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New Bible Invites All Into "Meeting God" |
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NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 19, 2008/GBOD) — Upper Room Books has published The Meeting God Bible as way to help Scripture become more personal.
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GBOD to Trim Staff in 2009 |
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NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 19, 2008/GBOD) — The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) is reducing staff in response to a deteriorating U.S. economy and an effort to align resources around its strategic directions and the four areas of focus approved by the 2008 General Conference.
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New Membership Vows and Ritual Are Now Available |
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NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 11, 2008/GBOD) — The new baptismal and professing membership vows of The United Methodist Church adopted by delegates to the 2008 General Conference, the denomination's top legislative body, will take effect January 1, 2009.
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Church Leaders to FOCUS on Children This July |
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NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 11, 2008/GBOD) — In July 2009 the leaders of ministries with children are invited to attend a once every four years event called Focus. The Focus 2009 event will be held July 21-24 in Indianapolis and is sponsored by the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship. This will be only the second time Focus will have been held outside of Nashville, Tenn.
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Discipleship University Now Open for Large Churches |
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NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 11, 2008/GBOD) — Large churches may now apply for Burning Bush, an opportunity for congregational leaders to build a comprehensive plan for discipleship. The Burning Bush program for large churches begins April 30, but the application deadline is Jan. 15.
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Retreat Enables Young Adults to Just "BE" |
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NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 10, 2008/GBOD) — While the world seems full of stimulation and activities demanding our constant attention, young adults will take a break from it all Jan. 2-4, 2009, at the Simpsonwood Retreat Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Convocation for Pastors of Black Churches to Build Connections |
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NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 10, 2008/GBOD) — Bringing together pastors of black churches around The United Methodist Church, the largest congregation in the denomination will host a convocation, January 6-9 in Houston.
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Young People Support One Another Through Grants and Scholarships |
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NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 10, 2008/GBOD) — Young people of the United Methodist Church awarded $201,200 this fall to their peers throughout the nation in order to support innovative approaches and paths to ministry. Working through the Division on Ministries with Young People of the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship, young people (ages 12-30) supported their peers in providing leadership to several scholarship and grant programs.
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More Than 1200 United Methodists Expected to Attend Quadrennial Event |
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NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 8, 2008/GBOD) — More than 1200 United Methodist leaders are expected to attend the church's quadrennial training event at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront in Jacksonville, Florida, Jan. 29-Feb. 1, 2009.
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Young People's Ministries to Focus on Spiritual Formation |
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NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 4, 2008/GBOD) — Young People's Ministries will host a series of leadership development workshops, beginning with a free pilot event in Nashville, Tenn., January 23-24, 2009.
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Christian Educators Fellowship and Preaching from the Center Hold Joint Celebration |
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(Albuquerque, New Mexico, November 21, 2008, GBOD) — The year is 1968. The U.S. is in Viet Nam. We elect Richard Nixon president. The Beatles release "Hey Jude." TV sets are tuned to "Gomer Pyle," and The United Methodist General Conference recognizes the Christian Education Fellowship as the first official organization within The United Methodist Church. More than 600 Christian educators and pastors learned this bit of Americana in the centerpiece video shown during the Christian Educators Fellowship's 40th anniversary celebration in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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Path 1 Receives 100K Grant Award |
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn., November 20, 2008/GBOD) — The General Board of Discipleship's Path 1 initiative has received a $100,000 grant from the Foundation for Evangelism.
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River Deep and Wide to Explore Gospel in Interfaith, Multicultural Society |
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn., November 20, 2008/GBOD) — The Academy for Spiritual Formation, a ministry of the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship's Upper Room ministries, presents "A River Deep and Wide: Christian Spiritual Practices for the 21st Century," April 20-25, 2009, at the Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville.
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Over 600 Attend Christian Education Fellowship and Preaching from the Center Joint Anniversary Celebration |
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(Albuquerque, New Mexico, November 2, 2008--GBOD) — More than 600 Christian educators and pastors attended the United Methodist Christian Educators Fellowship and Preaching from the Center conferences, held jointly for the first time ever to celebrate the organizations' 40th and 60th anniversaries, respectively.
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God Knows Leaders Need "Soul Rest" |
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(Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 24, 2008--GBOD) — "We have embraced a cultural 'driven-ness' in our churches and personal lives. God knows we need soul rest," says the Rev. Marjorie Thompson, director of The Upper Room's
Pathways in Congregational Spirituality.
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Africana Worship Book Series Helps "Redeemed of the Lord to Say So!" |
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn., October 30, 2008--GBOD) — "We honor God when we tell the story. Africana liturgy teaches us to honor the lives of the saints," says the Rev. Marylyn Thornton, lead editor of African-American Resources at the United Methodist Publishing House.
