“We have to start weighing what clothes we would bring to make room for materials we have to bring. The weight of the materials takes up almost all our weight allowance.” — The Rev. Damião Elias of Mozambique on packing for General Conference.
How technology could help General Conference delegates
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) — General Conference delegates from Africa, Asia and Europe have all the same responsibilities as their U.S. counterparts do, but they often have far less time to study legislation that could affect the church for years to come. The Commission on General Conference has started a pilot project using tablet computers that members hope will help overcome this obstacle. Heather Hahn reports.
Taking Ebola help to remote villages
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UMNS) — The United Methodist Church in Sierra Leone is intensifying the fight against the Ebola outbreak by joining efforts to reach remote villages. Communicator Phileas Jusu kept a diary of his trip with a relief convoy that spent three days on the road distributing food, soap, buckets and information about the deadly virus.
Native American leaders work to expand ministries
INDIANAPOLIS (UMNS) — More than 50 United Methodist Native American leaders from 17 states worked on ways to expand their ministries across the United States during a three-day conference here. The Rev. Anita Phillips, executive director of the United Methodist Native American Comprehensive Plan, said the conference was an attempt to define Indian culture rather than letting institutions define it. Dan Gangler has the story for the Indiana Conference.
Resources for Laity Sunday
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Laity in The United Methodist Church play a key role in transformational discipleship, and the denomination celebrates that role on Sunday, Oct. 19. The United Methodist Board of Discipleship offers resources for celebrating Laity Sunday.
Hope of Hearing team assists children in Haiti
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (UMNS) — It was a miracle of biblical proportions, says Gil Hanke, top staff executive of the United Methodist Commission on United Methodist Men. During the week of Oct. 6, a six-member Hope of Hearing mission team tested 351 children and fit 97 with hearing aids.
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.
Friday, Oct. 17
Deadline to submit videos for United Methodist panel on human sexuality — For the panel on Nov. 1, United Methodists can create YouTube video explaining a personal story that pertains to unity and/or human sexuality and pose a question about “Finding Our Way” to one of the bishops or the editor. Videos must be no longer than three minutes. Tag the video using #cttalks and email a link to [email protected]. Three videos will be selected and shown at the event. Details.
Friday-Monday, Oct. 17-20
Christians Engaged in Faith Formation conference “CEF2014: May the Circle Be Unbroken" — This is a conference for United Methodist Christian educators and leaders in faith formation from other denominations at Millennium Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Details.
You can see more educational opportunities and other upcoming events in the life of the church here.
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