South Carolina United Methodist Advocate – Page 5 – The Official Newspaper of the South Carolina United Methodist Church

News July 13, 2020

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…

News July 1, 2020

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.

Conference leaders preside over the 2019 Annual Conference in South Carolina. Photo by Matt Brodie.

News July 1, 2020

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.

New Light UMC, Orangeburg, has been holding “Park and Praise” services in their parking lot since April and plan to continue for the foreseeable future. They broadcast over a radio station so people can sit in their cars for worship and use their air conditioners.

No Comments Jul 28, 2020

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.

No Comments Jul 28, 2020

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.