Black Immigrant Daily News
PARAMARIBO — President Chandrikapersad Santokhi reist niet meer af naar Indonesië voor de G20-top. Dit wegens de huidige binnenlandse ontwikkelingen.
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The usually empty land beside the Farmers Market was alive with activity on Saturday, November 5th, as the Progressives held their first Cayman Seafood Fest and Health Fair fundraiser, one of several events to celebrate the Progressives’ 20th Anniversary of Service to the Cayman Islands.
According to the Progressives, the event raised Five Thousand Cayman Islands Dollars to benefit the work of the National Children’s Voluntary Organisation (NCVO).
Ms Barbara Conolly (MP, GTS), who helped organise the event, said: “Our founding motto, For Love of Country, still guides us today. So, as we celebrate our 20th Anniversary, it is important to us to give back to our Islands. We set out to raise five thousand dollars for the NCVO to help with the important work that they do caring for children. A cause that is important to me. I am very pleased we met our goal.”
The Progressives said that hundreds of people attended the venue to purchase delicious seafood lunches, including shrimp, crab, turtle, conch, fish, seafood soup and many side dishes. In addition, Progressives volunteers ably served the lunches, and the event was sold out at day’s end.
The Progressives also confirmed that the HSA & Public Health staff provided health checks for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, BMI measurements and nutritional counselling. They also offered flu shots, Covid vaccines and boosters. The Health Fair was as popular as the Seafood sale, with flu shots being particularly popular.
Commenting on the event, The Hon. Roy McTaggart, The Leader of the Opposition, said: “The event surpassed my expectations. We met our fundraising target to benefit the NCVO, and it was really heartening to see the numbers who attended to get their health checks and shots.”
Mr McTaggart continued:
Thanks to everyone who came to support the event and to wish us well as we celebrate our first twenty years. Thanks to the many volunteers and businesses who helped make this possible, including the HSA and Public Health. Thanks to the Farmers Market for the assistance provided. And, of course, huge thanks to those who assisted with the food – Island Taste, MacDonalds, Kirk Market, Welly’s, Dale Dacres, and Marcia Hulse. Because of all of you, the event was a tremendous success!
Also commenting on the event was Ms Pamela Webster of the NCVO, who said: “The National Children’s Voluntary Organisation has been providing early childhood education and foster home care to the Cayman community since 1975. On behalf of the children, staff, and management of the NCVO we thank the PPM for their generous donation to support our cause.The NVCO is an important part of the Cayman community it serves and having strong community support, including this donation from the Progressives, will allow us to continue our work of providing early childhood nursey and pre-school education to low-income families, including nutritious school meals for all, as well as providing residential foster care to those in need.”
As the Progressives continue the 20th Anniversary celebrations, upcoming events include a Free Gospel Concert on November 19th featuring local church choirs and performers with Carlene Davis as the headline act.
The Progressives will hold their traditional Senior’s Christmas Party in December, and more events are planned for 2023.
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To recognise its strong partnership with Jamaica, Frontier Airlines will feature an image of Jamaica’s national bird – the red-billed streamer tail hummingbird – on the tailfin of a 240-passenger aircraft, which will enter its fleet next year.
The Airbus A321 Neo, now under construction, will be named ‘Stewart the Red-Billed Streamer Tail’ in honour of the late hotelier and businessman, Gordon Butch Stewart, for his significant contribution to the development of Jamaica’s tourism industry.
Making the announcement at a ceremony held at Sandals Montego Bay, St James, on November 10, Chief Executive Officer of Frontier Airlines, Barry Biffle, said the gesture forms part of the company’s effort to become the “hometown” airline of Jamaica.
“I can’t think of any better way to honour our partnership with Jamaica than to have the national bird of Jamaica on a tail of our aircraft and in honour of Butch Stewart, as well as the Stewart family… the name of this aircraft will be ‘Stewart the Red-Billed Streamer tail’,” Biffle added.
He pointed out that the idea was pitched by a Jamaican flight attendant with the airline, Kadesha Smith.
Frontier traditionally places pictures of mainly endangered animals on the tails of its fleet of aircraft.
Meanwhile, Biffle said Frontier, a low-cost carrier, continues to make “it easier for tourists to come here [Jamaica], by making it much more affordable… and more easy and more affordable to get to the US”.
