“I think people, no matter what side of any issue you’re on, love the denomination, love our history. And this is the place where you can connect to it.” — The Rev. Maridel Whitmore, pastor of historic St. George’s United Methodist Church in Philadelphia.
Cathedral Church of American Methodism
PHILADELPHIA (UMNS) — St. George’s United Methodist Church, the oldest Methodist church building in continuous use in the U.S., was founded before the Revolutionary War. The onsite museum holds artifacts from John Wesley and Francis Asbury and the church offers a Time Traveler experience that gives visitors a chance to learn more about the denomination’s founding fathers.
Learn more about the Time Traveler experience
UMCOR grants assist recovery in Alabama, Florida
NEW YORK (UMNS) — The board of directors of the United Methodist Committee on Relief approved more than $1.5 million in grants to support ongoing disaster recovery work in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, writes Linda Unger. A record rainfall last spring in Alabama and Florida — 21 inches in just 24 hours — resulted in damaging floodwater. And a three-year recovery is winding up in Alabama after multiple tornadoes in 2011.
Politics of a rural church in North Carolina
SELMA, N.C. (UMNS) — The nationally aired public radio show “Here & Now” featured Edgerton United Methodist Church in this town where 30 percent live below the federal poverty level. Reporter Jeremy Hobson spoke to the church’s pastor, the Rev. Josh Kurtz, and members of the congregation about what issues matter to them in the upcoming midterms elections.
Course trains pastors in Central America
AHUACHAPN, El Salvador (UMNS) — A program that trains local pastors for El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica had 13 graduates this year. The program, which features online classes and concentrated weeklong retreats at a campus in El Salvador, has 110 students. The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s Nicole Burdakin has the story.
United Methodist college students ‘Imagine What’s NEXT’
DENVER (UMNS) — Hundreds of United Methodist college students will gather Nov. 7-9 in Denver, Colorado, for ‘Imagine What’s NEXT,’ a weekend of discernment, fellowship, worship and inspiration. NEXT is organized by a launch team of college students, campus ministers and other creative disciples from across the United Methodist connection, and is sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s Division of Higher Education.
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.
Sunday-Tuesday, Oct. 12-14
2014 Wright Lectures: Practical Approaches to Emerging Ministries — Gathering will be at Menucha Retreat and Conference Center near Portland, Oregon. Keynote speakers include the Revs. Jim Walker and Jeff Eddings, co-founders of Hot Metal Bridge, an emergent church in Pittsburgh that is a joint ministry of United Methodists and Presbyterians. Details
Monday, Oct. 13
Welcome Table at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington — 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET. Events for prospective students include a campus tour, networking opportunities and the chance to attend a class. Details
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