“Some of us felt we could not be part of an organization that was so hurtful to LGBTQ folks.” — Gloria Brown, a member of Chebeague Island Church, which is working on disaffiliating from The United Methodist Church.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Churches across theological spectrum exiting
PORTLAND, Maine (UM News) — With a potential denominational split still up in the air, some congregations aren’t waiting to head for the exits. Churches in Maine, Texas and Illinois are among those in the process of severing ties with The United Methodist Church. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Global Ministries
African farm gets solar power
ATLANTA — A missionary and Africa University graduate helped bring solar power to Kamisamba Farm in Congo. Lorraine Charinda, an agriculturist and rural economic development specialist from Zimbabwe, was the driving force behind developing a fully functioning farm at Kamisamba. When she arrived in 2018, it had some dilapidated buildings, four pigs and half an acre of vegetable plants. Christie R. House reports.
Read story
Texas Methodist Foundation
Podcast series addresses resilience in ministry
SAN ANTONIO — In the latest episode of the podcast series “Reservoirs of Resilience,” the Rev. Liliana Padilla, pastor of Westlawn United Methodist Church, talks about the obstacles she faced in ministry and how overcoming them gave her experience to draw on in leading her church through the pandemic.
Listen to podcast
Read more about podcast series
WKRG-Channel 5
Restoration underway for ‘Bee Hive’ church
MOBILE, Ala. — Government Street United Methodist Church carries the nickname “Bee Hive” because in the 19th century it sent out swarms of Methodists to start other churches. Government Street’s Spanish Colonial-style sanctuary has been undergoing a major restoration. Caroline Carithers reports.
Read story and watch video
Read more about the church’s history
A new Friday Digest
In order to streamline our news delivery and enhance our service to you, United Methodist News is merging the Friday Daily Digest and the Weekly Digest. Beginning on April 23, the single Friday Digest will combine the best of the Daily and Weekly digests, providing new stories, press releases and commentaries, as well as the top stories from the past week. If you already are subscribed to the Daily or Weekly emails, you will automatically receive the new Friday Digest. If at any point you would like to opt out, you can use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this email. We hope you enjoy the new Friday edition.
COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Daily Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not the UM News staff.
Los Angeles Times
Welcoming refugees reclaims ‘moral voice’
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — “As Christians, we believe that in welcoming the refugee we are fulfilling the work of our faith,” writes Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño in a commentary for the Los Angeles Times. Carcaño, who oversees the California-Nevada Conference, urges the Biden administration to lift the cap on refugee admissions.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
United Methodist Communications
Training focuses on leveraging communication
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Communications is launching a series of ecumenical virtual learning conferences to help local churches deliver messages effectively and efficiently. The first offering, "Leveraging Communication for Greater Connection," will focus on a variety of communication tools, including social media, digital ministry and news writing. The online conference will take place at 10 a.m. U.S. Central time April 20-21. Register by April 20 to receive access to the new Effective Church Marketing online training course at no additional cost.
To register
RECENT HEADLINES
Court won’t rule in advance on protocol legislation
African bishops not united on church future
EVENTS
Wednesday, April 28
Webinar: United Methodist Seminaries and Clergy Financial Literacy
NEWS AND FEATURES
Churches across theological spectrum exiting
PORTLAND, Maine (UM News) — With a potential denominational split still up in the air, some congregations aren’t waiting to head for the exits. Churches in Maine, Texas and Illinois are among those in the process of severing ties with The United Methodist Church. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Global Ministries
African farm gets solar power
ATLANTA — A missionary and Africa University graduate helped bring solar power to Kamisamba Farm in Congo. Lorraine Charinda, an agriculturist and rural economic development specialist from Zimbabwe, was the driving force behind developing a fully functioning farm at Kamisamba. When she arrived in 2018, it had some dilapidated buildings, four pigs and half an acre of vegetable plants. Christie R. House reports.
Read story
Texas Methodist Foundation
Podcast series addresses resilience in ministry
SAN ANTONIO — In the latest episode of the podcast series “Reservoirs of Resilience,” the Rev. Liliana Padilla, pastor of Westlawn United Methodist Church, talks about the obstacles she faced in ministry and how overcoming them gave her experience to draw on in leading her church through the pandemic.
Listen to podcast
Read more about podcast series
WKRG-Channel 5
Restoration underway for ‘Bee Hive’ church
MOBILE, Ala. — Government Street United Methodist Church carries the nickname “Bee Hive” because in the 19th century it sent out swarms of Methodists to start other churches. Government Street’s Spanish Colonial-style sanctuary has been undergoing a major restoration. Caroline Carithers reports.
Read story and watch video
Read more about the church’s history
A new Friday Digest
In order to streamline our news delivery and enhance our service to you, United Methodist News is merging the Friday Daily Digest and the Weekly Digest. Beginning on April 23, the single Friday Digest will combine the best of the Daily and Weekly digests, providing new stories, press releases and commentaries, as well as the top stories from the past week. If you already are subscribed to the Daily or Weekly emails, you will automatically receive the new Friday Digest. If at any point you would like to opt out, you can use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this email. We hope you enjoy the new Friday edition.
COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Daily Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not the UM News staff.
Los Angeles Times
Welcoming refugees reclaims ‘moral voice’
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — “As Christians, we believe that in welcoming the refugee we are fulfilling the work of our faith,” writes Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño in a commentary for the Los Angeles Times. Carcaño, who oversees the California-Nevada Conference, urges the Biden administration to lift the cap on refugee admissions.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
United Methodist Communications
Training focuses on leveraging communication
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Communications is launching a series of ecumenical virtual learning conferences to help local churches deliver messages effectively and efficiently. The first offering, "Leveraging Communication for Greater Connection," will focus on a variety of communication tools, including social media, digital ministry and news writing. The online conference will take place at 10 a.m. U.S. Central time April 20-21. Register by April 20 to receive access to the new Effective Church Marketing online training course at no additional cost.
To register
RECENT HEADLINES
Court won’t rule in advance on protocol legislation
African bishops not united on church future
EVENTS
Wednesday, April 28
Webinar: United Methodist Seminaries and Clergy Financial Literacy
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