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Daily Digest - November 14, 2019

“The events since the adjournment of the Special Session of General Conference illustrate how deep our division is. Sadly, even greater discord, chaos and fighting loom on the horizon at the 2020 General Conference in Minneapolis.”Statement from eight bishops calling for “deeper conversations.”


NEWS AND FEATURES

Group of bishops calling for ‘deeper conversations’

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UM News) — Eight United Methodist bishops are calling for a new form of unity amid differences over human sexuality that seem to be pushing The United Methodist Church toward a split. The bishops, four active and four retired, signed a statement and offered it to the church, calling for "deeper conversations regarding new expressions of Methodist witness." Kathy L. Gilbert reports.
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Struggling Ghana church seeks support
BUDUBURAM, Ghana (UM News) — Buduburam United Methodist Church in Ghana is in danger of closing if leaders who helped to establish the church fail to act quickly, said the Rev. James Y. Kaifunbah, pastor in charge. Although the church is still part of the Liberia Conference, it is not receiving any administrative or financial assistance, he said. E Julu Swen has the story.
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Iowa Conference
Church awarded money for flood cleanup

HAMBURG, Iowa — Disaster Ministries of the Iowa Conference has awarded $30,000 to First United Methodist Church to help with community cleanup efforts from spring flooding.
Read story and watch video

NPR
Supporting first-generation college students 

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — First-generation college students at United Methodist-related North Central College are treated with care in an effort to make their experience go well. The Cardinal First program holds workshops on how to negotiate college life and helps students find mentors. Elissa Nadworny reports.
Read or listen to story


PRESS RELEASES

The Upper Room
Pockets, devozine magazines to cease publication

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Pockets and devozine, devotional magazines for children and youth, will shut down after their January-February 2020 issues, The Upper Room announced. The Rev. Stephen D. Bryant, publisher, says that new technologies have caused circulation losses and The Upper Room will look for new ways to reach these audiences.
Read press release

Emory & Henry College
$5 million gift to fund career center

EMORY, Va. — A new career center at United Methodist-related Emory & Henry College will be funded by a $5 million grant from The van Vlissingen Student Foundation. 
Read press release 


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