Death and Resurrection
The crocus is viewed by some as a symbol of hope and new life after winter. (Image courtesy of Pixabay.)
The good news this week on the coronavirus pandemic in the United States is that COVID-19 cases are declining as more people get vaccinated, NPR reports. United Methodist congregations have contributed to the coronavirus decline, and now the church is offering a resource that may help some of the near-5.5 million Americans who are mourning a loved one who has died from COVID-19.
A new eight-part series from Ask The UMC explores United Methodist beliefs about death and resurrection. Among the questions and answers it poses are “What happens when we die?” or “What is our end goal as United Methodists? Is it just heaven?” Pastors and study groups are invited to use the series to help mourners deal with the questions that arise from a loved one’s death.
While things are improving in the United States, other countries are facing some of the worst infections to date. NPR’s June 29 Morning Edition quotes Jason Beaubien, reporting from Sierra Leone where United Methodists are active in both church and society that Africa is “solidly in the third wave” of the pandemic, with only about 1% of the continent fully vaccinated. Australia also is struggling against the Delta variant, with roughly half of the country’s 25 million people under some type of lockdown.
NPR science correspondent Rob Stein reports that the Delta variant also is expected to become the dominant coronavirus strain in the U.S. within weeks.
Churches respond to devastating condo collapse
UM News shared a link to a Florida Conference story by Joe Henderson: "United Methodists in Florida are stepping up to help however they can after the catastrophe at the Champlain Towers South in Surfside. Sometimes, help means taking action. Other times, it is offering an open ear to those trying to make sense of what just happened."
Religion and Race offers new resources
One of the great failures of the founding of the United States that we celebrate this July 4 weekend was the way the oppression of Black people was allowed to continue, first in removing the anti-slavery clause was removed from the Declaration of Independence to get the South to approve it, and then in the U.S. Constitution, in which Black people were counted as only three-fifths of a person in population. Prejudice further manifested against other racial and ethnic minority populations throughout the nation’s history. These realities make this a good time to check out new resources from the General Commission on Religion and Race.
For example, the GCORR podcast now has two installments, episode 1 on “Racism, Police Reform, and Faith,” and episode 2, “Theologians Explore the Roots of Anti-Asian Racism and What the Church Should Know.”
GCORR’s Implicit Bias online course now has a facilitator’s package for small groups to supplement the online course, which is self-directed. The facilitator’s package, a digital-only resource, is a nominal $25 and includes a guide, a PowerPoint slide deck, and five videos. There’s also a bundle that includes the full course and facilitator’s package for $40.
PRIDE Circle
Photo courtesy of Reconciling Ministries Network.
A Rainbow-colored end to PRIDE Month
As PRIDE Month ended, Reconciling Ministries Network newsletter reported that Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, has become the third college to make the Reconciling commitment. The latest RMN membership totals 1,367 Reconciling Ministries and 43,600 individuals, according to its website.
There was more good news from across the pond: in what many called a “momentous” decision, the Methodist Church in the United Kingdom overwhelmingly approved same-sex marriage, according to the BBC. The British Methodist Church is the fourth largest denomination in the United Kingdom and joins the Scottish Episcopal Church and United Reformed Church in accepting same-gender marriages. The BBC reported that the Church of England nor the Roman Catholic Church approve of same-sex marriage.
Media Mentions as of June 29, 2021
Millions skipped church during pandemic. Will they return? – The Associated Press
As Southern Baptists begin to grapple with sexual abuse, looming challenges remain – Religion News ServiceWhile Southern Baptists debate critical race theory, Black Pastors keep hoping for change – Christianity Today*
Don't neglect Mainline Protestants when analyzing, eg, sexual abuse or Baptist turmoil – GetReligion
How White southern Christians fought to preserve segregation – Religion & Politics
Calif ornia bans state-funded travel to five states over anti-L.G.B.T.Q. laws – The New York
Times*
The unholy alliance of religion and politics – The Hill
When bad politics and religion collide | Faith Matters – nj.com
United Methodists in North and South Dakota discern future amid tensions – The Capital Journal
*Paid subscription required.