United Methodist News and Communications Service
- Daily Digest - Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors. The people of The United
Methodist Church – UMNS Weekly Digest – Wednesday, 27 November 2013
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NOTE: This is a digest of news features
provided by United Methodist Communications for Nov. 25 - Dec. 2. It includes
summaries of United Methodist News Service stories and additional briefs from
around the United Methodist connection. Full versions of the stories with
photographs and related features can be found at http://umns.umc.org.
Getting ready for the holidays
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Making church more welcoming at Christmas
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Outreach at any
time of the year takes time, patience and persistence, but especially at
Christmas. United Methodist Communications offers some tips on how to reach
more people during the Advent and Christmas seasons.
Read tips
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‘Tis the season … to think of alternative
gifts
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — It is that time
of year when shopping seems to overwhelm everything. Tita Parham points out in
Interpreter Magazine how many are turning to alternative gifts.
Read story
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UMC #GivingTuesday gifts have twice the
impact
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Kick off the
season of giving by making an online donation to mission through The Advance on
#GivingTuesday, Dec. 3, and double the impact of your gift. On that date,
online gifts to any project through The Advance, the designated giving channel
of The United Methodist Church, will be matched 100 percent up to the first
$500,000. Every gift to The Advance goes to the intended ministry; no
administrative costs are taken from donations.
UMC #GivingTuesday
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Christmas shopping can benefit local
churches
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The United
Methodist General Council on Finance and Administration, in partnership with
some of the largest online retailers, has built a shopping tool that provides a
cash benefit for your church when you purchase through the UMCmarket — items
you might be buying anyway. How does it work? Create an account at
UMCMarket.org and designate the church of your choosing.
To sign up
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Help ‘Just Save One’ from HIV/AIDS on
Giving Tuesday
NEW YORK (UMNS) — As a follow-up to the
Dec. 1 observation of World AIDS Day, consider a donation to the United
Methodist Global AIDS Fund on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 3, when contributions will
be matched dollar for dollar. The fund’s new initiative, “Just Save One,”
focuses on preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Learn more about the Global AIDS
Contribute to Advance Special No. 982345
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Gifts to help to feed the hungry
BIG ISLAND, Va. (UMNS) — The Society of
St. Andrew offers ways to honor your family and friends while still helping to
feed the hungry. Gifts donated on Tuesday, Dec. 3, will be matched dollar for
dollar. Society of St. Andrew is a nonprofit ecumenical organization with the
mission of introducing people to God’s grace through meeting their hunger.
Giving Tuesday
Alternative Christmas Card
News in the church
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Bishop remembered as wise, compassionate
leader
MINNEAPOLIS (UMNS) — “Over the years, his
primary concern was not so much organization or institution, but compassion for
people,” said Harlyn Hagmann, a retired Minnesota pastor and a longtime friend
of the late Bishop Wayne K. Clymer. The bishop passed away Monday, Nov. 25.
Read obituary
Arrangements
Background information
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Publishing House lays off two executives
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Neil Alexander,
president and publisher of the United Methodist Publishing House, has announced
that two executives who have made substantial contributions to the work of the
publisher for more than a decade will be leaving Dec. 31. Ed Kowalski, senior
vice president of marketing and sales, and Alyce Meadors, vice president of
human resources, will end their full-time employment.
Read story
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Developer backs out of purchase of
Publishing House property
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Neil Alexander,
the president and publisher of the United Methodist Publishing House, announced
Nov. 25 that the developer TVG Holdings LLC is not able to proceed with the
purchase of the Publishing House's property at 201 8th Ave. in Nashville.
"We will now pursue other options," Alexander said.
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Finance agency responds to clergy housing
ruling
MADISON, Wis. (UMNS) — A federal judge in
Wisconsin has ruled that an Internal Revenue Service exemption that allows
clergy to shield their housing allowances from federal income taxes is
unconstitutional. But the ruling is on hold until appeals are exhausted. The
General Council on Finance and Administration, the United Methodist finance
agency, is monitoring the case.
Read statement from the General Council
on Finance and Administration
Read Religion News Service story about
the case
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Diverse group of young adults consider
God’s call
DENVER (UMNS) — Speaker after speaker
told the 429 young adults gathered to explore ordained ministry in The United
Methodist Church that God is calling them to go change the world and the
church. Vicki Brown has the story about Exploration, sponsored by the United
Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
Read story
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British church issues letter after
minister’s arrest
LONDON (UMNS) — The British Methodist
Church issued a pastoral letter Nov. 25 to all its ministers, noting that “it
has been a difficult and sad week for many of us because of the allegations
made against the Rev. Paul Flowers and then his subsequent arrest.” Flowers,
who had been suspended from his ministerial duties pending investigation, was
arrested Nov. 21 in connection with a drug-related inquiry.
Read pastoral letter from The Methodist
Church in Britain
Read more on the arrest
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Apply now for central conference
theological education grants
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Applications
for grants for projects aimed at improving United Methodist theological
education in the central conferences in Africa, Europe and the Philippines can
be submitted starting this week at www.centralconferencegrant.dreamhosters.com.