Frontier now offers service from nine gateways in the United States to Jamaica, and plans are afoot to add two more flights next year, with nonstop service to Denver, Colorado, starting in February, and Dallas, Texas, in the Spring.
For his part, deputy director of tourism for the Jamaica Tourist Board in the Americas, Donnie Dawson, thanked Frontier Airlines for its continued partnership with Jamaica and described the gesture as an honour.
“We are thrilled that Frontier is putting our hummingbird on your tail; it’s an honour. Frontier Airlines, with nine gateways into Jamaica, is phenomenal. Our recovery, post-COVID, is going very well and Frontier Airlines is a huge part of that because without airlift we’re really nothing,” he said.
Deputy mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, said the gesture, as well as Frontier’s push to increase flights to the island, signals the airline’s confidence in destination Jamaica.’
“It is indeed profound to have the Doctor Bird on the tail of the Frontier Airbus. We’re looking to ramp up the number of tourists coming to Jamaica… and I believe that it couldn’t be at a better time…. It means that our local economy will get some boost. Our Jamaicans in Montego Bay will get more work, and they can safeguard against the rising prices,” he said.
JIS News
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Black Immigrant Daily News
WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) — Arsenal will head into the World Cup break with a five-point lead over Manchester City in the Premier League after Martin Odegaard’s double clinched a 2-0 win at Wolverhampton on Saturday.
The captain’s goals in the 55th and 75th minutes showed City, which lost 2-1 to Brentford earlier in the day, that their crown is under threat.
Mikel Arteta’s team is a genuine contender, grinding out a 12th victory in 14 matches with a performance which demonstrated their steel and composure.
Wolves will be in last place at Christmas — league play resumes on Dec. 26 — but held their own for long spells and there are reasons to be positive with recently hired manager Julen Lopetegui’s era about to start.
Wolves chairman Jeff Shi called the search for Bruno Lage’s replacement painful after Lopetegui initially rejected the club and Michael Beale performed a U-turn to stay at second-tier Queens Park Rangers.
Introduced to the home fans before the game, Lopetegui took the acclaim during a lap of the field six years after Wolves first tried to appoint him.
It has been a long wait and the former Spain and Real Madrid coach will be expected to work wonders to beat the drop but will have the same problems as caretaker Steve Davis and Lage.
Lopetegui will need reinforcements in January — especially a striker — for Wolves to extend their top flight stay to a sixth season though he will have at least been encouraged by the hosts’ resilience which will be desperately needed during a relegation fight.
Arteta has no such problems and his team will be top at Christmas, something not even the most optimistic Gunners fan would have predicted.
City’s surprise loss gave Arsenal the chance to push further clear but the visitors were initially frustrated.
Gabriel Jesus drilled home a shot but was offside, and goalkeeper Jose Sa hurriedly turned Bukayo Saka’s deflected cross over.
Arsenal lost Granit Xhaka, forced off after 15 minutes after needing treatment, and replaced him with Fabio Vieira.
The Gunners dominated the ball but Wolves reminded the visitors of their threat when Goncalo Guedes fired over following a quick break.
Despite their territorial dominance, Arsenal struggled to create clear openings — a credit to Wolves’ organization.
A driving run from Saka created a chance for Jesus and, with a hint of offside, the striker hit the bar with 10 minutes of the half remaining. The Brazil international, without a goal in his previous 10 games, then wasted a promising opening when he volleyed wide off Ben White’s cross.
While it remained tight, the struggling hosts were always in the contest and William Saliba gifted them a golden chance just before the break.
The defender’s back pass was read by Guedes, who had a free run on goal, but Gabriel came to the rescue to deflect his shot wide.
But if there were any growing Arsenal frustrations, they disappeared 10 minutes after the break when Odegaard opened the scoring.
It was the first time the visitors wriggled in behind Wolves and when a delightful ball from Jesus gave Vieira space in the box, his cross was turned in by Odegaard from close range.
From then, it was comfortable for the Gunners and Odegaard added a second with 15 minutes left.
Dexter Lembikisa lost the ball to Gabriel Martinelli, who teed up Oleksandr Zinchenko to cross. The ball fell for Martinelli, who was denied by Sa but Odegaard controlled the rebound and lashed into the bottom corner.
