Daily Digest - November 22, 2013

"In the name of God, what kind of city have we become?" - The Rev. William Holmes, preaching at Northaven Methodist Church in Dallas, two days after the Nov. 22, 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Pastor paid price for JFK sermon

DALLAS (UMNS) - Many, if not most, sermons fade from memory by Sunday lunch, but people in Dallas still talk about one the Rev. William Holmes gave there 50 years ago, just after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The sermon taking Dallas to task for allowing a poisonous political environment brought him death threats, as well as statements of support. Some call what happened with Holmes one of the more emotional and compelling subplots of the frenzied assassination aftermath.
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Petitioners ask bishop to end clergy trials

PHILADELPHIA (UMNS) - Two days after a United Methodist pastor was found guilty of violating the denomination's law book for officiating at his son's same-sex wedding, representatives of Faithful America presented United Methodist Bishop Peggy Johnson with a petition signed by more than 19,000 calling for an end to clergy trials. But it came out during the petition presentation that a new "supervisory action" has been started against another United Methodist pastor.
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Mixed reaction to requested complaint against bishop

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - The Council of Bishops' call for a complaint to be filed against one of its own is prompting mixed reactions from United Methodists across the theological spectrum - including from the bishops themselves.
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Church continues reassessment of international relationships

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) The United Methodist Church is likely to continue its decades-long struggle to define the relationship between churches in the United States and congregations in Africa, Asia and Europe. The Connectional Table, a United Methodist governing body, began to explore proposals to strengthen the denomination's worldwide nature.
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Groups approve budget-building guidelines

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) Members of the Connectional Table and the General Council on Finance and Administration established principles that will guide preparation of general church apportionment proposals to the 2016 General Conference, the denomination's top lawmaking assembly.
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Clergy ask Congress for 'genuine' immigration solutions

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - A letter sent to Congress Nov. 20 signed by more than 1,300 United Methodist clergy calls for "genuine solutions" for the U.S.'s broken immigration system. Among endorsers of the letter are 40 United Methodist bishops.
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Pensions agency honors leadership

GLENVIEW, Ill. (UMNS) - The United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits presented four distinguished leadership awards during its November meeting in Chapel Hill, N.C.
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Sunday, Nov. 24 helps United Methodist students

BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (UMNS) - As Mississippi United Methodists are planning to celebrate Student Day Special Offering Sunday, Abigail Herrington will be counting her blessings for being a two-time recipient of scholarships made possible through this special collection. Tamica Smith-Jeuitt of the Mississippi Annual (regional) Conference shares the difference giving can make for students like Herrington, youth and children's director at Alta Woods United Methodist Church in Jackson.
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Is war the main proposal?

BUSAN, Korea (UMNS) - Why does the world regard peace as the alternative to war? Why can't peace be the norm and war the exception?" The Rev. Liberato "Levi" Bautista, who directs the United Methodist Board of Church and Society's U.N. office, shares an excerpt from his presentation at one of the ecumenical conversations at the World Council of Churches.
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