Because of the pandemic, Wespath is steering all people directly to Quest Diagnostics facilities across the state to do their health screenings individually. By Jessica Brodie.
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Author Archives: Jessica Brodie
Virtual AC is the right move
Will there be issues? Sure. Nothing is ever perfect. But 2020 has turned out to be an unorthodox year that has required a great deal of flexibility on the part of everyone. Holding Annual Conference online will enable us to move forward and do what is necessary. An editorial by Jessica Brodie.
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Are we there yet?
“Are we there yet?” Most folks have heard this question while traveling. The GPS even counts down the miles and minutes that remain until you arrive at your destination. The driver points out landmarks for passengers to look for along the route. These checkpoints create digestible lengths of time for milestones reached until the trip is complete. A column for the Advocate by Bishop L. Jonathan Holston.
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Can’t stop VBS: Churches figure out new ways to hold Bible school during pandemic
By Jessica Brodie. While the pandemic has caused most churches to host virtual vacation Bible schools this summer, some churches have figured out creative ways to do a safe in-person VBS.
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Pandemic postpones Annual Conference—again
By Jessica Brodie. Escalating cases of COVID-19 in this state have prompted United Methodist leaders to call off a one-day session of the 2020 South Carolina Annual Conference.
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Apportionments dip, but financial leaders optimistic
By Jessica Brodie. Apportionment giving is down in South Carolina—but not nearly as down as it could be. As of June 30, United Methodist churches in South Carolina have given $5.1 million, or 29.2 percent, of the conference’s $17.6 million budget.
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Woman’s sewing talents help make masks for her church, community
By Laura Camby McCaskill. When the pandemic hit, Joyce Tullis decided to step up and minister to those around her using one of her gifts: Sewing.
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A busload of love and care: Bethel collects supplies for Epworth
Bethel UMC, Charleston, decided to pair a churchwide collection of supplies for the children’s home with their VBS packet pickup, resulting in a truckload of donated supplies that kicked off their VBS week along with more than $3,500 cash and gift cards for Epworth.
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Orange Circuit of UMC ‘steps up’ to help centenarian, others
By Billy Robinson. The Orange Circuit in North has been stepping up— literally—to meet some of the needs in their community.
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People of faith gather for Lancaster County Prayer Vigil and Peaceful Protest
By Sh’Kur Francis. About 300 people gathered in front of and around the historic Lancaster County Courthouse for a Lancaster County Prayer Vigil and Peaceful Protest June 7.
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Ready and willing: Pandemic doesn’t stop local church from helping people with taxes
A corps of volunteers at Augusta Road UMC has been assisting residents to complete their returns and file them online—even in the pandemic.
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‘Recover, Restore, Retreat’ webinar series continues this month for Black clergy
A webinar designed to address stress and self-care for African-American clergy in the Carolinas continues this month.
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Black Clergy Leadership Retreat rescheduled for May 2021
Rising public health concerns have pushed the 2020 Carolinas Black Clergy Leadership Retreat back again. “Crossroads: Where Faith and Innovation Meet” will be held May 24-28, 2021, still at the Embassy Suites Kingston Plantation in Myrtle Beach.
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No ‘one right way’
People who choose one thing—whether a presidential candidate, a political party, a denomination, or whether or not to send their kids back to school in-person—are not “stupid,” bad or utterly wrong because their choices do not align with our opinion. Let’s respect each other, understand that everyone has a unique perspective—and let peace prevail in the midst of this turmoil. A commentary by Jessica Brodie.
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Doing the neighborly thing
By Bishop L. Jonathan Holston “One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of…
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Rising COVID cases again prompt 2020 South Carolina Annual Conference to be postponed
Escalating cases of COVID-19 in this state have prompted United Methodist leaders to call off the one-day session of the 2020 South Carolina Annual Conference. The news of the postponement…
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UPDATED: NOW POSTPONED – Annual Conference to be one-day gathering Aug. 1
After a delay prompted by COVID-19 public health concerns, Annual Conference organizers have released the date for this year’s Annual Conference. Now a one-day event limited to Annual Conference members and essential conference staff and volunteers, organizers have designated Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020, as the date for the 2020 South Carolina Annual Conference session.
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South Carolina United Methodist churches reopen—or not
By Jessica Brodie. After months shuttered because of coronavirus, South Carolina United Methodist churches got the green-light to resume in-person worship last month. Some chose to resume June 14, the date churches were authorized to begin holding in-person worship gatherings, while some chose later dates, and some still remain entirely virtual. Still others are forgoing indoor worship to hold outdoor-only services in church parking lots or nearby parks, citing safety reasons.
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One more year: General, jurisdictional conferences and bishop’s tenure postponed to 2021
By Jessica Brodie. Everything slated for 2020 in the UMC now appears to be pushed to 2021.
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Epworth ‘overwhelmed with love’ after electrical fire destroys building
By Jessica Brodie. Flames might have demolished an Epworth Children’s Home building, but an outpouring of love, support and generosity is soothing the burn.
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