“We are not whole without the gifts of all.” — Bishop Joel Martinez, in his episcopal sermon to the 2000 General Conference.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Ask The UMC
Celebrating an advocate for justice
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Retired Bishop Joel Martinez, born into an immigrant, farm-working family and nurtured in the Methodist tradition, is known as a defender of the poor and advocate for social justice. For more than half a century, he has spoken out against abusive labor practices and ethnic/racial discrimination. Ask The UMC has more on Martinez in the latest installment of its Pioneers in Methodism series.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Greater Northwest Area
Church responds to wreckage of Alaskan typhoon
NOME, Alaska — The typhoon that hit more than 1,000 miles of Alaska coastline in late September didn’t just damage buildings; it also disrupted generational ways of living for years to come. The fish camps that provide people sustenance are mostly gone. Kristen Caldwell reports on how United Methodists are working to get needed relief to remote villages before winter weather sets in.
Read story
Great Plains Conference
Spotlighting options beyond orphanages
LEAWOOD, Kan. — Bible passages abound that urge the faithful to care for the widow and orphan. During Church of the Resurrection’s Leadership Institute, participants heard a presentation from Helping Children Worldwide about alternatives to orphanages for caring for children around the globe. Helping Children Worldwide plans to hold a webinar, “What’s Next: A Strong Family for Every Child,” at 10 a.m. U.S. Central time Oct. 12. David Burke has the story.
Read story
Register for webinar
Michigan Conference
Election help sought
LANSING, Mich. — United Methodists in the Michigan Conference are being asked to answer a call from state officials to volunteer as election workers during the midterm elections on Nov. 8. “Please … give every consideration to offering this service to your community,” said Bishop David Bard. “This is not about partisan politics. It is about the healthy functioning of our democracy and making sure that the voting process works well for all those exercising their right to vote.” James Deaton has the story.
Read story
The New York Times
Play halted over racial epithets
FORT WORTH, Texas — United Methodist-affiliated Texas Wesleyan University has halted a production of the play “Down in Mississippi,” after students expressed concern that racial epithets in the script could contribute to what they see as an unwelcoming campus environment. The play focuses on early 1960s efforts to register Black voters in Mississippi. The play’s author, Carlyle Brown, is Black, and said he used the epithets to get across what voting rights activists were up against. April Rubin reports.
Read story
RESOURCES
Center for Scouting Ministries
Scouting agreements extended to Dec. 31
NASVILLE, Tenn. — Boy Scouts of America and The United Methodist Church have agreed that all present agreements between congregations and Scouting troops have been extended to Dec. 31. This includes charters, affiliation agreements and facilities-use agreements. Boy Scouts of America Councils need to restructure as part of a bankruptcy plan. The Center for Scouting Ministries, part of United Methodist Men, is providing a conference resource page that helps with answering questions about the current BSA and United Methodist Church relationship.
See resource page
UM News: New era for church and Boy Scouts of America
RECENT HEADLINES
Moving ministries from idea to fruition
Hurricane recovery begins in Florida
EVENTS
Saturday, Oct. 22-Monday, Oct. 24
All People Conference
Monday, Oct. 31-Friday, Nov. 18
Building Relevant Leadership Structures in Rural Congregations
NEWS AND FEATURES
Ask The UMC
Celebrating an advocate for justice
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Retired Bishop Joel Martinez, born into an immigrant, farm-working family and nurtured in the Methodist tradition, is known as a defender of the poor and advocate for social justice. For more than half a century, he has spoken out against abusive labor practices and ethnic/racial discrimination. Ask The UMC has more on Martinez in the latest installment of its Pioneers in Methodism series.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Greater Northwest Area
Church responds to wreckage of Alaskan typhoon
NOME, Alaska — The typhoon that hit more than 1,000 miles of Alaska coastline in late September didn’t just damage buildings; it also disrupted generational ways of living for years to come. The fish camps that provide people sustenance are mostly gone. Kristen Caldwell reports on how United Methodists are working to get needed relief to remote villages before winter weather sets in.
Read story
Great Plains Conference
Spotlighting options beyond orphanages
LEAWOOD, Kan. — Bible passages abound that urge the faithful to care for the widow and orphan. During Church of the Resurrection’s Leadership Institute, participants heard a presentation from Helping Children Worldwide about alternatives to orphanages for caring for children around the globe. Helping Children Worldwide plans to hold a webinar, “What’s Next: A Strong Family for Every Child,” at 10 a.m. U.S. Central time Oct. 12. David Burke has the story.
Read story
Register for webinar
Michigan Conference
Election help sought
LANSING, Mich. — United Methodists in the Michigan Conference are being asked to answer a call from state officials to volunteer as election workers during the midterm elections on Nov. 8. “Please … give every consideration to offering this service to your community,” said Bishop David Bard. “This is not about partisan politics. It is about the healthy functioning of our democracy and making sure that the voting process works well for all those exercising their right to vote.” James Deaton has the story.
Read story
The New York Times
Play halted over racial epithets
FORT WORTH, Texas — United Methodist-affiliated Texas Wesleyan University has halted a production of the play “Down in Mississippi,” after students expressed concern that racial epithets in the script could contribute to what they see as an unwelcoming campus environment. The play focuses on early 1960s efforts to register Black voters in Mississippi. The play’s author, Carlyle Brown, is Black, and said he used the epithets to get across what voting rights activists were up against. April Rubin reports.
Read story
RESOURCES
Center for Scouting Ministries
Scouting agreements extended to Dec. 31
NASVILLE, Tenn. — Boy Scouts of America and The United Methodist Church have agreed that all present agreements between congregations and Scouting troops have been extended to Dec. 31. This includes charters, affiliation agreements and facilities-use agreements. Boy Scouts of America Councils need to restructure as part of a bankruptcy plan. The Center for Scouting Ministries, part of United Methodist Men, is providing a conference resource page that helps with answering questions about the current BSA and United Methodist Church relationship.
See resource page
UM News: New era for church and Boy Scouts of America
RECENT HEADLINES
Moving ministries from idea to fruition
Hurricane recovery begins in Florida
EVENTS
Saturday, Oct. 22-Monday, Oct. 24
All People Conference
Monday, Oct. 31-Friday, Nov. 18
Building Relevant Leadership Structures in Rural Congregations