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A New Hope
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A new "metaverse movement" seeks to use technology to create connections among United Methodists feeling "spiritually homeless" if their congregation votes to leave the UMC. (2d illustrations and photos Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Sweltering in this summer's extreme heat, United Methodist hearts nonetheless were warmed this week at the news that a "metaverse movement" has emerged from the turmoil of congregations splintering away from the UMC.
 
UMsConnected launched in June as an online community for the increasing number of faithful United Methodists feeling abandoned when their congregations choose to disaffiliate. Brainchild of Bishop Kenneth Carter, episcopal leader of the Florida and Western North Carolina conferences, UMsConnected reaches out to "spiritually homeless" people via a website, a Facebook page and a podcast, said the Rev. Dr. Steve Harper, co-director of the movement along with the Rev. Kim Ingram. In September the "metaverse movement" will begin two online gatherings, "Kindred" for young adults and "Conversations" for disciples to engage in common reading and discussion. Insight Editor Cynthia B. Astle reports on the movement's new hope.
 
In contrast to the encouragement of UMsConnected, the Rev. Martin Thielen of Doubters' Parish blog queried his readers about their relationship to institutional religion, asking whether they will stay, leave or are undecided. Rev. Thielen found that the majority of his respondents plan to stay in church, but critique of the church was sharp and poignant. One reader said: “The current state of the Christian church is a mess. It has been heart-breaking to watch it devolve into something unrecognizable to Jesus of Nazareth. The evangelical corruption of faith, the hostile political climate, the rise of Christian nationalism, the right-wing extremism characterized by anti-science and anti-education agendas, and now the misogynist takeover of reproductive rights all feed into my desire to not be associated with the Christian church.”
 
The Boy Scouts of America's bankruptcy reorganization plan ran into a snag this week, as a judge rejected a portion of the scheme relating to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the biggest religious sponsor of BSA units. However, the United Methodist portion of the reorganization, painstakingly negotiated by church leaders, passed muster with the federal bankruptcy judge. Between this ruling and the recent change in relationship status between UM congregations and BSA troops, Scouting ministries appears poised for a resurgence among United Methodists after the scandal of some 80,000 claims of sexual abuse against BSA.
 
The struggle to hold onto hope after the barrage of crises and change over the past 2-1/2 years drew reflections from several writers. The Rev. Cindy Hickman of the Iowa Conference's "Abiding in Exile" spirituality series documented her Facebook friends' litany of losses from the coronavirus pandemic and their impact on hearts, minds and souls. Pastor Rosa María Rodríguez interprets this Sunday's gospel passage, Luke 12:32-40, as a call to turn from love of material possessions to trust more firmly in God. Insight Editor Astle muses on Christian communication's challenge to maintain faith and hope while reporting ethically on the world's often-grim news. As a counterbalance to the frenetic pace of the past two years, the Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter endorses slowing down change to allow a sustainable plan to emerge. Photos from the Webb telescope and his own stargazing put humans' religious disputes into an eternal perspective for the Rev. Chris Madison.
 
Writing for the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement, Kristina Sinks encourages using worship as a means to strengthen creation-care theology, and launches her own post-seminary project, Song of the Earth, which employs music as an educational tool for improved creation care. United Methodists are stepping up to help victims of recent flooding around St. Louis, MO, and in southeastern Kentucky, Editor Astle writes in a "Crisis Watch" column.
 
American Christians raised concerns once more about the misuse of religion in politics. More than 15,000 Christians have signed on to a petition sponsored by Faithful America denouncing U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's endorsement of Christian nationalism as a template for the Republican Party. Some 40 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have called on the Internal Revenue Service to investigate the conservative lobbying organization Family Research Council's designation as a "church" for tax purposes. Closer to home regarding religious rights, Mark Wingfield of Baptist News Global writes that "it's still 'Christians only'" at Holston United Methodist Home for Children (see photo above) after a Jewish couple's lawsuit against the agency was dismissed by a judge who ruled the couple wasn't harmed by the home's faith-based policy.
 


Carrying women‘s stories of survival and hope, an artwork tapestry of more than 180 panels creating a "waterfall of solidarity and resistance" is making its way to the World Council of Churches' 11th Assembly scheduled Aug. 31–Sept. 8 in Karlsruhe, Germany (see photo above by Marcelo Schneider/WCC). The WCC's Thursdays in Black campaign invited women to contribute panels showing how they've confronted and overcome sexual and domestic violence.

Assembled by Brazilian artist Janine Marja Schneider (at right), the exhibit also will be displayed at the Ecumenical Center in Geneva, Switzerland, and at the United Nations in New York City among other locations. Even with its serious theme, the tapestry demonstrates the power of fabric arts to depict visually the depths of courage, faith and hope in the face of evil.

May you be inspired by similar visuals of faith this week.

 

Words for Your Week

"There is misinformation about what the ongoing and future United Methodist Church believes. Some of this misinformation is being shared in local churches. If we do not tell our story, others will construct a story about us, in this instance a false witness about the UMC. This is a violation of the 9th Commandment."

