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UMNS Briefs

Rethink Church Has New Web Address NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Congregational resources for the Rethink Church advertising and welcoming campaign have moved to a new website address: umcom.org/rethinkchurch. The website that previously housed congregational resources, RethinkChurch.org, will become the primary seeker site that is featured in Rethink Church advertising, beginning this fall.   "Research shows that RethinkChurch.org resonates most strongly with the seekers we are trying...

Keys to Building Vital Congregations

A UMNS Report By Heather Hahn Topical preaching, varied worship styles, effective lay leadership and small groups. These are the things United Methodist congregations can do right now to become more vital and strengthen the denomination, say members of the Call to Action Steering Team.   The 16-member team, which includes clergy and laity, met Aug. 23-25 in Nashville, Tenn., to begin developing recommendations on how the church can become more effective in making disciples and reverse...

United Methodist Afghan Expert Killed in Early-August Massacre

By Elliott Wright New York, NY | A United Methodist layman who devoted his life to the people of Afghanistan was among the 10 persons killed on August 6 as the group returned to the city of Kabul from an eye care camp in a remote northeast part of the country.   Daniel Terry, 64, had been in Afghanistan for 40 years, more than 30 of those under the auspices of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. He and his wife, Seija, raised their three girls there and called...

September is National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month

Theme is 'Join the Voices for Recovery: Now More Than Ever!' WASHINGTON, D.C. | September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month – an observance that marks its 21st year. The 2010 theme is, "Join the Voices for Recovery: Now More Than Ever!"                                      &nbs...

Future Leaders of United Methodist Church Convene in Berlin

NASHVILLE, Tenn. | GBOD - The future of The United Methodist Church is being represented in Berlin, Germany, this month as the Global Young People's Convocation and Legislative Assembly brings together young United Methodists from around the world to share their life experiences, struggles, gifts and realities. About 350 youth and young people representing 32 countries – from Angola to Zimbabwe –registered for the July 21-26 event, which is sponsored by Young People's...

Annual Conferences Feature Petitions, Push-Ups

A UMNS Report By Linda Bloom* When Bishop Jeremiah Park wanted to demonstrate the connection between spiritual and physical health to United Methodists in the New York metropolitan area, he took off his jacket.   Then he dropped to the stage and did 120 push-ups, as church members counted along. It was all part of the fun – and commitment – evident at the 2010 New York Annual (regional) Conference in June.   Each spring and summer, the U.S. conferences of The...

Upper Room Staff Comfort UM Victims of Uganda Terrorist Bombing

By Tom Gillem* NASHVILLE, Tenn. | July 14, 2010 | GBOD—After terrorist bombs killed and injured scores of people in Uganda watching the World Cup soccer final match, representatives of The Upper Room and other United Methodist agencies rushed to support members of a United Methodist mission group who were severely injured by the blast.   Soon after five adults and youth representing Christ Community Church, a United Methodist congregation in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, were...

Guidebook Filled With Details About UM-related Schools, Colleges, Universities, and Theological Schools

A new guidebook that provides a wealth of information about the 121 United Methodist-related schools, colleges, universities, and theological schools should help high school students easily compare tuition, degrees awarded, and possible financial aid. The Guidebook of United Methodist-Related Schools, Colleges, Universities, and Theological Schools will be useful for students, pastors, youth leaders, and parents who want to learn more about United Methodist-related educational...

United Methodist Church Lifts Sanctions From Claremont School of Theology

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The University Senate of The United Methodist Church announced on June 25 that it is lifting its sanctions from Claremont School of Theology, reinstating the School's full affiliation with The United Methodist Church and unfreezing church funding to the School. "We are extremely pleased that the University Senate has affirmed our School and our mission," said Rev. Dr. Jerry D. Campbell, president of the school. "I think that the review came about in the...

Digital Media Culture Has Created Need for New Positions, UMCom Says in Naming Executive Directors

Nashville, Tenn. – United Methodist Communications, the communications agency for The United Methodist Church, has filled two executive director positions. Tim Tanton, former director of the agency's media group and current interim executive director of content, has been named executive director of content. Kay Panovec, communications director of the East Ohio (regional) Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, will join the agency as executive director of new media. "Both...

