“I conclude, his equal is not to be found among all the sons he hath brought up, nor his superior among all the sons of Adam he may have left behind.” — Francis Asbury reacting to news of the death of John Wesley.
Remembering the deaths of Wesley and Asbury
NEW YORK (UMNS) — After John Wesley died – 225 years ago this week – Francis Asbury noted in his journal that he probably would never read the works of the founder of Methodism again “without reflecting on the loss which the Church of God and the world has sustained by his death.” Asbury himself died 200 years ago at the end of March. Linda Bloom has the story.
New York board welcomes gay clergy candidates
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (UMNS) — The New York Conference’s board of ordained ministry announced March 1 that it would not consider sexual orientation in evaluating a clergy candidate, even if that individual is married to someone of the same gender. The announcement comes just weeks after the Baltimore-Washington Conference’s board of ordained ministry announced it was recommending a married lesbian as a provisional deacon. Heather Hahn reports.
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Eunice Jones Mathews dies at age 101
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — Eunice Jones Mathews, “wife, mother, author and noble soul,” died Feb. 27 at 101. She was the wife of the late United Methodist Bishop James K. Mathews and the only daughter of E. Stanley and Mabel Lossing Jones, renowned Methodist missionaries. But she left her own mark on the denomination. Kathy Gilbert reports.
Julia Wilke, Bible study co-author, dies at 83
WINFIELD, Kan. (UMNS) — Julia Wilke, who with her husband, United Methodist Bishop Richard Wilke, wrote the popular Disciple Bible Study Series, died Feb. 25 at age 83. She had suffered a stroke during major surgery.
Read Great Plains Conference obituary
Harry Denman nominations sought
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) — Nominations are open for the Harry Denman Evangelism Awards. The awards honor United Methodists in each conference whose exceptional evangelism brings people into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. Each year, annual conferences join the Foundation for Evangelism in recognizing one youth, one clergy member and one layperson in their conference.
Learn more
2 recognized for promoting religious literacy
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (UMNS) — Two United Methodists are being recognized by the Westar Institute, home of the Jesus Seminar, for advocating public religious literacy. The recipients are Barbara Wendland, a lifelong lay United Methodist and a member of Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology executive board, and the Rev. Glen “Chebon” Kernell, executive secretary for the Native American and Indigenous Ministries at the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
Read press release
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.
Sunday, March 6
One Great Hour of Sharing — Offering on this Special Sunday supports the administrative costs of the United Methodist Committee on Relief, the denomination’s disaster-response organization. United Methodist Communications is providing new resources for pastors and lay leaders to use in promoting One Great Hour of Sharing.
Get resources
Monday, March 7 to Sunday, March 20
Online course “Rediscovering Our Spiritual Gifts” from BeADisciple.com — All participants in the Body of Christ depend on the spiritual gifts God has given them. Learn more about your spiritual gifts — and how to help your congregation learn more about theirs — in this two-week workshop. $70. Details
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