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Misunderstandings, Buckets, and Fishing
The Rev. Cindy Hickman visualize us carrying our anxieties around in a bucket. Sometimes the bucket is nearly empty, and sometimes it is so full we can hardly lift it. During the 24 hours of misunderstanding, my anxiety bucket was overflowing.
May 22, 2025
Addition by Subtraction
When someone threatens drastic action if they don’t get their way, whether it is in a family, church or organization, be careful how you respond. If you meet their demands, you will only encourage more ultimatums in the future.
May 20, 2025
At the River
Water flows through two of the scripture passages this week – Paul and Silas' fateful meeting with Lydia by a river, and the Revelation image of the river of life that gladdens the city of God.
May 20, 2025
Rethinking the Model: AI, Clergy, and Co-creation in the Church
The generative AI tools that are now widely available have emerged with startling speed and without the technological or ethical guardrails many hoped for. We haven’t spent nearly enough time reflecting on what is gained versus what might be lost.
May 15, 2025
"Hit and Run" Conversations –
The Rev. Dr. Christy Thomas laments the decline of language and the rise of "hit-and-run" communications. She offers tips to avoid their damage.
May 14, 2025
Mending the World
The sacred myth of the Christian gospel tells us that after Jesus resurrected, he walked and talked like he did before his crucifixion – but he wasn’t quite the same. Those wounds told his tale.
May 13, 2025
Climate Watch
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Faith Leaders Urged to Spread Word: 89 Percent of World’s People Want Stronger Climate Action
Nearly 90 percent of people in the world accept that human-caused climate change is intensifying weather-related crises, yet only about half of them hear the moral imperatives for environmental activism from their religious leaders.
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Churchgoers Respond to Deadly US Twisters
United Methodists in Kentucky and Missouri, among other states, are trying to bring relief after deadly tornadoes wreaked havoc this weekend. They also offer ways others can help.
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Church Supports Flood Survivors in Burundi
With financial support from the United Methodist Committee on Relief, the church has distributed food and other supplies to hundreds of flood survivors in northwestern Burundi. The homes of some 70 United Methodists were damaged or destroyed.
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Church Members Among Dead in Congo Floods
More than 110 people, including five United Methodists, were killed by floods and mudslides in eastern Congo, a region struggling with the effects of war nearby. Bishop Gabriel Unda calls for an urgent mobilization to help the victims.
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Climate Experts Urge Caution as Summer Temps Increase
Churches and church-related agencies need to increase their weather awareness for summer events because dangerously high temperatures are rising in more than 200 U.S. cities, reports Climate Central.
UMC Now
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Ballot #4: Talking Points Against the Amendment
The Rev. Darryl W. Stephens contends that despite advocacy from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, objections to the constitutional amendment known as Ballot #4 remain valid.
May 20, 2025
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General Conference Organizing Committee Should Rescind Its Decision for United States to Host 2028 General Conference
The Rev. Gabriel Banga Mususwa contends the decision to hold the 2028 General Conference in Minneapolis, Minn., undermines the spirit of togetherness since African delegates face a complicated, frustrating visa proces to get into the United States.
May 20, 2025
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Minneapolis Chosen for 2028 General Conference
United Methodist organizers plan to make good on the original location of the COVID-delayed 2020 lawmaking assembly. They also hope to make up the budget deficit from earlier sessions.
May 15, 2025
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Two U.S. Conferences Raise Funds to Aid Tanzanian Pastors
The Tanzania United Methodist Conference in East Africa needs help to pay pastors serving its growing churches. The Greater New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania conferences are raising funds as partners to provide clergy there with a living wage.
May 14, 2025
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African Women Speak Against Gender Violence
More than 600 Methodist women from Southern and East Africa marched in solidarity with survivors of gender-based violence and those suffering in silence during the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women meeting in Botswana.
May 15, 2025
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Great Plains Connecting Council Dissects UMC’s New Vision Statement
Leaders in the Great Plains Annual Conference are among the first United Methodists to consider formally how the new UMC Vision Statement could shape its future mission and ministries.
May 15, 2025
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Churches Raise More Than $300,000 to House Embreeville Flood Survivors
A coalition of United Methodist pastors and church leaders raised more than $300,000 over seven months to fund six new homes for Hurricane Helene survivors living in Embreeville, Tennessee.
May 14, 2025
Faith and Democracy
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Andrew Thomas Associated Press
UMC-related Immigration Group Reports on Nashville Raids
Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors in Nashville — affiliated with the UMC-backed Immigration Law and Justice Network – responded to an ICE “dragnet” of undocumented immigrants in the city’s Latino neighborhoods.
May 22, 2025
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bmarinic
Retired Pastor Urges Compassion in Politics to Save Civilization
Civilization grew when humans realized that the welfare of the world was more important than selfish, greedy, narrow concerns, retired pastor Schuyler Rhodes urged civic activists. Compassion must return to American politics, he said.
May 22, 2025
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Memorial Day Will Be Different This Year
Memorial Day has extra meaning for Donald Willis this year after visiting the battlefields in France where his uncle and namesake, Donald K. Frye, was killed in action in World War II.
May 22, 2025
