News & Information

“For the body does not consist of one member but of many.” I Corinthians 12:14 The week of August 11-17, 2019 was probably the most diverse week ever recorded at the Red Bird Mission Work Camp, in Beverly, Kentucky.  Onto the campus came a group of about 75 Christians from many places and many forms of diversities.  This included ethnicity (African American, African, Korean, Latino, European American), location (Delaware, Washington, DC, South Dakota, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New ...

“On August 25, 1619, the White Lion (pirate and slave ship) entered from the Chesapeake Bay and arrived at Point Comfort, an English settlement…at the mouth of the harbor, 20 nautical miles downstream from Jamestown (Va.).” (www.Project1619.org) Thus began the scourge of slavery in this country that has continued on for 400 years.  According to an article in the Sunday Tribune by Michael Coard, 12.5 million stolen Africans were brought to this country. By the time of the Civil War there were 4 ...

General Conference organizers have determined enough improper voting likely took place at the 2019 special session to nullify a key vote on how congregations can leave The United Methodist Church.  The Commission on General Conference — meeting behind closed doors during its Aug. 7-9 meeting — reviewed an investigation that found “credible objective evidence” of four ineligible people casting votes using the credentials of delegates who were not present. The commission did not speak in public ...

Today I find myself sitting in a coffee shop thinking about some of the events of this last week. Three mass shootings.  At least two of the perpetrators were tied to extremist ideologies. First, I call each of us to pray for the victims and families of these tragedies.  Also be in prayers for the emergency and healthcare personnel who responded and cared for the victims.  Most of the discussion about these shooting has been around gun laws.  My question and focus centers on the question of ...

PHOTO COURTESY OF REUTERS Crosses for each of the victims of a mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, being assembled before being taken to a memorial site.   August 6, 2019 For Immediate Release   UMC bishops call for discipleship; urge end to white supremacy, xenophobia   In the aftermath of the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, Council of Bishops President Bishop Ken Carter is calling for United Methodists to help end white supremacy and xenophobia which he says is fueling a ...

Amber Ruiz and Jazmyn Blake embrace during a vigil a day after a mass shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, on Aug. 4. Photo by Callaghan O'Hare, Reuters.   Adapted from a UM News Service story by Heather Hahn and Sam Hodges After two U.S. mass shootings that killed at least 31 people, United Methodists are responding with both prayers and plans of action to address gun violence and hate.  Mid-morning Aug. 3, a gunman attacked the shoppers at a popular El Paso, Texas, retail area — ...

The UMC’s Discipleship Ministries agency may have canceled the 2019 School of Congregational Development (SCD); but Eastern PA Conference current and future church leaders have an equally impressive replacement event they can attend in August much closer to home. The Susquehanna Conference will host Navigate 2019 August 22-24 at the Radisson Hotel in Harrisburg.  The equipping leadership event promises “to help current and future leaders impact their congregations and communities for Jesus ...

Chicago, IL—The Connectional Table approved sending legislation to General Conference 2020 that will create a new structure for churches in the United States, called a regional conference, during an online meeting July 18, 2019. The proposed legislation stipulates that the U.S. Regional Conference will have geographic boundaries congruent with the territory of the U.S. annual conferences. Jurisdictions will continue to function with their current powers and duties, including their process to ...

Commission on the General Conference FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 3, 2019 Nashville, Tenn.: Petitions for consideration by the 2020 General Conference may be submitted to the Petitions Secretary now through September 18, 2019. According to church law, "Any organization, clergy member, or lay member of The United Methodist Church may petition the General Conference...". Detailed instructions for submitting a petition are available on the General Conference website at umc.org/gcpetition. Petitions ...