Daily Digest — September 1, 2015

“I was incredibly blessed by witnessing the church and The United Methodist Church connection at its best during the time of healing hearts, homes and churches.” — The Rev. Chris Cumbest, who was disaster relief coordinator for Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina.

Pretty on the outside, still broken inside

NEW ORLEANS (UMNS) – Many people didn’t live, many places didn’t recover to celebrate Hurricane Katrina’s 10-year anniversary on Aug. 29, 2015. However, The United Methodist Church connection was at its best in responding to the monster storm. Kathy L. Gilbert and Mike DuBose report on the stories of rescue and rebuilding.
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Bishops, agencies to see insurance changes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - The board of The United Methodist Church's finance agency is making changes to the health coverage offered to bishops and general agency employees. The board is taking steps to avoid the Affordable Care Act's "Cadillac tax" on high-cost health plans that has the potential to affect far more than church employees. Heather Hahn reports.
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Read General Council on Finance and Administration press release

Connecting via Wesleyan small groups

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) – Wesleyan small groups can connect across borders and barriers, strengthening faith and relationships. Joe Iovino concludes his series on such groups by looking at how they can work together in different contexts.
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Blessings flow at river church

BRYSON CITY, N.C. (UMTV) – One United Methodist pastor has found a way to make sure those who work or play near the Nantahala River – paddling, climbing or hiking – can also worship on Sunday. “This is the perfect marriage of worship and recreation and re-creation and having that opportunity to have new life breathed into them,” said the Rev. Wayne Dickert of the River of Life Church.
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Donated camera made Ebola film possible 

DALLAS (UMNS) – Joseph Zeogar used a video camera donated by the North Texas Conference to make a documentary about the Ebola crisis as it affected his country of Liberia. He came to Dallas recently to show the film and offer thanks for the equipment that made it possible. The Rev. Sheron Patterson has the story.
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UMCOR Armenia health program gets results

NEW YORK (UMNS) – A recent intensive evaluation of a longtime health program administered by the United Methodist Committee on Relief in Armenia has shown that the program achieves or exceeds its health targets. David Tereshchuk reports for UMCOR.
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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, Sept. 4
Early-bird registration deadline for the Leadership Institute at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas – The pre-institute will be Wednesday, Sept. 30 and the institute will be Thursday-Friday, Oct. 1-2. This mainline church training event brings together clergy, church staff and volunteers who share a passion for renewing the church. The gathering includes more than 80 different ministry workshops in a variety of ministry areas. Before or on Sept. 4, registration is $45 per participant for the pre-institute and $149 per participant for the institute. Special rates for participants 28 and younger. Details

Thursday, Sept. 24
Lectures on the depiction of God and Jesus in film  – Lloyd Baugh, a visiting professor, will lecture on this subject on Sept. 24 at Candler School of Theology, a United Methodist seminary and part of Emory University in Atlanta. The lecture is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., in Room 360 at Candler. Registration is not required. The lecture is titled “The ‘God Question’ in Contemporary Cinema I: A Courageous Break with Tradition,” and there’s a second lecture on Oct. 14. Details.

You can see more educational opportunities and other upcoming events in the life of the church here.