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A crime scene unit officer gathers evidence outside Just in Time supermarket, on Cipero Street, San Fernando on Saturday where one bandit was killed during a robbery. – Photo by Yvonne Webb
A man, yet to be identified, was shot and killed after he and two other accomplices robbed Just In Time Supermarket, Cipero Street, San Fernando, shortly before 4 pm on Saturday.
A search is now on for two men who fled the scene after stealing bottles of alcohol. A few bottles of vodka, whiskey and rum were recovered outside the supermarket, along with a back pack.
The suspect collapsed at the entrance of the supermarket after being shot by a security guard.
The street was cordoned off as Southern Division Police, homicide and CSI processed the scene.
In an unrelated incident, another man yet to be identified, was gunned down at the entrance to Starbucks, at Sun Plaza, Munroe Road, Cunupia also around 4 pm.
A video of the shooting, showed two masked men shooting the victim as he fell on the ground.
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Members of the Saint Lucia Cadet Corps are fanning out across the North of the country to bring relief supplies to hundreds of families affected by recent devastating floods.
“Right now, we are catering for some 300 families from Corinth, Grande Riviere, Assou Canal, Monchy, and Bexon, ” the Chairman of the National Supplies Committee, Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Hyacinth, told St Lucia Times.
On Saturday, he disclosed that the Cadet Corps members were delivering supplies obtained from corporate donors and the government.
“So far, we have delivered more than 150 packages, and we are working on trying to get the other 150 – hopefully by Monday into Tuesday,” Hyacinth stated.
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He explained that the Cadet Corps collaborates with the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) and other volunteers in getting relief supplies to affected families.
“Today, Saturday, it just happens that it is only the Cadets. The other volunteers were not working, so only the Cadets are out in the Assou Canal, Grande Riviere, and heading towards Monchy as well to deliver family packs,” Hyacinth stated.
He said the packages include mattresses, food, blankets, pillows, and baby items.
According to Hyacinth, the Cadet Corps members were trying to reach as many families as possible.
He told St Lucia Times that although some families lost appliances, NEMO could not replace them.
Nevertheless, Hyacinth, the Cadets are assisting NEMO in distributing government vouchers.
“We are the boots on the ground for NEMO, doing the assessments, doing the deliveries,” the Chairman of the National Supplies Committee observed.
He said in the past week, some twenty Cadets daily were involved in assessments and distribution.
However, Hyacinth revealed a challenge in ensuring full community coverage through collaboration with District Disaster Committees.
“We have not been able to work together with the District Disaster Committees in ensuring that we cover every nitty gritty within the communities because we have found that there are a number of areas that were never covered,” he stated.
But he indicated that steps are underway to address the issue.
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Kevin Conroy, the prolific voice actor whose gravelly delivery on “Batman: The Animated Series” was for many Batman fans the definitive sound of the Caped Crusader, has died at 66.
Conroy died Thursday after a battle with cancer, series producer Warner Bros. announced Friday.
Conroy was the voice of Batman on the acclaimed animated series that ran from 1992 to 1996, often acting opposite Mark Hamill’s Joker. Conroy continued on as the almost exclusive animated voice of Batman, including some 15 films, 400 episodes of television and two dozen video games, including the “Batman: Arkham” and “Injustice” franchises.
In the eight-decade history of Batman, no one played the Dark Knight more.
“For several generations, he has been the definitive Batman,” Hamill in a statement. “It was one of those perfect scenarios where they got the exact right guy for the right part, and the world was better for it.”
“He will always be my Batman,” Hamill said.
Conroy’s popularity with fans made him a sought-after personality on the convention circuit. In the often tumultuous world of DC Comics, Conroy was a mainstay and widely beloved. In a statement, Warner Bros. Animation said Conroy’s performance “will forever stand among the greatest portrayals of the Dark Knight in any medium.”
“Kevin brought a light with him everywhere, whether in the recording booth giving it his all or feeding first responders during 9/11 or making sure every fan who ever waited for him had a moment with their Batman,” said Paul Dini, producer of the animated show. “A hero in every sense of the word.”
Born in Westbury, New York, and raised in Westport, Connecticut, Conroy started out as a well-trained theatre actor. He attended Juilliard and roomed with Robin Williams. After graduating, he toured with John Houseman’s acting group, the Acting Company. He performed in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Public Theater and in “Eastern Standard” on Broadway. At the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California, he performed in “Hamlet.”
