GC2012 Radio: A Difficult Day

The issue of human sexuality in the United Methodist Church was the business of the morning; reaction to it took us into the early afternoon. This edition of GC2012 Radio features the voices and sounds of the day.

Voices heard in the piece:

Bishop Tom Bickerton (Western PA area)
Rev. Laurie Haller (West Michigan Conference)
Rev. Tim Reaves (North Carolina Conference)
Jill A. Warren (Methodist Federation for Social Action)
Bishop Sally Dyck (Minnesota Area)
Rev. Mike Slaughter (West Ohio Conference)
Rev. John Miles, II (Arkansas Conference)


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General Church
Bishop Gift K. Machinga (right) prepares to cut the ribbon at Mikundi Dairy Farm in Mikundi, Malawi, during his first visit to the country. Machinga says the church-run farm is a beacon of the income-generating projects he envisions for his episcopal area, which includes Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana. He is joined by the Rev. Daniel Mhone (center), superintendent of the Malawi Provisional Conference, Kephus Mtambo (left), the farm’s project coordinator, and community members. Photo by Francis Nkhoma, UM News.

Bishop’s visit signals new hope in Malawi

After years of legal turmoil in the country, Bishop Gift K. Machinga meets with church leaders to hear about challenges, create a roadmap for future.
Human Rights
Immigration Law and Justice Network has released an update on the impact of President Trump’s immigration policies, including an overview of what rights people have in interacting with immigration enforcement. However, the United Methodist ministry acknowledges asserting those rights, including the Fourth Amendment’s protections, now carries a greater risk. Parchment image by Safwan Thottoli, courtesy of Unsplash; map image by OpenClipart-Vectors, courtesy of Pixabay; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Know your rights when they’re under threat

United Methodist legal experts have released updated guidance for interacting with federal immigration enforcement, but they also note that asserting constitutional rights now carries more risks.
Immigration
Clergy members lead a demonstration against U.S. immigration-enforcement tactics at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Jan. 23 in St. Paul, Minn. About 100 clergy, including four United Methodists, were arrested. Photo by Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service.

US pastors stand against federal crackdown

United Methodist clergy from across the U.S. joined in an interfaith protest Jan. 23 against federal violence in Minnesota. Now with federal agents responsible for another person’s death, pressure for accountability is mounting.

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