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Discipleship University Focuses on "Living the United Methodist Way" |
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn., October 23, 2008--GBOD) — In a video greeting to participants in the first session of Discipleship University, which launched in Nashville, October 9-12, The Rev. Greenwaldt said that the Methodist movement is not a movement of the past.
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GBOD Governing Board Elects Officers for Next Four Years |
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn., October 1, 2008--GBOD) — The Board of Directors for the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) elected officers for 2009-2012 during an organizational meeting, convened in Nashville, September 23-27.
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Upper Room Ministries to Launch Russian Edition of Magazine |
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn., September 30, 2008--GBOD/UR) — Upper Room Ministries announced that it will launch a Russian edition of The Upper Room Devotional Guide in November 2008.
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Amerson Brothers Sign New Book; Lead Upper Room Chapel |
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn., September 16, 2008--GBOD/UR) — The Revs. Melvin and James Amerson, two clergy brothers from Texas, have at least two things in common: they are from the same family of origin and they are passionate about giving. So much so that they have co-authored a book on stewardship called Celebrating the Offering.
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Young People's Ministries to Host Leadership Events |
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 29, 2008/GBOD) — The General Board of Discipleship's Young People's Ministries Division will offer two additional leadership development training events this year for adults who work in ministry with young people.
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Philip Polo Visits Upper Room Ministries; Still Depending on God |
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 14, 2008/GBOD/UR) — "Before my trip to the U.S., I didn't even know I could minister to the people there, but through that alone, God allowed me to minister to people whom I don't even know and may never meet in my life," says Philip Polo, a banker in Nairobi, Kenya, and East African distributor of the United Methodist Upper Room devotional guide.
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Whether You Need "Rhythm or Fire," God Is There for You |
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 13, 2008/GBOD/UR) — Upper Room Books has published a new resource, Rhythm & Fire: Experiencing the Holy in Community and Solitude, edited by the Revs. Jerry Haas and Cynthia Langston Kirk of the Desert Southwest Annual (regional) Conference.
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Carnahan Tapped as GBOD's New Finance Chief |
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 5, 2008/GBOD) — The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) has tapped the Rev. Charles R. Carnahan to serve as its new chief administrative officer and treasurer, effective September 1.
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"Don't Lose Your Flavor"; Church Must Seek Ways to Engage the Disconnected |
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(ORLANDO, Fla., August 3, 2008/GBOD) — "Don't lose your flavor. Be who God called you to be in that particular community. We must be soaked in Christ," the Rev. Ed Jones, founding pastor of the Living Water United Methodist Church in Pearland, Texas, told 400 clergy and lay leaders attending the United Methodist School for Congregational Development.
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Think Tank Offers Profile of Leaders of New Church Starts |
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(ORLANDO, Fla., August 2, 2008/GBOD) — When searching for pastors to start new congregations, conventional wisdom is, perhaps, best kicked to the curb.
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SOULfeast Draws Over 500; Offers 'Food for the Soul' |
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(Lake Junaluska, North Carolina/August 1, 2008/GBOD) — Over 500 people from several denominations across the U.S. attended SOULfeast, Upper Room Ministries' signature spiritual formation event in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, July 20-24, 2008.
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School for Congregational Development Goes High Tech |
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 3 , 2008, GBOD) —The 2008 United Methodist School for Congregational Development will be held simultaneously in two locations, July 31-August 5, 2008.
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Mother of Young People's Leader Dies in Tragic Accident |
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 1 , 2008, GBOD) — Carolyn Aldridge, mother of the Rev. Michael Ratliff, died Monday while on a mission trip in Belize with Ratliff and his wife Lynn.
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Spiritual Formation Academy Celebrates 25 Years; Gathering to Be Held at Camp Sumatanga June 23-26 |
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 2, 2008, GBOD) — The Upper Room Ministries' Academy for Spiritual Formation is sponsoring a gathering of Academy participants at Camp Sumatanga, in Gallant, Alabama, June 23-26, 2008. The event is the culmination of the Academy's 25th anniversary celebrations.
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Academy for Spiritual Formation Celebrates 25 Years |
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 2, 2008, GBOD) —Twenty-five years ago, he was on a quest. In many ways, he was a seeker. Though what he was seeking did not yet exist, the Rev. Danny Morris would spend the bulk of his sabbatical in 1978 building it.
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Judith E. Smith Elected Editor of Church School Publications |
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 29, 2008, GBOD) — Karen Greenwaldt, general secretary of the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD), and Neil M. Alexander, president and publisher of the United Methodist Publishing House (UMPH), announced the election of Judith E. Smith as editor of Church School Publications.
