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Weekly news and Information
December 8, 2015 
Features
Share the exciting things that are happening in your congregation and the ways you're making a difference in your community.  Send the video you've posted on YouTube on on a social media site and we'll add them to the new Your Video Stories library.  You'll inspire others and may just help them to discover new ways to have a terrific impact.
United Methodist News
United Methodist Bishop James E. Dorff admitted to violating his marriage and ordination vows and has voluntarily resigned as episcopal leader of the Rio Texas Conference, effective Jan. 1, 2016.

Dorff resigned after a complaint was filed, Bishop Michael McKee, president of the South Central Jurisdictional College of Bishops, said in announcing the resignation on Dec. 4.

Dorff, who is also surrendering his credentials effective Jan, 1, expressed his regret in a letter to the college of bishops.
United Methodists around the world demonstrated inspiring generosity through their contributions on Dec. 1, 2015 - UMC #GivingTuesday. Nearly 6,000 donors from 27 countries donated $2.8 million through The Advance to support mission and ministries around the world.
On a recent Saturday morning, the Lidl supermarket in Messstetten, a pretty town tucked into a hilly corner of southwestern Germany, was busy. Mothers and fathers pushed grocery carts around the aisles of the no-frills store, looking for bargains to maximize the family food budget.
Among them was Farhan Othman, a young Syrian mother. Her black headscarf pinned with a small, silver-colored heart, she strolled the aisles with her husband, Ahmade Alkalil, and sons Suleiman, 3, and Mohammad, 9 months.
Iowa News
The 2015 Thanksgiving Ingathering brought together more than $1 million in cash/checks, in-kind contributions, and special activities.  

The report, presented Friday, December 4, at the Ingathering committee meeting, detailed the number of kits, sweaters, and cartons of books destined for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and the Iowa Nigeria Partnership (INP). In addition, the financial support raised for related missions was tallied.

Thank You Notes-Stories of United Methodist Connectional Giving in Iowa

Uzajja Dauda Adamu will be completing his work in 2016 on a Master's Degree at Africa University thanks in part to generous support from Iowa donors. He is one of several school teachers being trained for leadership as a part of the Iowa Nigeria Partnership.
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