“There were lots of people in transition. I didn’t provide them with all the answers, but I tried to be a really good listener, to walk with them and let them talk it out.” — Bert “Wildcat” Emmerson, 2015 Appalachian Trail chaplain.
Walking, listening on the Appalachian Trail
MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Bert “Wildcat” Emmerson, a member of Maryville First United Methodist Church, didn’t let a hernia stop him from walking 400 miles from Pennsylvania into Virginia. As the 2015 Appalachian Trail chaplain for the Holston Conference, he was to walk all 2,190 miles from start to finish. Melanie Tucker has the story for The Daily Times.
Meet the chair of General Conference planning
PORTLAND, Ore. (UMC.org) — Judi Kenaston is a lifelong United Methodist who enjoys the worship and the fellowship as well as the process of General Conference. As a volunteer, she chairs the commission that plans the denomination’s top legislative body, which will meet May 10-20. “I have prayed for General Conference every day, from the moment I was asked to chair the commission.”
Watch video
Elaine Heath named Duke Divinity dean
DURHAM, N.C. (UMNS) — The Rev. Elaine A. Heath, a theologian, preacher, teacher and writer, will be the next dean of the United Methodist Duke Divinity School. At present, she is the McCreless Professor of Evangelism at Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology in Dallas.
Read press release
Commentary: Building a Claremont-Florida bridge
LAKELAND, Fla. (UMNS) — A graduate of progressive Claremont School of Theology in California serving an internship at a church in a conservative part of Florida? It happened, and Kim Edwards, the intern, and the Rev. David McEntire, pastor of First United Methodist in Lakeland, have written a joint essay about the bridge that was built.
Read Florida Conference commentary
Mission connection may expand pastoral training
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (UMNS) —Training Kenyan pastors — mostly nondenominational pastors who cannot attend seminary — has been a passion project for the Rev. Gordon Hendrickson for a decade. Now that educational opportunity may be extended to United Methodist pastors in Tanzania as well, thanks to the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.
Atlantic City team emphasizes home ownership
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (UMNS) — The Atlantic City Communities of Hope team is focusing on creating more ways for people to own homes in the city. “We want to develop a home-ownership program,” said the Rev. William Williams III, the pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Atlantic City and one of the leaders for Atlantic City Community of Hope. Jeff Wolfe reports for the Greater New Jersey Conference.
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.
Tuesday, March 15
Deadline to apply to be an ethnic young adult intern in Washington — The United Methodist Board of Church and Society is seeking young people of color to apply for summer internships in the U.S. capital. Details
Webinar “Congregational Hospitality: How to Really Welcome the Stranger” — As a visitor to a different congregation almost every Sunday since September 2002, Beth Lewis will offer ideas for how churches can practice hospitality. Lewis is president and chief executive officer of Augsburg Fortress, the publishing arm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Practical Resources for Churches, an ecumenical group, presents this webinar. Details
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