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Catherine Walker Bids GBOD Adieu; Leaving Behind Place Where She Worked Over Two Decades and Married Her Husband |
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 21, 2008, GBOD) — When Catherine Walker came to the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) 22 years ago, she was looking for a job. What she found at the United Methodist agency is the stuff of which movies are made; movies that are true love stories.
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General Conference Closes; New Church Starts Will Hit The Ground Running |
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(May 2, 2008, General Conference, Ft. Worth, TX/GBOD) — The Rev. Thomas G. Butcher is a man on a mission. And the mission is a daunting one: create new places for new people, while renewing existing congregations.
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Prayer Room Offers Delegates Sabbath Times |
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(April 30, 2008, General Conference, Ft. Worth, TX/GBOD) — The General Conference Prayer Room -- a cross between an oasis and a refuge -- is a place of prayer and discernment for the 992 delegates from around the world attending General Conference 2008, meeting in Fort Worth through May 2.
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Delegates Give Green Light to New Hymnal; Revision Committee to Bring a New US Hymnal to 2012 General Conference |
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(April 28, 2008, General Conference, Ft. Worth, TX/GBOD) — General Conference 2008 passed legislation, April 28, which will lead to the creation of a new hymnal revision committee that will ultimately develop a new United Methodist hymnal for the United States.
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Theme of "Transformation" Echoes During SBC-21 Report to General Conference; Initiative Is a Gift to the Church |
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(April 28, 2008, General Conference, Ft. Worth, TX/GBOD) — As presenters for Strengthening the Black Church Initiative (SBC-21) took the stage at the United Methodist General Conference, the top legislative body for the denomination, each invited the 992 delegates to repeat the word "transformational" as they gave their report.
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Upper Room Ministries Offers Hope and Prayers in Multiple Languages; Targets Persons Suffering with Serious Diseases |
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(April 28, 2008, General Conference, Ft. Worth, TX/GBOD) — As delegates and visitors to the United Methodist General Conference arrived at the Fort Worth Convention Center on the first-ever World Malaria Day, April 25, volunteers passed out a small, but powerful book of prayers published by Upper Room Ministries, a ministry of the Board of Discipleship, and written by real people suffering with serious diseases.
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Chief Staff Executives Take Stand to Focus United Methodists For Next Four Years; Greenwaldt Among UM Leaders Casting Vision for the Church
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(April 26, 2008, General Conference, Ft. Worth, TX/GBOD) — The Rev. Karen Greendwaldt, top executive of the Nashville-based General Board of Discipleship, was one of four agency leaders called to cast the vision of ministry and mission for The United Methodist Church over the next four years.
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United Methodist Young Adults Paint a Clear Picture of the Need to Belong; Ready and Willing to Act and Interact
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(April 26, 2008, General Conference, Ft. Worth, TX/GBOD) — The first-ever Young People's Address given at a United Methodist General Conference brought cheers, applause and a standing ovation during the denomination's top legislative session meeting in Fort Worth this week.
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Thinking About a New Hymnal: A Commentary by Dean McIntyre
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(Nashville, Tenn., April 11, 2008, GBOD) — What might a new United Methodist hymnal for the USA look like? What will it contain? Will we sing or speak the psalms?
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Nearly 20,000 United Methodists Respond to Music Surveys |
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(Nashville, Tenn., April 11, 2008, GBOD) — The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) recently conducted surveys about the denomination's music and worship practices and hymnal, generating 19,091 responses.
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Discipleship Resources Is New Distributor for OSL Publications |
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(Nashville, Tenn., April 11, 2008, GBOD) — Discipleship Resources, a ministry of the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship, is the new distributor for OSL Publications, the publishing unit of the Order of Saint Luke.
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Young People's Address to Blend Multimedia, Movement, and Voices; Will Inspire Call to Action and Interaction |
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(Nashville, Tenn., April 9, 2008, GBOD) — When six young people take the stage April 24 at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference, it will be the first time in the history of the denomination that young people have been added to the agenda to address the top legislative body of the denomination.
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Vance P. Ross Named Deputy General Secretary of GBOD |
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(Nashville, Tenn., April 2, 2008, GBOD) — The Rev. Vance P. Ross, associate general secretary of Leadership Ministries (Discipleship Ministries Division), has been named deputy general secretary for External Connectional Relations and Strategic Initiatives for the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship.
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El Aposento Alto Celebrates 70 Years |
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(Nashville, Tenn., March 28, 2008, GBOD/UR) — Upper Room Ministries' El Aposento Alto, a Spanish-language version of The Upper Room daily devotional guide, is celebrating its 70th anniversary.
