"If you ask anyone on the street, ‘What’s the right way to treat an employee?’ they are going to say a person needs to work a reasonable number of hours and be compensated fairly." — The Rev. Nate Berneking, head of Missouri Conference finance.
New overtime rule means church changes
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — A new U.S. federal regulation makes more workers eligible for overtime pay, and churches are among the employers affected. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Summit addresses technology barriers for African women
ACCRA, Ghana (UMNS) — The United Methodist Church participated in the inaugural African Summit on Women and Girls in Technology, held Sept. 13-14. Nearly 150 digital equality advocates from across Africa and the world discussed solutions that will enable millions of African women and girls to access technology and use those skills to build a better Africa for all. Priscilla Muzerengwa reports.
Read story
Update on Commission on the Way Forward
WASHINGTON — The Council of Bishops executive committee announced that 29 United Methodists are being notified that they have been nominated to serve on the Commission on the Way Forward. The panel will address issues around homosexuality and church unity. The group includes eight bishops, 13 clergy and eight laity. The bishops have not publicly announced those being considered.
Read press release
Pastoral training now offered in Portuguese
BOSTON (UMNS) — Two United Methodist seminaries are collaborating to offer a new program for pastoral training in Portuguese. The initiative, promoted by the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry, enhances the church’s Brazilian outreach. Communicator Bruna Moraes reports.
Read story
William Tyndale, martyr for the Bible
SUGAR LAND, Texas (UMNS) — William Tyndale faced spies, a shipwreck and ultimately death to translate the Bible into English. The Rev. C. Chappell Temple, lead pastor of Christ Church, a United Methodist congregation, offers this remembrance of the 16th-century martyr.
Read commentary
Helping urban churches respond to violence, trauma
CHICAGO (UMNS) — The Northern Illinois Conference recently sponsored the Chicago Urban Summit, under the theme “faith in the public square: becoming the prophetic, pastoral and political church.” Speakers addressed how the church should respond to urban violence and help congregations become “trauma-informed.” Different Drummers and Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries offer a video recapping the event.
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, Oct. 18
Webinar “Intergenerational Worship 101” — 7 to 8 p.m. EDT. Worship is a wonderful space to engage and enliven the whole church — young and old, silent and speaking, calm and wiggly. This webinar from the ecumenical group Practical Resources for Churches explores possible frameworks and practices for worship within a community of all ages and stages. Details
Candler’s Howard Thurman Lecture “The Church and Its Care for Black Bodies” — 7 p.m. EDT. Reggie Williams, assistant professor of Christian ethics at McCormick Theological Seminary, will be the guest lecturer at this annual event of the Black Church Studies program at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. The lecture will be in Candler’s Room 252 at Emory University, 1531 Dickey Drive, Atlanta. Free, but registration is required. Details
Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.