The 1980s production of “Eastern Standard,” in which Conroy played a TV producer secretly living with AIDS, had particular meaning to him. Conroy, who was gay, said at the time he was regularly attending funerals for friends who died of AIDS. He poured out his anguish nightly on stage.
In 1980, Conroy moved to Los Angeles, began acting in soap operas and booked appearances on TV series including “Cheers,” “Tour of Duty” and “Murphy Brown.” In 1991, when casting director Andrea Romano was scouting her lead actor for “Batman: The Animated Series,” she went through hundreds of auditions before Conroy came in. He was there on a friend’s recommendation — and cast immediately.
Conroy began the role without any background in comics and as a novice in voice acting. His Batman was husky, brooding and dark. His Bruce Wayne was light and dashing. His inspiration for the contrasting voices, he said, came from the 1930s film, “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” about an English aristocrat who leads a double life.
“It’s so much fun as an actor to sink your teeth into,” Conroy told The New York Times in 2016. “Calling it animation doesn’t do it justice. It’s more like mythology.”
As Conroy’s performance evolved over the years, it sometimes connected to his own life. Conroy described his own father as an alcoholic and said his family disintegrated while he was in high school. He channelled those emotions into the 1993 animated film “Mask of the Phantasm,” which revolved around Bruce Wayne’s unsettled issues with his parents.
“Andrea came in after the recording and grabbed me in a hug,” Conroy told The Hollywood Reporter in 2018. “Andrea said, ‘I don’t know where you went, but it was a beautiful performance.’ She knew I was drawing on something.”
Conroy is survived by his husband, Vaughn C. Williams, sister Trisha Conroy and brother Tom Conroy.
In “Finding Batman,” released earlier this year, Conroy penned a comic about his unlikely journey with the character and as a gay man in Hollywood.
“I’ve often marvelled at how appropriate it was that I should land this role,” he wrote. “As a gay boy growing up in the 1950s and ’60s in a devoutly Catholic family, I’d grown adept at concealing parts of myself.”
The voice that emerged from Conroy for Batman, he said, was one he didn’t recognise — a voice that “seemed to roar from 30 years of frustration, confusion, denial, love, yearning.”
“I felt Batman rising from deep within.”
By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer
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Black Immigrant Daily News
Joe Biden semblait en mesure samedi de conserver le contrôle du Sénat et les républicains de le priver de la majorité à la Chambre des représentants. Mais les regards se tournaient déjà vers 2024 avec l’annonce probable mardi d’une…
Joe Biden semblait en mesure samedi de conserver le contrôle du Sénat et les républicains de le priver de la majorité à la Chambre des représentants. Mais les regards se tournaient déjà vers 2024 avec l’annonce probable mardi d’une candidature de Donald Trump à la Maison Blanche.
La victoire annoncée vendredi du démocrate sortant Mark Kelly en Arizona signifie que le Sénat est actuellement partagé à 49-49, avec deux sièges restants à départager, dans le Nevada et la Géorgie, quatre jours après les élections américaines de mi-mandat.
Il suffit que les démocrates en remportent un pour garder le contrôle de la chambre haute, puisqu’ils pourront user du vote de la vice-présidente Kamala Harris pour départager les égalités, comme le prévoit la Constitution.
Dans son discours de victoire, l’astronaute Mark Kelly a appelé samedi son adversaire à tourner la page. “Nous avons vu ce qui arrive quand des dirigeants refusent d’accepter la vérité et se concentrent sur des thèses complotistes du passé plutôt que sur la résolution des défis auxquels nous faisons face aujourd’hui”, a-t-il ajouté.
Son opposant Blake Masters, qui avait reçu le soutien appuyé de Donald Trump, n’a toujours pas concédé sa défaite.
Piqué par ce revers en Arizona, qui s’ajoute à d’autres échecs de ses poulains, l’ancien président a de nouveau crié à la “fraude électorale” refusant d’admettre le verdict des urnes, comme il le fait depuis sa défaite à la présidentielle de 2020.
Du côté de la Chambre des représentants, les républicains semblaient en passe de reprendre la majorité des sièges, ce qui compliquera la suite du mandat du président Joe Biden.