– Bishop Kenneth H. Carter, episcopal leader of the Florida and Western North Carolina conferences, quoted in "'UMsConnected' Offers a Way Station on the Journey toward a New UMC"
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It’s Still ‘Christians Only’ at This Tennessee Methodist Adoption Agency

By Mark Wingfield on Aug 04, 2022 02:45 pm
A Methodist foster care and adoption agency that receives government funding may continue to serve “Christians only” because the Jewish couple who challenged the agency were found by a Tennessee court not to have legal standing.
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Democrats Call on IRS to Review Family Research Council's 'Church' Status

By Jack Jenkins on Aug 04, 2022 02:26 pm
‘Given that the (Family Research Council) is primarily an advocacy organization and not a church, we urge the IRS to swiftly review the tax-exempt status,’ reads a letter sent to the IRS and the Treasury secretary.
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Considering Our COVID-19 Losses

By Cindy Hickman on Aug 04, 2022 02:03 pm
The Rev. Cindy Hickman asked her Facebook friends to describe what they lost during the coronavirus pandemic. They poured out their hearts.
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Thursdays in Black: Waterfall of Solidarity Preparations

By WCC News on Aug 04, 2022 02:03 pm
Communities and individuals of all faiths and none were invited to make a powerful, international statement of their commitment to end rape and violence through contributing to a large tapestry exhibit developed by the World Council of Churches.
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Carrying Women‘s Stories of Survival and Hope, Waterfall of Solidarity and Resistance Makes Its Way to WCC 11th Assembly

By WCC News on Aug 04, 2022 02:03 pm
There are 181 blocks—and every single one tells a story. Arranged in colorful strips that flow like liquid, they will gently move when people pass by them at the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany.
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15,000 Christians Condemn Legislator's Embrace of Christian Nationalism

By News and Staff Reports on Aug 04, 2022 02:03 pm
Faithful America, an online Christian group that promotes progressive ideas and social justice, launched a petition Aug. 4 condemning U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's embrace of Christian nationalism.
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Song of the Earth Movement Begins

By Kristina Sinks on Aug 04, 2022 02:02 pm
The author's project, Song of the Earth movement, is about infusing liturgical practice with more ecological theology so that congregations are better connected with the land and that their Christian practice includes caring for creation locally.
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Strengthen Creation Care Theology through Worship

By Kristina Sinks on Aug 04, 2022 02:00 pm
The hymns, the liturgy, the art used in worship are the things that find their way into our hearts and stay there—so it’s imperative that we are thoughtful about what kind of theology we’re conveying in worship.
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Holding on to Faith and Hope amid Grim News

By Cynthia B. Astle on Aug 03, 2022 05:41 pm
No less than its secular colleagues, United Methodist Insight is caught in the major ethical conundrum of our profession these days: how can we appropriately present news and views without causing our readers to lose faith and hope?
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'UMsConnected' Offers a Way Station on the Journey toward a New UMC

By Cynthia B. Astle on Aug 03, 2022 05:03 pm
The splintering of The United Methodist Church is wounding souls across the denomination. Fortunately, there's now a way station on the journey toward the UMC's future: a "metaverse movement" called UMsConnected.
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'Little Flock, Prepare Yourself Today'

By Rosa María Rodríguez on Aug 03, 2022 05:03 pm
Luke relates trust in God with the necessity of detaching ourselves from material things.  Luke proposes, with courage, that each one’s riches should serve the rest of humanity and should not be kept just to oneself. That way the heart is freed.
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Missouri, Kentucky Conferences Respond to Floods

By Cynthia B. Astle on Aug 03, 2022 05:03 pm
United Methodists in Missouri and Kentucky are gearing up to aid survivors of massive floods that took place around St. Louis and southeastern Kentucky.
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A History of Incompatibility, Part 15

By Charlie Baber on Aug 03, 2022 05:03 pm
Wesley Bros cartoonist Charlie Baber's "A History of Incompatibility" series currently explores a Wesleyan theology big enough to affirm the possibility that God blesses LGBTQ people as they are.
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SpokaneFāVS Sells FāVS Center, Becomes $1 Million Nonprofit

By Press Release on Aug 03, 2022 05:03 pm
Spokane FāVS has become a major source of religion news and opinion for the Pacific Northwest, frequently including articles by and about United Methodists in the region.
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When Truth Speaks, Can Power Listen?

By Paul R. Graves on Aug 02, 2022 05:22 pm
Speaking truth to power is more critical than ever as American democracy is under threat from Christian nationalism and other forces.
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Minority View

By Martin Thielen on Aug 02, 2022 05:18 pm
The Rev. Martin Thielen explains the concept of Progressive Christianity as he has experienced it.
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The Genius of Slow Change

By Rebekah Simon-Peter on Aug 02, 2022 05:09 pm
There’s genius in putting on the brakes and slowing down the pace of change. Slowing down the pace of change allows a plan to emerge. It also allows structures to be created which ensure the change is sustainable.
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What To Do About Church?

By Martin Thielen on Aug 02, 2022 05:09 pm
Doubter’s Parish blogger Martin Thielen recently queried readers concerning their relationship with institutional religion: staying in church, leaving, or undecided.
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UMC Portion of Boy Scouts' Bankruptcy Ruling Approved

By United Methodist Communications on Aug 01, 2022 03:35 pm
A 281-page ruling July 29 in the Boy Scouts of America's (BSA) bankruptcy proceedings indicates that most of the reorganization plan meets the criteria of bankruptcy law, including the portion pertaining to The United Methodist Church.
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Celebrating 100 Years of Mission in Eastern Congo

By Philippe Kituka Lolonga on Aug 01, 2022 02:26 pm
United Methodist involvement started in a tiny village with a small number of faithful, said Bishop Mande Muyombo, and now Eastern Congo has more than a million members.
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Church Holds Forum on Abortion Ahead of Big Vote

By Heather Hahn on Aug 01, 2022 02:18 pm
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection took on one of the most divisive issues in its state of Kansas and the United States at large in a town hall on faith and abortion ahead of a statewide vote Aug. 2 on a constitutional amendment.
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Stargazing Puts Human Religious Squabbles into Eternal Perspective

By Chris Madison on Aug 01, 2022 09:35 am
Photos from the Webb telescope and his own stargazing put human's religious disputes into an eternal perspective for the Rev. Chris Madison.
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