"It is critically important for churches to be educated and loving so that families and individuals know the church cares about them in the midst of their struggles." - The Rev. Cynthia Abrams, United Methodist Board of Church and Society.
Mental health care: Training equips churches
OAK LAWN, Ill. (UMNS) - Pastors of three congregations with widely divergent demographics agree on at least one thing: Mental illness affects everyone, and United Methodists need to address the issue. This is the second in a series for Mental Health Awareness Month.
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Bishops hold 2nd consecutive closed meeting
SAN DIEGO (UMNS) - Active United Methodist bishops next week plan to hold their second large gathering in a row that is closed to the press. The gathering for bishops with residential responsibilities will be more like a retreat to exchange ideas, bishops say. Some longtime church observers say the meeting should be open.
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United Methodist bishops work toward common goals
SAN DIEGO (UMNS) - "Exploring leadership for an emerging church" will be the theme of the first meeting of the Forum of Residential Bishops, scheduled on May 5-9.
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Church's documentary on malaria to air on NBC stations
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - On the heels of World Malaria Day, NBC television affiliates plan to air "An Extraordinary Effort to Catch a Killer in the Dark," beginning May 5. The documentary, produced by United Methodist Communications, covers the fight against the deadly, but easily preventable, disease and was updated from when it first showed in 2011. Check local listings for airtimes.
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United Methodists reach out in FloraBama
MOBILE, Ala. (UMNS) In this case, the mullets are fish, not bad hairdos. And Perdido Key United Methodist Church members got into the act at the 29th annual Interstate Mullet Toss. They served food and energy drinks to workers at the popular event, where people pay a fee to throw a mullet from Alabama, across the state line into Florida. "We're trying to practice what Christ continues to tell us to do," explained the Rev. Jeremy Mount, discipleship pastor. AL.com has the story.
Wespath pushes EPA Vehicle Emission and fuel standards
GLENVIEW, Ill. (UMNS) - Wespath Investment Management participated in a public hearing held in Chicago on April 29, advocating for the Tier 3 fuel standard regulations being brought forward by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Wespath, representing the United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits, was the only investor to participate at the EPA hearing. Starting in 2017, Tier 3 would set new vehicle emissions standards and lower the sulfur content of gasoline, considering the vehicle and its fuel as an integrated system.
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'By all means, save some!'
TRENTON, N.J. (UMNS) - Amid recent tragedies in Boston and West, Texas, retired United Methodist Bishop Felton May points to the failure of the U.S. Senate to pass a bill on gun safety as potential for future tragedy and violence. In a commentary, May cites disappointment in politicians "who broke the hearts of gun victims' families everywhere and also broke their vow to represent the interests of voters, an overwhelming majority of whom support universal background checks for gun purchases."
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