Mais leur victoire s’annonce nettement plus courte qu’annoncée. La chaîne NBC News projetait samedi matin une frêle majorité de cinq sièges pour les républicains avec 220 élus contre 215 pour les démocrates.
Près de 20 scrutins n’ont cependant toujours pas donné leur verdict, principalement en Californie.
Portés par une forte inflation, les républicains ont longtemps cru posséder un boulevard pour reprendre les deux chambres lors de ce scrutin traditionnellement difficile pour le parti au pouvoir.
Leurs résultats décevants font monter l’agitation parmi leurs élus au Congrès, augurant de possibles règlements de compte.
Dans une lettre révélée par Politico, plusieurs sénateurs trumpistes demandent de reporter le vote pour élire leur chef au Sénat prévu la semaine prochaine, semblant défier le ténor Mitch McConnell qui souhaite être reconduit à ce poste.
“Nous sommes tous déçus qu’une +vague rouge+ (la couleur de leur parti, nldr) ne se soit pas concrétisée, et il existe plusieurs raisons à cela”, écrivent-ils en souhaitant ouvrir un débat à ce sujet.
Tous ont déjà à l’esprit la présidentielle de 2024, avec la perspective de voir l’ancien président Donald Trump annoncer sa candidature dans trois jours seulement depuis sa résidence de Mar-a-Lago en Floride.
“Le président Trump annoncera mardi qu’il est candidat à l’élection présidentielle. Et ce sera une annonce très professionnelle, très soignée”, a confirmé vendredi son conseiller Jason Miller, levant tout suspense.
La candidature de Donald Trump sera sa troisième à la Maison Blanche. Même si son influence sur le parti républicain reste indéniable, il sort fragilisé des élections de mi-mandat et semble vouloir agir vite pour couper l’herbe sous le pied de ses rivaux.
Parmi eux, figure le gouverneur de Floride Ron DeSantis, réélu triomphalement et nouvelle star de la droite dure.
Son succès n’a pas échappé au milliardaire, qui a enchaîné cette semaine piques et moqueries contre celui qu’il surnomme “Ron-la-Morale”.
Et, hasard du calendrier ou pas, mardi sera aussi le jour de la sortie des mémoires d’un autre concurrent possible de Donald Trump, son ancien vice-président Mike Pence.
L’élection de 2024 pourrait tenir du remake de celle de 2020: son adversaire d’alors, l’actuel président démocrate Joe Biden, a réaffirmé cette semaine son “intention” de briguer un deuxième mandat. Mais lui a pris soin de repousser toute décision définitive à l’année prochaine.
rle/chp
Carte représentant le parti ayant remporté les élections de mi-mandat par circonscription lors des élections de mi-mandat, au 11 novembre à 9h30 GMT
• Sabrina BLANCHARD
L’ancien président républicain Donald Trump sort d’un bureau de vote pour les élections de mi-mandat, à Palm Beach en Floride, le 8 novembre 2022
• Eva Marie UZCATEGUI
Le sénateur démocrate américain Mark Kelly célèbre sa victoire aux élections de mi-mandat avec son épouse, l’ancienne élue Gabby Giffords, à une conférence de presse à Phoenix, dans l’Arizona, le 12 novembre 2022
• Rebecca NOBLE
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
Joe Biden semblait en mesure samedi de conserver le contrôle du Sénat et les républicains de le priver de la majorité à la Chambre des représentants. Mais les regards se tournaient déjà vers 2024 avec l’annonce probable mardi d’une…
Joe Biden semblait en mesure samedi de conserver le contrôle du Sénat et les républicains de le priver de la majorité à la Chambre des représentants. Mais les regards se tournaient déjà vers 2024 avec l’annonce probable mardi d’une candidature de Donald Trump à la Maison Blanche.
La victoire annoncée vendredi du démocrate sortant Mark Kelly en Arizona signifie que le Sénat est actuellement partagé à 49-49, avec deux sièges restants à départager, dans le Nevada et la Géorgie, quatre jours après les élections américaines de mi-mandat.
Il suffit que les démocrates en remportent un pour garder le contrôle de la chambre haute, puisqu’ils pourront user du vote de la vice-présidente Kamala Harris pour départager les égalités, comme le prévoit la Constitution.