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Singer-songwriter Elizabeth Cumbest Uses Her Gift to Raise Over $42,000 For Katrina Recovery Efforts; Will Perform at General Conference 2008 |
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(Nashville, Tenn., March 28, 2008, GBOD) — "My outlook on who I am and what God has called me to do changed because of a storm . . ." So writes United Methodist youth Elizabeth Cumbest in the January-February 2008 issue of Devozine magazine.
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GBOD Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer Foye Webb to Retire |
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(Nashville, Tenn., March 14, 2008, GBOD) — Foye Webb, treasurer and chief financial officer for the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship, will retire effective December 31, 2008.
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Discipleship Makes Strategic Staff Changes to Better Focus on Key Initiatives |
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(Nashville, Tenn., March 12, 2008, GBOD) — For the United Methodist denomination's General Board of Discipleship, the next four years will be anything but business as usual.
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It Takes a Village: The Story of the Sons of Lwala |
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(Nashville, Tenn., March 10, 2008, GBOD) — The documentary film by Barry Simmons, Sons of Lwala, which premieres on Thursday, March 27, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. in TPAC's Andrew Jackson Hall, portrays the real truth of Christ's command to love one another.
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Hilliard to Work with United Methodist Youth |
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(Nashville, Tenn., March 6, 2008, GBOD) — Henry 'Hank' Hilliard has been named manager of Youth Ministry Development for Young People's Ministries in Nashville, which is a ministry of The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship.
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Morgan to Sign Copies of People of Integrity |
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 5, 2008/GBOD) — The Rev. Dr. William B. Morgan, Jr., senior pastor of Canterbury United Methodist Church in Birmingham will sign his new book, People of Integrity: Authentic Christian Living, at Jonathan Benton Bookseller in Mountain Brook Village, 2705 Culver Road, Mountain Brook, Ala., Saturday, March 22, at noon.
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GBOD/Path 1 and MissionInsite to Provide Discounted Rate for Churches to Access Demographics Via the Web |
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(Nashville, Tenn., February 25, 2008) — The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship today announced a new strategic alliance that has been formed between the agency, Path 1, and California-based MissionInsite, LLC.
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Upper Room Books Sends Novena in Time of War to Top U. S. Leaders, Select Members of Congress and Presidential Candidates |
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(Nashville, Tenn., February 11, 2008) — Upper Room Books today announced that it has sent copies of Novena in Time of War: Soul-Searching Prayers and Meditations by Jim Melchiorre to President George W. Bush, top members of the U. U. S. Congress and presidential candidates.
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Discipleship Agency Leads Effort to "Create New Places for New People" |
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(Nashville, Tenn., February 6, 2008) — If its discipleship agency gets the green light, by 2012, the United Methodist denomination could see exponential growth in the number of new churches started in the U.S.
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Discipleship Agency Invites Methodists to "Turn Aside And See" If God Is Calling |
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(Nashville, Tenn., January 22, 2008) — The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship is sponsoring "Turn Aside and See: Is God Calling?" March 8, 2008, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., in Tempe, Ariz.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Brentwood, Tenn.; and Dallas, Texas.
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Delegates to Decide If Denomination Will Receive New Hymnal; Members to Pick Which Hymns to Include |
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(Nashville, Tenn., January 18, 2008) — When it meets this spring, the top legislative body for the United Methodist Church will consider publishing a new hymnal -- and the General Board of Discipleship wants members of all ages and stages to decide what hymns to include, should a new hymnal be given the nod.
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Upper Room Chapel Observes Christian Unity Week |
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(Nashville, Tenn., January 10, 2008) —The Upper Room Chapel will join United Methodists and others across the globe in observing the 100th anniversary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in a special worship service at 8:30 a. m. Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 1908 Grand Ave.
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Kids Text Each Other in Church Because We Fail to Prepare a Way for God, Church Leader Says |
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(Nashville, Tenn., January 8, 2008) — "When we are in the wilderness, we need somebody to make a way for God. That's what preaching and worship are all about," said the Rev. Valerie Bridgeman Davis, professor of preaching and worship and Hebrew Bible at Memphis Theological Seminary.
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"Thunder in the Desert" Is Entry Point to Discipleship University for Black Methodists |
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(Nashville, Tenn., January 7, 2008) — Some 200 United Methodist black church pastors and laity pressed their way to "Thunder in the Desert: A Symposium for Partnerships in Black Churches" meeting in Nashville January 3-5, 2008.
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2007 GBOD News Archive |
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2006 GBOD News Archive |