Revised Book Incorporates Feedback Received Since 2007

A revised edition of Watching Over One Another In Love: A Wesleyan Model for Ministry Assessment incorporates additional material based on feedback the author received since the book was first released in 2007. The book, published by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, was written and revised by the Rev. Gwendolynn Purushotham, senior pastor at Main Street United Methodist Church in Nashua, New Hampshire. Formerly director of clergy supervision and accountability with GBHEM,...

State of the Church Report Is Available to Read

The 2010 State of the Church report is now available. View the data and download the PDF at www.umc.org/sotc2010. You can also view the report online at http://issuu.com/gunderwood/docs/sotc_final.   This report is a collaborative effort of the Connectional Table, the Council of Bishops, and the General Council on Finance and Administration – with production assistance from United Methodist Communications. A printed version will be included in the July-August edition of...

Breaking News: Jeffrey Kuan Named Dean of Drew Theological

Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California and Drew University in Madison, New Jersey have announced the appointment of Dr. Jeffrey Kuan, an associate professor at PSR, as Dean of the Drew Theological School. He will be leaving PSR at the end of the fall semester to take the new position, which will commence in January 2011.   Kuan is an ordained Elder and Full Member of the California-Nevada Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.   He has been at PSR for 19...

Text Your Donation to Help 'Slam Dunk Malaria'

In the time it takes to make a free-throw, a child will have died of malaria. It happens every 30 seconds.   That's why this year, as the Bishop's Reception event at Annual Conference Session, we're going to "Slam Dunk Malaria"!   Friday evening has been set aside as a fundraiser for Imagine No Malaria – "a ministry of the people of The United Methodist Church to eliminate death and suffering from malaria in Africa by the year 2015." Since...

Change the World Participation Makes an Impact: First Year Success Leads to 2011 Event

More than 100,000 people from more than 1,000 churches united with a common purpose over a 48-hour period in April: to make a world of difference in ways both large and small. United Methodists from 13 countries and every state in the U.S. energetically worked to build community locally and fight malaria globally during Change the World weekend, April 24-25. Congregations at local churches rolled up their sleeves and took to the streets to feed the hungry, aid the homeless, and visit the...

Discipleship Agency Names Schwarzentraub as Director of Stewardship

The General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) has named the California-Nevada Annual Conference's own the Rev. Dr. Betsy Schwarzentraub as Director of Stewardship. The position becomes effective June 1. Schwarzentraub currently is the owner of Schwarzentraub & Associates, a stewardship consulting firm in Garden Valley, California. She has served as the Director of Stewardship and Director of Development for the California-Nevada Annual Conference, and continues to be a consultant here. She...

New Church Starts (Path 1) Begins Work With Native American Communities

By Tim Ghianni New Church Starts (Path 1), is fully engaged in a Lay Missionary Planting Network outreach into the nation’s Native American population. Path 1 is a division of the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD), an agency of The United Methodist Church.   Bener Agtarap, a New Church Strategist for Path 1, says two recent events – one in Phoenix, Arizona, and another in Topeka, Kansas – demonstrate that this mission to initiate lay plants in the Native American...

Plan to Celebrate Peace With Justice Sunday on May 30

Changing the World, One Life at a Time Jessica, a shy 12-year-old, is just one of the sensitive souls Susan Stouffer encounters at Peace Camp sessions at United University Church in Los Angeles. "Peace Kids" such as Jessica graduate from this unique camp – funded in part with Peace with Justice Sunday offering money – inspired to teach their friends to be kind to each other and to treat the earth, and its people, with respect. The offering on this Special Sunday empowers...

Become Founding Member of Wesley at UC Berkeley

By Vincent Wong, President, and Rev. Tarah Trueblood, Executive Director/Campus Pastor At Wesley House & Campus Center, we have been Rethinking Church. Wesley House & Campus Center is a campus ministry of the United Methodist Church that has been serving students at the University of California at Berkeley since 1925. This fall, 90 Cal students will live, study, and grow in a nurturing environment that includes a campus ministry center on the ground floor, multi-media room, study,...

San Jose Church Accepts Bishops' 'Call to Hope and Action'

By Carolyn Sue Bowling Almaden Hills UMC We cannot change the world until we change our way of being in it. This challenge, offered by the Bishops of The United Methodist Church, opened the special Earth Day service on April 18 at Almaden Hills United Methodist Church in San Jose.   The service, sponsored by the church's Green Ministry, started with a sung call to worship: Move me, move me, move me to do thy will.   The focus of the day's message was the Pastoral Liturgy Letter,...