Author Archives: Jessica Brodie

When it comes to mental health, the church has a job to do—and it’s a job the church is uniquely positioned to fulfill. That was the key message from a district-wide mental health conference held in Easley Feb. 23, which featured pastors, psychologists and other industry professionals working to educate Christians about mental illness and how to help.

Jerry Blassingame’s testimony, which he told before hundreds of South Carolina United Methodist Women gathered Feb. 11 for their annual Legislative Advocacy Day, helped underscore one of the group’s action themes: the problem of mass incarceration.

A group of Christian environmentalists who are helping to plan a major awareness, education and action event at the South Carolina Statehouse to help people live into what it means to be good stewards of the earth in the way God intended. Organized by the Columbia Circle of GreenFaith, Earth Day at the Dome is set for Wednesday, April 22, from 3-7 p.m. at the state government building on Gervais Street in downtown Columbia.

ERT disaster volunteers and three ERT trailers were deployed to zones 1 and 2 of the tornado’s path. Crews focused on clearing debris out of driveways, making access routes into people’s homes and placing tarps on damaged roofs.

By Jessica Brodie. A county with one of the highest unemployment rates in the state is now getting much-needed food assistance throughout the year thanks to the efforts of a small, rural United Methodist church in Blenheim, SC.

By Jessica Brodie. Southeastern Jurisdiction lay and clergy delegation heads signed a statement affirming the work done on the “Protocol of Grace and Reconciliation through Separation.” South Carolina was not among the signers, citing not enough time to fully consider—or share with rest of the S.C. delegation.

By Jessica Brodie. What does a congregation do when they have three pieces of unused property next to their church parking lot and no plans to use it? They shine the light of Christ by donating it to Habitat for Humanity so people in need can have a place to live.

The deadline has been extended to April 3, 2020, for submissions for a book, to be published by the Advocate Press. The title is “Testify: How I Came to Know Jesus.” The book will focus on how South Carolina United Methodist individuals came to know the Lord. All people, lay or clergy, are invited to share their story for possible publication. Stories should be 500-1,000 words in length. You should be a South Carolina United Methodist to participate.

What are your hopes for The United Methodist Church? What are your main concerns? What do you want South Carolina delegates attending General Conference 2020 to know? Nearly 200 United Methodists headed to Indian Field UMC Jan. 5 for the first of several “listening sessions” being held across the state, addressing these questions and more. The next sessions are Feb. 9 in Florence and Feb. 16 in Mauldin. By Jessica Brodie.

A diverse group of United Methodists—including bishops, traditionalists, centrists and progressives—released a proposal Jan. 3 to gracefully split The United Methodist Church. The proposal is one of several to be considered by the General Conference in May. By Jessica Brodie.

The South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church closed 2019 with 90.02 percent in apportionment giving of the church’s $17.8 million total budget for the year. That percentage translates to nearly $16 million for church ministries, missions, programming and more across the conference’s 12 districts in South Carolina. By Jessica Brodie.

One United Methodist has returned to her family’s home church—this time, as its pastor. Dr. Laura Canine Parrish has been appointed back to her home church, First United Methodist Church, Isle of Palms. By Laura Camby McCaskill.