“There’s no place I’d rather be. This is where I feel completed.” — Kathy Freeman on historic Chubb Chapel United Methodist Church and Chubbtown, Georgia, both founded by her free black ancestors.
Little church looms large in black history
CAVE SPRING, Ga. (UMNS) — Chubb Chapel United Methodist is an unusual church founded by rural Southern blacks who had been free before the Civil War. The historic church and surrounding unincorporated community called Chubbtown are getting new attention thanks to Nick Chubb, a descendant of the founders who’s a star running back for the University of Georgia. Sam Hodges reports.
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Listen to a capella gospel singing from Chubb Chapel
Letter to persecuted Christians
NEWARK, N.J. — An ecumenical letter to persecuted Christians around the world commits to raising awareness of their plight. Christian Churches Together, a fellowship of Christian denominations in the U.S. that includes The United Methodist Church, conceived the statement during a March gathering of some 40 heads of communions and representatives of all the major Christian traditions. The May 9 statement also is intended for use in prayer, liturgical resources and Bible study.
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Learn more about Christian Churches Together
Runyon, influencer at Candler seminary, dies at 87
ATLANTA — As “the young Turks,” Theodore H. Runyon Jr. and his academic peers were instrumental in Candler School of Theology’s early involvement in the civil rights movement and other hot-button issues. They also “laid a foundation of collegiality that would endure for decades and bless the United Methodist seminary with an academic culture that was, and to this day remains, the envy of many more fractious schools,” writes Kendall Soulen, a former student and current professor. Runyon, professor emeritus of systematic theology, died May 11 at the age of 87.
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Churches form affordable daycare partnership
PERKINS, Okla. — Affordable daycare with a Christian curriculum is being offered here through a partnership between Perkins First United Methodist Church and nearby Lost Creek United Methodist Church. The Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation provided seed money for the effort, begun last year. Sixty-five children are enrolled. Holly McCray reports for the Oklahoma Conference.
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Garrett-Evangelical tops $100 million goal
EVANSTON, Ill. — Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary has surpassed its $100 million capital campaign goal with a recent $5 million commitment to its unrestricted endowment from Ernest and Bernice Styberg of Naples, Florida. The Forging Our Future campaign is the largest fundraising effort in the United Methodist seminary’s 162-year history.
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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.
Monday, May 22-Friday, May 26
Five-Day Intensive Workshop on Creating a Safe Sanctuary Policy — This online workshop is for congregations without a Safe Sanctuary policy or with an outdated policy. Participants will learn why congregations should have an up-to-date policy, what the policy includes generally and specifically, and how to get a policy written, approved and implemented — or edited. The course from BeADisciple.com costs $50 and is eligible for 0.5 CEU. Details
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