Dans son discours de victoire, l’astronaute Mark Kelly a appelé samedi son adversaire à tourner la page. “Nous avons vu ce qui arrive quand des dirigeants refusent d’accepter la vérité et se concentrent sur des thèses complotistes du passé plutôt que sur la résolution des défis auxquels nous faisons face aujourd’hui”, a-t-il ajouté.
Son opposant Blake Masters, qui avait reçu le soutien appuyé de Donald Trump, n’a toujours pas concédé sa défaite.
Piqué par ce revers en Arizona, qui s’ajoute à d’autres échecs de ses poulains, l’ancien président a de nouveau crié à la “fraude électorale” refusant d’admettre le verdict des urnes, comme il le fait depuis sa défaite à la présidentielle de 2020.
Du côté de la Chambre des représentants, les républicains semblaient en passe de reprendre la majorité des sièges, ce qui compliquera la suite du mandat du président Joe Biden.
Mais leur victoire s’annonce nettement plus courte qu’annoncée. La chaîne NBC News projetait samedi matin une frêle majorité de cinq sièges pour les républicains avec 220 élus contre 215 pour les démocrates.
Près de 20 scrutins n’ont cependant toujours pas donné leur verdict, principalement en Californie.
Portés par une forte inflation, les républicains ont longtemps cru posséder un boulevard pour reprendre les deux chambres lors de ce scrutin traditionnellement difficile pour le parti au pouvoir.
Leurs résultats décevants font monter l’agitation parmi leurs élus au Congrès, augurant de possibles règlements de compte.
Dans une lettre révélée par Politico, plusieurs sénateurs trumpistes demandent de reporter le vote pour élire leur chef au Sénat prévu la semaine prochaine, semblant défier le ténor Mitch McConnell qui souhaite être reconduit à ce poste.
“Nous sommes tous déçus qu’une +vague rouge+ (la couleur de leur parti, nldr) ne se soit pas concrétisée, et il existe plusieurs raisons à cela”, écrivent-ils en souhaitant ouvrir un débat à ce sujet.
Tous ont déjà à l’esprit la présidentielle de 2024, avec la perspective de voir l’ancien président Donald Trump annoncer sa candidature dans trois jours seulement depuis sa résidence de Mar-a-Lago en Floride.
“Le président Trump annoncera mardi qu’il est candidat à l’élection présidentielle. Et ce sera une annonce très professionnelle, très soignée”, a confirmé vendredi son conseiller Jason Miller, levant tout suspense.
La candidature de Donald Trump sera sa troisième à la Maison Blanche. Même si son influence sur le parti républicain reste indéniable, il sort fragilisé des élections de mi-mandat et semble vouloir agir vite pour couper l’herbe sous le pied de ses rivaux.
Parmi eux, figure le gouverneur de Floride Ron DeSantis, réélu triomphalement et nouvelle star de la droite dure.
Son succès n’a pas échappé au milliardaire, qui a enchaîné cette semaine piques et moqueries contre celui qu’il surnomme “Ron-la-Morale”.
Et, hasard du calendrier ou pas, mardi sera aussi le jour de la sortie des mémoires d’un autre concurrent possible de Donald Trump, son ancien vice-président Mike Pence.
L’élection de 2024 pourrait tenir du remake de celle de 2020: son adversaire d’alors, l’actuel président démocrate Joe Biden, a réaffirmé cette semaine son “intention” de briguer un deuxième mandat. Mais lui a pris soin de repousser toute décision définitive à l’année prochaine.
rle/chp
Carte représentant le parti ayant remporté les élections de mi-mandat par circonscription lors des élections de mi-mandat, au 11 novembre à 9h30 GMT
• Sabrina BLANCHARD
L’ancien président républicain Donald Trump sort d’un bureau de vote pour les élections de mi-mandat, à Palm Beach en Floride, le 8 novembre 2022
• Eva Marie UZCATEGUI
Le sénateur démocrate américain Mark Kelly célèbre sa victoire aux élections de mi-mandat avec son épouse, l’ancienne élue Gabby Giffords, à une conférence de presse à Phoenix, dans l’Arizona, le 12 novembre 2022
• Rebecca NOBLE
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
The United Methodist Church moved toward becoming more progressive and LGBTQ-affirming during US regional meetings this month that included the election of its second openly gay bishop. Conservatives say the developments will only accelerate their exit from one of the nation’s largest Protestant denominations.
