Meharry COVID tests
Tamera Thomas hands out paperwork to people waiting for a COVID-19 test at a drive-thru site offered recently by Meharry Medical College at St. Luke Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Nashville, Tenn. Thomas, part of an all-volunteer team, is a dental student at the United Methodist-related medical school. (Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News)
A United Methodist Insight Column
The state of Florida, home to the Florida and Alabama-West Florida conferences, tops today’s coronavirus prayer list.
According to NPR: “The number of total coronavirus cases in Florida is now greater than that of New York, where the first epicenter emerged in the U.S. pandemic. That’s not all: California also has more COVID-19 cases than New York. An NPR analysis shows that coronavirus is rising in 44 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.”
Duke scales back re-opening plans
United Methodist-related Duke University has scaled back its fall re-opening plans, according to the Duke Chronicle. On-campus housing will be limited to freshmen, sophomores, and students whose activities require living on campus, said Duke President Vincent Price. All students may take on-campus courses this fall, but it appears likely that most courses will be taught online for the fall semester. Juniors and seniors will be allowed to reside on campus in the spring if health conditions permit.
Georgia UMC sets up John Lewis Scholarship
Few sights have moved me as much as Sunday’s pictures of the body of John Lewis being borne on a horse-drawn carriage one last time across the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, Ala. For those who may not know, Rep. Lewis was among civil rights demonstrators who joined Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1964 in a march from Selma to Montgomery for voting rights. Rep. Lewis was severely beaten by police at the bridge and suffered a skull fracture.
Now comes word that a United Methodist congregation in Georgia, the state Rep. Lewis represented in Congress for 33 years, has established a scholarship in his name to educate future Black leaders.
The Rev. Dalton T. Rushing, pastor of First UMC in Decatur, Ga., announced July 26 that the congregation’s leadership is creating a scholarship fund in Rep. Lewis’s memory. The scholarship will support participants of the African American Male Initiative at Georgia State University.
“Decatur First invites others to join in honoring the life and work of John Lewis by supporting the development of tomorrow’s civic leaders. Donors can give online at this link by selecting the John Lewis Memorial Scholarship Endowment’ fund or by mailing a check to Decatur First United Methodist Church, 300 East Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030 and marking your check ‘John Lewis Scholarship,'” Rev. Rushing’s email said.
NCC plans two racial justice events
The National Council of Churches USA plans two online racial justice events on July 30:
- “Who Lives and Who Dies: How COVID-19 Has Shined a Light on the Politics of Death in United States” from 2 to 3:30 p.m. (EDT) and
- “Why We Can't Wait: Report from the Hill: HR-40 and Reparations” 8 p.m. (EDT)
Separate registration is required for each event. Click here to register for “Who Lives and Who Dies.” Click here to register for “Why We Can’t Wait.”
Media Mentions as of July 27, 2020
Lawson: Black Lives Matter a Religious Movement – UM News
Lewis, Vivian Proved Faith Can Change a Nation – UM News
Outdoor religious gatherings draw warnings and rebukes from health officials – Los Angeles Times *
A small Alabama church had a revival and now 40 people have coronavirus – AL.COM
*Paid subscription required.
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.