"The action of the council is in no way intended as support or opposition to the proposed Plan UMC but an effort to facilitate the work of the 2016 General Conference." — San Francisco Area Bishop Warner Brown Jr., the Council of Bishops president.
Bishops ask if agency restructure plan is constitutional
BERLIN (UMNS) — The denomination's top court will be asked to weigh in on a proposal to restructure The United Methodist Church’s general agencies before General Conference delegates consider the plan in May 2016. The Council of Bishops stressed that the decision to ask for a Judicial Council review did not endorse or oppose the plan. Heather Hahn has the story.
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Rebuilding hope in Baltimore
BALTIMORE (UMNS) — After an emotional roller coaster of a week, members and others at Ames United Methodist Church in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood of Baltimore — near where recent riots took place — packed hygiene items and food provided by the United Methodist Committee on Relief to give to local residents. The Baltimore-Washington Conference has the story.
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BMCR president calls for real action from churches
ATLANTA (UMNS) — United Methodists and their churches need to take real, intentional action in addressing deaths of young African American men in police custody, writes the Rev. Cedric Bridgeforth, head of Black Methodists for Church Renewal. “Real action at this time calls for every person who calls her or himself a follower of Jesus to ponder what righteous statement of faith or act of mercy you must perform to demonstrate your commitment to healing our land. Too many of our black men are dying and too many of us are too silent to make a difference,” Bridgeforth writes.
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NCC makes change in Bible translation management
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — Riggins International Rights Services will assume responsibility for domestic and international rights management of the Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version translations of the Bible, effective June 1. The NCC owns the copyright to the RSV and NRSV translations.
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Rural advocates finalize General Conference petitions
WORTHINGTON, Ohio (UMNS) — Fifteen leaders of United Methodist Rural Advocates gathered recently to finalize petitions and resolutions for the 2016 General Conference, the denomination’s top legislative body. The leaders also discussed ways that their group can work more effectively to address poverty.
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Get resources for Aldersgate Day
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — United Methodist Discipleship Ministries has worship materials and articles reflecting on John Wesley's conversion moment for churches to use in observing Aldersgate Day on May 24.
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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, May 12
Deadline to register for United Methodist Communications online course "United Methodism 101" — Course offered May 13-June 24 on the denomination's history, structure, ministries and challenges. $9.99. Details.
Thursday, May 14
Deadline for nominations for the 2015 Distinguished Evangelist of The United Methodist Church Award — With this honor, the Foundation for Evangelism celebrates a United Methodist clergy or lay person whose personal ministry in evangelism is recognized throughout the denomination. Details.
You can see more educational opportunities and other upcoming events in the life of the church here.
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