Each of the UMC’s five US jurisdictions — meeting separately in early November — approved similarly worded measures aspiring to a future of church where “LGBTQIA+ people will be protected, affirmed, and empowered.”
They also passed non-binding measures asking anyone to withdraw from leadership roles if they’re planning to leave the denomination soon — a category that almost entirely includes conservatives moving toward the exits.
The denomination still officially bans same-sex marriage and the ordination of any “self-avowed, practicing homosexual,” and only a legislative gathering called the General Conference can change that.
But this month’s votes show growing momentum — at least in the American half of the global church — to defy these policies and seek to reverse them at the next legislative gathering in 2024.
Supporters and opponents of these measures drew from the same metaphor to say their church is either becoming more or less of a “big tent,” as the United Methodists have long been described as a theologically diverse, mainstream denomination.
“It demonstrates that the big tent has collapsed,” said the Reverend Jay Therrell, president of the conservative Wesleyan Covenant Association, which has been helping churches that want to leave the denomination.
“For years, bishops have told traditionalists that there is room for everyone in the United Methodist Church,” he said. “Not one single traditionalist bishop was elected. Moreover, we now have the most progressive or liberal council of bishops in the history of Methodism, period.”
But Jan Lawrence, executive director of Reconciling Ministries Network, which works toward inclusion of Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities, applauded the regional jurisdictions. She cited their LGBTQ-affirming votes and their expansion of the racial, ethnic and gender diversity of bishops.
Jurisdictions elected the church’s first Native American and Filipino American bishops, with other landmark votes within specific regions, according to United Methodist News Service.
“It is a big tent church,” Lawrence said. “One of the concerns that some folks expressed is that we don’t have leadership in the church that reflects the diversity of the church. So this episcopal election doesn’t fix that, but it’s a step in the right direction.”
Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth, elected in the Western Jurisdiction meeting, agreed. He is the first openly gay African-American man to be elected bishop. The vote comes six years after the Western Jurisdiction elected the denomination’s first openly lesbian bishop, Karen Oliveto of the Mountain Sky Episcopal Area.
The LGBTQ-affirming resolutions point “to the alignment of the denomination more with the mainstream of our country,” Bridgeforth said. “It can also help us begin to centre our conversations where we have unity of purpose, rather than centering on divisions.”
Bridgeforth will lead churches in the Greater Northwest Area, which includes churches in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and small parts of Montana and Canada. He said he has always worked across ideological lines in his administrative duties and would continue to do so.
“I have used our differences as an opportunity for us to come together,” he said. “It creates more space for a different kind of conversation than, ‘That’s different, that’s bad, we can’t be together.’” If some churches under his jurisdiction do choose to leave the United Methodist Church, Bridgeforth said he would help them make that transition.
“I would not want anybody to be where they don’t want to be,” he said.
Progressive groups have said the church should be open to appointing bishops and other clergy, regardless of sexual orientation, who show they have the gifts for ministry and a commitment to serve the church.
Conservatives, however, say the church needs to abide by its own rules.
“I am sure Bishop Bridgeforth is a person of sacred worth, but he does not meet the qualifications to hold the office of elder, much less bishop, and should not have been elected,” Therrell said.
At least 300 US congregations have left the denomination this year, according to United Methodist News Service. Hundreds more are in the process of leaving, and Therrell predicted that number would be in the low thousands by the end of 2023. Overseas conferences in Bulgaria and Slovakia have ended their affiliation with the denomination, and churches in Africa are considering it, he said.
Many are bound for the newly formed conservative denomination, the Global Methodist Church.
The UMC is a worldwide denomination. American membership has declined to about 6.5 million, from a peak of 11 million in the 1960s. Overseas membership soared to match or exceed that of the US, fuelled mostly by growth and mergers in Africa. Overseas delegates have historically allied with American conservatives to uphold the church’s stances on sexuality.
Support for a compromise measure that would have amicably split the denomination, negotiated in 2020, fell apart after that year’s legislative General Conference was postponed three times due to the pandemic. The next General Conference is now scheduled to begin in April 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
A vote by a 2019 General Conference was the latest of several in recent decades that reinforced the church’s ban on gay clergy and marriage. But that vote also prompted many local conferences to elect more liberal and centrist delegates, whose influence was felt in this month’s regional votes.
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By PETER SMITH Associated Press
NewsAmericasNow.com