Read news release
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Finance agency OKs insurance merger
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The board of
the General Council on Finance and Administration, the denomination’s finance
agency, on Nov. 22 approved the merger of United Methodist Property and
Casualty Trust into United Methodist Insurance Company. Board members expect
the move to save the finance agency more than $100,000 a year.
Learn more about United Methodist
Insurance
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New director of older adult ministries
starts
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The Rev.
William B. Randolph, former chaplain at a senior living community in
Pennsylvania, will become director of aging and older adult ministries at the
United Methodist Board of Discipleship on Dec. 1. Randolph will assume the
position formerly held by Richard H. Gentzler Jr., who retired on June 30 after
serving as director for 13 years.
Read news release
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New post for church planter
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UMNS) — Bishop Larry
Goodpaster has announced the appointment of the Rev. Gary A. Shockley as Western
North Carolina Annual (regional) Conference congregational development team
leader.
Read news release
United Methodists aid Philippines
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Church helps rebuild communications in
Philippines
MANILA (UMNS) — When Typhoon Haiyan hit
the Philippines, it was not just food and water that desperately were needed.
The country’s communications infrastructure sustained a devastating blow.
United Methodist Communications is helping to meet that critical need.
Read story and post a comment
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Bringing comfort to survivors in the
Philippines
MANILA (UMNS) — When the United Methodist
Committee on Relief delivered food packages Nov. 20 to six storm-ravaged
communities in Dagami, the Philippines, it was the first substantial emergency
relief aid there since Typhoon Haiyan struck nearly two weeks earlier. Linda
Unger, a senior writer for the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, and
Mike DuBose, a photographer for United Methodist Communications, were there to
tell the story.
Read story and post a comment
United Methodists and sexuality
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Schaefer says he does not blame others
for trial
SPRING CITY, Pa. (UMNS) — When asked what
he would say to the people who brought charges against him for officiating at
his son’s same-sex marriage, the Rev. Frank Schaefer said, “I cannot blame them
because at one point I also had a different opinion.”
Read story and post a comment
United Methodists in the news
Winkler move to NCC official
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WASHINGTON (UMNS) — It's official. Jim
Winkler will be the new top leader of the National Council of Churches, after a
nearly 30-year career at the United Methodist Board of Church and Society,
including serving as its top executive since 2000. Though he's changing jobs,
Winkler will still be in the United Methodist Building in Washington,
headquarters for both agencies.
Read story
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Former United Methodist missionary honored
in Rome
ROME (UMNS) —The Rev. Gerald “Jerry”
Anderson, emeritus director of the Overseas Ministries Study Center in New
Haven, Conn., met Pope Francis, gave a lecture and received an honorary Doctor
of Missiology degree on Nov. 14 from the Pontifical Urbaniana University in
Rome. The degree was presented to him by Cardinal Fernando Filoni, the grand
chancellor of the university. It was the first time an honorary degree has been
given to a Protestant by this university that was founded in 1627 and is owned
by the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Anderson, a
former United Methodist missionary in the Philippines and president of Scarritt
College in Nashville, is a retired member of the Western Pennsylvania Annual
(regional) Conference and resides in Hamden, Conn.
News around the connection
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After fire, Arkansas church trying to get
ready for Christmas
HICKORY PLAINS, Ark. (UMNS) —
Parishioners at Hickory Plains United Methodist Church are working hard to make
sure their church is ready for Christmas services, Arkansasmatters.com reports.
The Hickory Plains fire, ignited by lightning, destroyed the church May 30,
2012.
Read story
Church fires: Damage, recovery,
prevention
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Central Texas Conference breaks ground on
new center
FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS) — The Central
Texas Annual (regional) Conference broke ground Nov. 15 on a conference service
center, which will be on the campus of United Methodist-related Texas Wesleyan
University.
Read news release
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Businessman falls, finds church before
leaving for prison
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Annette Spence
of The Call in the Holston Annual (regional) Conference shares the experiences
of Bernard Addison, who on the verge of incarceration for mail fraud, found a
new faith and a new church family.
Read story
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UMTV: Hunger-free ZIP code
KENSINGTON, Md. (UMNS) — Members of St.
Paul’s United Methodist Church in Kensington are making a bold promise to their
neighbors: that no one in their area will go hungry, an effort they’re calling
a “hunger-free ZIP code.”
Watch video
Faith around the world
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Call for release of abducted Syrian
bishops
VIENNA, Austria (UMNS) — A call for the
release of two abducted bishops in Syria has come from religious leaders at the
9th World Assembly of Religions for Peace. The bishops, Metropolitan Mar
Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim, the Syrian Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo, and Bishop
Boulous Yazigi, a Greek Orthodox Bishop in Damascus, were kidnapped in Aleppo
on April 22, 2013.
Read story
In schools and seminaries
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United Theological launches doctorate in
sports chaplaincy
DAYTON, Ohio (UMNS) — United
Methodist-related United Theological Seminary is launching a Doctor of Ministry
in Sports Chaplaincy program. The program is designed to enhance the role and
skills of chaplains ministering in sport environments.
