbert has the story.
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CWS applauds halt of travel ban
NEW YORK (UMNS) — Church World Service, an ecumenical refugee resettlement organization that includes The United Methodist Church, said it is “heartened” by the ruling halting President Donald Trump’s rewritten travel ban. The restraining order stops the provision to bar individuals from six majority Muslim countries from coming to the U.S., as well as the four-month suspension of refugee resettlement and the reduction of refugee admissions from 110,000 to 50,000.
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Bush honors vets with art book
DALLAS — Former President George W. Bush, who attends Highland Park United Methodist Church here, has been at the easel a lot since leaving the White House. A new book of his art, “Portraits of Courage,” honors service members and veterans and has made the best-seller list. USA Today reports.
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Pastor tried to draw attention to 1940 lynching
LAGRANGE, Ga. — A marker memorializing four local victims of lynching will be dedicated March 17 at Warren Temple United Methodist Church here. In 1940, the church’s pastor, the Rev. L.W. Strickland, tried to draw attention to the lynching of Austin Callaway by helping to organize an NAACP chapter and holding mass meetings. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the story.
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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.
Friday, March 24-Saturday, March 25
Creative Ministry Festival — 6 p.m., March 24 - 4:30 p.m., March 25 EDT, Herndon United Methodist Church, 701 Bennett Street, Herndon, Virginia. The Creative Ministry Festival offers training in a wide variety of creative arts techniques including puppetry, ventriloquism, black light, music, ballooning, children's leadership, and much more. Details
Friday, March 24-Sunday, March 26
Get on the Bus to Tulsa: Let’s Talk About Race — 6 p.m., March 24 to 3 p.m., March 26, Centenary United Methodist Church and Post Oak Lodge, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Join other United Methodists for conversations about race, bias, the Tulsa race riot and other relevant topics. Hannibal Johnson, the author of "Black Wall Street — From Riot to Renaissance in Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District," is the keynote speaker. Sponsored by Oklahoma Conference Commission on Religion and Race and Oklahoma Conference's Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century. Details
See more United Methodist events
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