“We hope that when you leave … this experience, that you leave with something that says, ‘When I leave these doors, I will be the change that I want to see.’ We’re asking you to do just that, in your change in conversations, change in your actions and the way we relate to one another.” — The Rev. Domini Henry, co-chair of the Mississippi Conference’s End Racism for Good campaign.
Mississippi church services target racism
HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. (UM News) — The scourge of racism persists, as does the urgency to defeat it at last, said participants in the second of five events this year in the Magnolia State as part of the Mississippi Conference’s End Racism for Good campaign. A panel discussion on the topic “Can Racism End in Society?” was the lengthiest program on the agenda, which also included a passionate sermon and music by the Rust College A’Cappella Choir. Jim Patterson has the story.
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Birmingham-Southern College to close
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (UM News) — Birmingham-Southern College, founded by Methodists and with longstanding ties to The United Methodist Church, will close May 31 after years of financial struggle. North Alabama Conference Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett described herself and many others as “heartbroken” and noted that the college has produced many United Methodist clergy. Sam Hodges reports.
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NEWS AND FEATURES
General Conference Guide available
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The new Guide to the Postponed 2020 General Conference is now available for download at umcgc.org. This UM News resource is packed with information on how General Conference works, its history and major legislative issues, along with background on The United Methodist Church. For those attending the April 23-May 3 event, the guide also includes information on the host city, Charlotte, North Carolina, and the convention center. It is available in English, French and Portuguese.
Download guide
Visit General Conference site
Series highlights women trailblazers
SEVERNA PARK, Md. (UM News) — During Women’s History Month, UM News is lifting up its 2023 series of video interviews by the Rev. Tori Butler with Black women pioneers in the church. In these interviews, part of the “Hollering for Change” series, Butler goes in-depth with women who have achieved “firsts”: the Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross, Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, the Rev. Candace Lewis, the Rev. Angela Redman and Bishop Dee Williamston.
Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
Bishop LaTrelle Easterling
Rev. Candace Lewis
Rev. Angela Redman
Bishop Dee Williamston
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
Historic church survives fire, adjusts ministry
PHILADELPHIA — Recovering from an electrical fire that damaged part of its building, 162-year-old Arch Street United Methodist Church still will hold Holy Week and Easter Sunday services. While full restoration will take months, the church’s nonprofit also is able to continue its ministry with the unhoused. John W. Coleman has the story.
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California-Pacific Conference
Churches open doors to aid storm recovery
SAN DIEGO — In the aftermath of January’s devastating storms and flooding in the San Diego area, thousands of families found themselves displaced, their homes damaged and their lives upended. Area United Methodist churches have opened their doors to volunteers, including from the California-Nevada Conference, who are helping with recovery efforts. California-Pacific Conference staff report.
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COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Digest commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not UM News staff.
Central conferences already have exit paths
FREIENSTEIN, Switzerland (UM News) — Christine Schneider, a reserve delegate to General Conference from the Switzerland‐France‐North Africa Conference, writes that disaffiliating from The United Methodist Church is an option that has long existed in the central conferences — church regions in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. She respond to a recent commentary by the Rev. Rob Renfroe, president of the traditionalist caucus Good News.
Read commentary
Read Renfroe commentary
RESOURCES
United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy
Webinar looks at General Conference and inclusion
DENVER — The United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy and Friends plans to hold a webinar titled “The Resurrection of an Inclusive Church: United Methodism’s Upcoming General Conference” at 5 p.m. U.S. Mountain time April 9. Keynote speakers include the Rev. Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of Resurrection, a United Methodist church in Leawood, Kansas, and Mountain Sky Conference Bishop Karen P. Oliveto.
Learn more and register
RECENT HEADLINES
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EVENTS
Saturday, April 6
Justice for All Conference: Race, Class and Economic Justice
Monday, April 22
Breaking Barriers AIDS Conference
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