Daily Digest - January 17, 2013

"United Methodist churches can play a big role in alleviating the stressful lifestyle of military families." - The Rev. Douglas J. Waite, U.S. Navy, retired from Chaplain Corps.

Embrace military families and give thanks

COVINGTON, Wash. (UMNS) - Encourage active and retired military to wear their uniforms to church on Jan. 20 and for Veterans Day, Memorial Day and other special events. "Get to know military families. Invite them to tell their stories," says the Rev. Douglas J. Waite, a U.S. Navy captain retired from the Chaplain Corps and pastor of Cornerstone United Methodist Church. "You will have them with you just two to three years, so don't waste time."
Read commentary and post a comment

UMTV: Vets helping vets

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Troops returning from active duty can face many challenges including injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder or having a spouse still deployed. The SAFE Network, Soldiers and Families Embraced, operates at a Wesley Foundation near the Fort Campbell, Ky., Army base. For some of the vets involved, ministering to other soldiers has proven to be the best medicine.
Watch video

Pastor writes guide for ministry with Iraq reservists

ORANGEBURG, S. C. (UMNS) - The Rev. Kenneth J. Walden, an elder in the California-Pacific Annual (regional) Conference and chaplain and professor at Claflin University, is the author of the newly published "Challenges Faced by Iraq War Reservists and Their Families." In a review of the book, Bishop Will Willimon noted, "Ken Walden, from firsthand experience with these veterans, gives solid help to pastors and congregations seeking to minister to those in pain in the aftermath of Iraq."
For more information about the book

Young adults in service

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Through the stories of three young adults searching for their paths in life, Sophia Agtarap, minister of engagement for Rethink Church, explains how the three "realize that sometimes your plans don't always go through. And even if some parts are planned, God has something different, perhaps unexpected, for you."
Read full commentary

Faith coalition commends Obama gun plan

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - A coalition of faith leaders formed to support policies that reduce death and injury from gun violence commended President Obama and the administration for the plan to reduce gun violence that was announced Jan. 16. "We believe Congress has a moral imperative to enact the life-saving measures proposed by the president and vice president," said the statement from Faiths United To Prevent Gun Violence, a coalition of more than 40 national faith denominations and groups representing tens of millions of Americans.
Read story and post a comment

Dillard to host Brazilian students in 2013

NEW ORLEANS (UMNS) - A partnership between United Methodist-related Dillard University and Brazilian higher education officials will bring 12 to 20 Brazilian students to Dillard to study for the next 18 months. The agreement is part of the Brazilian government's Brazil Scientific Mobility Program, as well as the HBCU-Brazil Alliance, a new initiative spearheaded by President Obama to deepen academic cooperation between Brazilian higher education institutions and U.S. historically black colleges and universities in the areas of science and technology.

2 more conferences join United Methodist Insurance

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - The Baltimore-Washington and Virginia annual (regional) conferences of The United Methodist Church have selected United Methodist Insurance as their property and casualty carrier. UMI is a wholly owned, nonprofit subsidiary of the General Council on Finance and Administration, the denomination's finance agency.
To learn more