Daily Digest - May 4, 2017

"The present-day crisis requires an investment, a clear investment." — Bishop Minerva Carcaño, speaking for new United Methodist spending for immigration initiatives.

Bishops back immigration initiatives

DALLAS (UMNS) — The Council of Bishops, meeting in Dallas through May 5, lent its support to new denominational efforts on immigration. The bishops also received an update on efforts toward full communion between The United Methodist Church and Episcopal Church. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story

Pastoral response to Judicial Council decision

DALLAS — The United Methodist Church’s Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops presented a pastoral message to the church May 4 during the Council of Bishops meeting. The message is about the Judicial Council decision regarding the South Central Jurisdictional Conference’s questioning of the process surrounding the election of Bishop Karen Oliveto, the denomination’s first openly lesbian bishop. 
Read press release and watch video message

A look at Christian themes in 'Star Wars'

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Rethink Church) — For many, there’s a reflexive urge to respond “and also with you!” every time we hear “May the Force be with you.” It could be that the stories and themes told in "Star Wars" closely resemble some stories and themes in our own Christian tradition. Ryan Dunn and Chris Fenoglio write about those themes for Rethink Church, part of United Methodist Communications.
Read story 

Michigan mission leader remembered

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Rev. Robert C. Smith, who died April 20, was celebrated in an April 29 memorial service that recounted his commitment to mission. Smith served as conference council director of the West Michigan Conference and was a faithful partner for the United Methodist Committee on Relief. He was a force behind West Michigan’s mission giving, which led the denomination for years. Kay DeMoss reports.
Read story

May 8 blessing for new missionaries

ATLANTA — Seventeen new missionaries will be blessed May 8 by leaders of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries in preparation for being formally commissioned at regional church conferences in late spring and early summer.
Read story
Watch blessing service live

British Methodist ecumenical leader dies

LONDON (WCC) — Pauline Webb, a British Methodist laywoman and the first woman to serve as vice-moderator of the World Council of Churches’ governing bodies, died April 27 at the age of 89 in London. From 1979 until retirement in 1987, she was organizer of religious broadcasting for the BBC World Service.
Read story 

Candler trains clergy in interfaith dialogue

ATLANTA — United Methodist Candler School of Theology at Emory University offers a course combining readings and study of the three Abrahamic faiths with real-world encounters. “If we’re going to connect academic study to the way we live in the world, we need to understand and connect with living faith communities,” said the course’s professor. Emory University has the story.
Read story 

Young adult spots open for Canada indigenous visit

NEW YORK — The World Student Christian Federation-North America is planning an “indigenous solidarity” trip to Winnipeg, Canada, June 15 to 19. Four spots are open for U.S. students and young adults and four for students and young adults from Canada. The application deadline is May 25.
To register

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.

Tuesday, May 9

What Do You Need to Know about Pre-Diabetes? — 2-3 p.m. Central. This interactive webinar by Wespath Benefits and Investments, the pension agency of The United Methodist Church, will help participants understand the diagnosis of pre-diabetes and steps to take to reverse it. Details

See more United Methodist events