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Today, in Holston Conference News Briefs for May 9:

Wednesday on the Web @ holston.org

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TOP STORY: United Methodists respond to Kansas tornado

A powerful tornado with winds at more than 200 mph left a swath of destruction 22 miles long and more than a mile wide in southwest Kansas on May 4. Twelve people perished in the storm and dozens more were injured.

UMCOR released an emergency grant to the Kansas West Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church over the weekend and is providing on site support. Cash gifts will help provide for recovery. Make checks to your local church, with "Kansas Tornado, Project 569" on the memo line. One hundred percent of every donation to any appeal, including appeals for Kansas recovery, goes to support the designated program. Online donations are also accepted.

Read the UMNS story about the tornado's damage

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UMCOR needs kits: Can you help?

Sager Brown, UMCOR's relief supply depot, is running low on kits of all kinds. Health kits, school kits, layette kits, bedding kits, and sewing kits are all needed. Sager Brown ships kits to places of need in the U.S. and overseas throughout the year. A constant supply of these items is needed to meet demands.

Learn more about the kits

Changing General Conference: Do you agree? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Future gatherings of The United Methodist Church's top legislative assembly could be smaller than the 1,000-delegate conferences of recent decades. The Commission on General Conference, which plans the assemblies, will propose to the church limiting the number of delegates to between 500 and 600.

The petition was one of several considered April 17-19 as the commission looked at ways to improve the assembly's operation.

* Read a UMNS story about the proposed changes
* Take a UM NeXus opinion poll about the proposals

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Wanted: United Methodist missionaries

The United Methodist Church is launching a missionary recruitment campaign. Personnel are needed for work in evangelism, church development, education, medical care, agriculture, legal services, and financial missionary service. A majority, although not all, assignments are outside the United States.

Read about qualifications for missionary service

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Now online: 'Clergy Day' videos and transcripts

Active clergy were required to attend "Clergy Day with the Bishop," held March 27 at Cokesbury UMC and April 17 at State Street UMC. Six speakers were followed by a box lunch, small-group time, and a covenant service by Bishop James Swanson. Several participants have requested videos and reports from the gathering.

Download videos, reports, and handouts now

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Hands on! Mission project begins now

All over Holston, churches are gearing up for the 2007 Hands-On Mission Project. This year, the project will benefit Liberia and Zimbabwe. Each district has its own assignment (such as school supplies, health kits, food buckets), and each district has its own drop-off point and deadline.

Learn more from The Call

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Worship resources for special May events

The General Board of Discipleship offers these resources:

* Hymns for Commencement
* Graduation and Baccalaureate Resources

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Divisive and counterproductive: Who said that?

"Oklahoma Bishop Robert Hayes, who is secretary of the administrative committee, said advancing the recommendation on homosexuality would have 'proven to be divisive and counterproductive to the unity that currently exists in the Council of Bishops and to the church today.'"

— An article by the United Methodist News Service, released May 8, following a Council of Bishops decision to table a recommendation to change the church's stance on homosexuality.

Read the UMNS article

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