Read news release
About sports chaplaincy
Blogs and commentaries
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History of Hymns: ‘We Gather Together’
DALLAS (UMNS) — The Pilgrims likely never
sang this hymn so closely associated with Thanksgiving. But this Dutch hymn
celebrating Protestant independence from Catholic Spain carries a sentiment
Christians everywhere still recognize: “Sing praises to His Name; He forgets
not His own.” C. Michael Hawn shares the hymn’s colorful history.
Read story
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The Billy Graham I know — and why he
matters
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UMNS) — As the Rev.
Billy Graham passed the milestone of 95 years, Ken Garfield, director of
communications at Myers Park United Methodist Church, writes, “There’s much
that organized religion can learn” from the famous evangelist. Garfield covered
Graham while a religion reporter for the Charlotte Observer.
Read commentary
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Remembering C.S. Lewis
HOUSTON (UMNS) — The Rev. Chappell
Temple, senior pastor of Lakeview United Methodist Church, offers his
remembrance of Lewis, the beloved novelist and author of Christian apologetics.
Lewis died on Nov. 22, 1963.
Read blog post
Read how a United Methodist church
celebrated Lewis’ legacy
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CNN blog on health care features United
Methodist pastor
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (UMNS) — CNN talked to the
Rev. Shane Stanford, senior pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in
Memphis, about the expansion of Medicaid, part of the Affordable Care Act.
Stanford, who is HIV-positive because of hemophilia, advocates for the
expansion — which a number of states, particularly in the South, are declining to
take part in.
Read blog
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‘Tis a gift, but it’s not simple
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (UMNS) — The Rev.
William Dobbs, clergy assistant to the bishop in the West Michigan Annual
(regional) Conference, offers advice to clergy on when and when not to accept a
gift from a congregation member.
Read essay
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And she made pies: Apple and pecan
DETROIT (UMNS) — The Rev. Laurie Haller,
senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Birmingham, Mich., blogs
about making Thanksgiving pies for homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender
and questioning youth at the Ruth Ellis Center in Detroit. Haller delivered her
pies the same week as The United Methodist Church’s stance on homosexuality was
in the national news.
Read blog
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Looking ahead:
Here are some of the activities ahead for
United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, email
newsdesk@umcom.org and put Digest in the subject line.
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Advent, Dec. 1-24 — Resources for Advent
wreath lighting and sermons from the United Methodist Board of Discipleship and
resources for drawing and welcoming visitors to Advent and Christmas services
from United Methodist Communications. Ministry Matters, part of the United
Methodist Publishing House, also offers the free Advent series "Follow the
Star."
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#GivingTuesday, Dec. 3 — United
Methodists are invited to participate in #GivingTuesday, when every gift made
online through the The Advance will be matched dollar for dollar up to $500,000
total and $50,000 for any one project. Visit umcmission.org/give
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Lecture by former ambassador, Tuesday,
Dec. 3 — 5 p.m. CT, Miguel H. Díaz, professor of faith and culture at Dayton
University and former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, will deliver a lecture
on peace at Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology. Learn
more
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Sermon by former ambassador, Sunday, Dec.
8 — 11 a.m. CT, Miguel H. Díaz, former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, is
scheduled to speak on “Becoming God’s Ambassadors to Build the House of God” at
University Park United Methodist Church in Dallas. Directions to the church.
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Free webinar “Best Practices for Teaching
and Implementing Creation Care and Appreciation,” Wednesday, Dec. 4 — 3 p.m.
CT. Seminar highlights the best practices of United Methodist camp and retreat
ministries through their operations and programs. To register.
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Free webinar “Developing Your Ministry
Plan 4: The Next 12 Months,” Thursday, Dec. 5 — 6:30 p.m. CT. Building on the
previous three sessions, your team will be guided in a process to identify key
steps for your congregational development. To register.
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Holy Spirit Seminar: Signs and Wonders,
Friday, Dec. 6 — 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, United Theological Seminary will
present speaker Randy Clark, founder of Global Awakening, at Ginghamsburg
(United Methodist) Church, 6759 S. County Road 25A, Tipp City, Ohio. Details.
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Deadline to register for Young Clergy
Leadership Forum, Friday, Jan. 10, 2014 — The United Methodist Board of Church
and Society is accepting applications from people 35 and under for gathering
Sunday to Wednesday, Jan. 26-29, 2014, at the United Methodist Building on
Capitol Hill in Washington. Event is $175. Details.
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Certified Lay Ministers Academy,
Friday-Monday, Jan. 10-12, 2014 —Lake Junaluska Program Ministries, in
partnership with the Cal Turner Jr. Center for Church Leadership at Martin Methodist
College, will present the academy at Lake Junaluska, N.C. Details.
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Deadline to apply for local church
racial/ethnic ministries grants, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014 — Applications for
grants up to $10,000 to help local United Methodist churches build ministries
that strengthen and support racial and ethnic church concerns are available
from the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. Details.
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Early bird deadline for 2014 Large Church
Initiative, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014 — April 28-30 at Mount Pisgah United
Methodist Church in Johns Creek, Ga., for United Methodist churches with 1,000
or more members and/or with an average attendance of 350 or more in worship.
Details.
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