Greetings Readers,
Don’t look now, but you may have an iPad-thumping preacher in your pulpit. United Methodist clergy are rapidly equipping themselves with tablet computers, smart phones and e-readers, and some are even using the devices while preaching. This week we report on the trend and on the consequences for such UM affiliates as Cokesbury bookstores.
Meanwhile, there’s a blogosphere dust-up over the Kentucky Conference’s not-so-new policy requiring candidates for ordination to report on their use of social media. Staff writer Mary Jacobs talked to critics and defenders of the policy.
A United Methodist church in Cordova, Ala., faces double trouble. It’s trying to recover from tornado damage even as it combats allegations that it turned away African Americans seeking shelter from the storm. United Methodist News Service reports.
Germantown, Tenn., near Memphis, is a long way from Maua, Kenya. But United Methodists from Germantown have formed a positive addiction to making the journey in order to further much-needed medical relief. Special contributor Susan Word has the story.
In commentaries, the Rev. Sky McCracken, a district superintendent, argues that United Methodist seminaries are failing to provide local churches with clergy who can provide strong spiritual guidance and leadership. Melanie Gordon of the UMC’s General Board of Discipleship says churches have a special burden to involve children in the digital age. And “Wesleyan Wisdom” columnist Donald Haynes insists that reorganization efforts will make little difference if the UMC doesn’t again commit to disciple-making.
There’s still more in this edition, including a “History of Hymns,” a Q&A with folksinger Carrie Newcomer, and a review of the new book Devil’s Ink.
As always, we welcome hearing from you at news@umr.org.
Thanks for keeping the faith with us.
Sam Hodges
Managing Editor
June 30, 2011
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