Troy city worker ripped down church art installation
A Troy, NY, public works employee will apologize to Christ Church United Methodist Church after he was documented ripping down some 2,300 colorful ribbons tied to the iron fence around the church, reports Steve Hughes of the Troy (NY) Times Union.
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"Footage from a church security camera appears to show a man in a city truck vandalizing a display protesting President Trump’s immigration policies. The church members tied the colorful strips of fabric to the wrought iron fence to symbolize the children separated from their parents under the government’s zero tolerance immigration policies," Hughes writes.
The worker contended it was an honest mistake, since he had been directed to remove trash from the street. However, it's unclear why the worker thought the ribbons were trash, or why he chose to tear them off a fence on private property.
Christ UMC member Bob Blackmon told the Times Union that he doubts the worker's story: "It just simply makes no sense," he was quoted.
In a follow-up story by WNYT Channel 13, Christ UMC has asked the mayor to conduct an investigation of the incident. Meanwhile, the church is considering hanging another 2,300 fabric strips.
Community members welcome students back to school in Dallas
Community members greeting students on the first day of school has become an annual back-to-school event, reports WFAA Channel 8 in Dallas, Texas. At several locations in predominantly African American south Dallas, United Methodists and other volunteers showed up this week to motivate the students.
Members of the North Texas Conference's flagship African American congregation, St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church, shouted "Welcome back" as students at Dade Middle School filed in on their first day.
"I think it's important to come out and set them up for success," Rev. Dr. Michael Bowie, senior pastor of St. Luke UMC, was quoted.
American Friends of United Methodist University donate computers, medical equipment
FrontPageAfrica.com reports that the Friends of the United Methodist University of Liberia (FUMUL) based in the United States of America has donated more US $30,000 worth of computers and medical equipment to the university in Monrovia, Liberia. The medical equipment, a sonogram machine, will be sent to United Methodist-related Ganta Hospital.
"Dr. Mator Kpangbai, UMU Vice President for Institutional Development and Advancement, said the materials will be used to support the teaching and learning goals of the university," wrote J. H. Webster Clayeh for FrontPageAfrica.
"He lauded the support of the FUMUL for the donation, adding that the gesture is 'the first of many donations' expected from the U.S.-based organization."
Clayeh reported that at the presentation, United Methodist Bishop Samuel J. Quire hailed the California-Nevada Annual Conference for contributing the donation.