“The unintended positive consequence of a pandemic was it turned more people to look for resources that didn't involve face-to-face contact.” — Steve Wilke, executive director of the Institute for Discipleship, which offers its BeADisciple courses online.
NEWS AND FEATURES
COVID sparks interest in BeADisciple courses
WINFIELD, Kan. (UM News) — BeADisciple, an online Christian learning program that encourages small groups, was a rare business aided by the coronavirus pandemic. It has offered more than 2,000 courses since 2006 and taught close to 20,000 students. Its number of students and classes actually went up in 2020. Jim Patterson has the story.
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Judicial Council to review church-exit rules
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s top court faces multiple docket items stemming from a new church law that allows congregations to leave with property. The court also faces questions about the deadline for submitting legislation to the pandemic-postponed General Conference. Heather Hahn reports on the fall docket.
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See fall 2021 docket
UMC.org
Finding ministry in apple butter
ROCKY GAP, Va. — James Sink, a member of Rocky Gap United Methodist Church and retired teacher, began making apple butter when he was in high school. Now, he has turned the Appalachian treat into a ministry for his United Methodist Men’s group. United Methodist Communications has the video.
Watch video and read transcript
The Greeneville Sun
Children’s home youth help in art project
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Artist João Paulo Goncalves credits students in his art classes at Holston United Methodist Home for Children with helping to make the art project “Aging Out/18 Years Old” a reality. Goncalves’ project, featuring the crisis of children “aging out” in juvenile residential homes, has won an international prize. Lorelei Goff has the story.
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KETK
Church honors school custodians
TYLER, Texas — Pollard United Methodist Church honored custodians at Tyler High School for their faithful service during the COVID-19 pandemic, including sanitizing counters and other surfaces on top of usual chores. The church provided $25 gift cards and baked goods for the workers, encouraging them to use them for Thanksgiving dinners. Diante Marigny reports.
Read story and watch video
No Daily Digest Nov. 24-26
There will be no UM News Daily Digest Wednesday through Friday this week in observance of the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.
PRESS RELEASES
Wisconsin Conference
Bishop: Be vocal for justice
PRAIRIE, Wis. — United Methodists should continue to demand justice in the wake of the acquittal last week in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, writes Bishop Hee-Soo Jung in a pastoral letter. The bishop also called for prayer and support for the people of Waukesha after an SUV plowed into a Christmas parade, leaving at least five dead.
Read letter
Read bishop’s call for prayer for Waukesha
Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe
European Methodists call for prayer for migrants
WARSAW, Poland — During its 2021 annual conference meeting in October, The United Methodist Church in Poland released a statement regarding the migrants at the Poland-Belarus border, calling for prayer and providing assistance if possible. “We cannot remain silent when we see how a part of our country has become a place of humanitarian crisis,” the statement reads. The European Methodist Council has released its own statement, referring to the one from The United Methodist Church in Poland.
Read Poland United Methodist Church statement
Read European Methodist Council statement
RESOURCES
United Methodist Committee on Relief
Churches who help Afghans eligible for grant
ATLANTA — Churches helping refugees from Afghanistan resettle in the U.S. are eligible for $1,000 grants through a partnership between the United Methodist Committee on Relief and Church World Service. Recognizing that providing resettlement support to refugees presents congregations with new responsibilities, the relief agency is offering to share some of the costs. Applications are being taken through April 30.
To apply
Learn more
UM News: Global Ministries, UMCOR approve $10M in grants
The Connectional Table
What’s next after being saved?
CHICAGO — The Rev. Connie Semy P. Mella, an ordained United Methodist elder who serves as the academic dean of Union Theological Seminary in the Philippines, leads the next “Tuesdays at the Table” online conversation. She will discuss what it means to respond with gratitude to God's grace in our lives. The discussion will premiere at 10 a.m. U.S. Central time Nov. 23 on Facebook.
Learn more
Watch on Facebook
RECENT HEADLINES
Connectional Table aims to restructure
Setting criteria for a 2022 General Conference
EVENTS
Sunday, Nov. 28
United Methodist Student Day