“I will miss Tim, his wisdom, his understated humor, his perspectives on all issues and his good heart.” — Retired Bishop Charlene Kammerer, on the death of retired Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Bishop faced death — and wrote about it
KELLER, Va. (UM News) — Retired Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker, a learned and independent-minded presence in The United Methodist Church, died March 28 at home in Virginia, after being in hospice care. He was 75. Whitaker led the Florida Conference from 2001 to 2012. Well into retirement and facing terminal illness, he wrote an essay titled “Learning to Die,” and it has found many readers. Sam Hodges reports.
Read obituary
United Methodist Communications
Meet ‘Methodism’s Paul Revere’
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Freeborn Garrettson has been called “Methodism’s Paul Revere” because of the amount of time he spent traveling on horseback to preach the Gospel. He was a Methodist pastor, an American patriot, strict pacifist, committed abolitionist and one of the most passionate preachers of his generation. Philip J. Brooks shares his story in a new installment of the “Unsung Heroes of Methodism” series.
Read story
United Women in Faith
Native Americans share art, faith at General Conference
NEW YORK — Participants at the upcoming General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, will receive beaded pins crafted by Native American United Methodists. Lay pastor Diana LaRocque made more than 1,000 of the pins for the 2020 legislative assembly, which was delayed until this year. LaRocque died in 2020, but her pins and 5,000 others produced elsewhere remain and will be circulated with help from United Women in Faith. Mary Beth Coudal has the story.
Read story
South Carolina Conference
‘Act Like a Man’ draws crowd
COLUMBIA, S.C. — More than 200 men headed to Journey United Methodist Church ready to learn new ways to act like a man in the eyes of the Lord. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 13:11, “Act Like a Man” was the theme of the event, featuring teaching and testimony from a host of ministry leaders on what authentic spiritual maturity requires. Jessica Brodie reports.
Read story
Upper New York Conference
Church brings mission of hope to Zimbabwe
WATERTOWN, N.Y. — In Zimbabwe, the life of a young boy named Edward Dingadade took a transformative turn, fueled by the kindness of a community thousands of miles away. Touched by the struggles faced by AIDS orphans in the country, individuals at Watertown United Methodist Church made a commitment to fund the boy’s education. Now, Dingadade is graduating from college with a degree in electrical engineering. Kevin Miller has the story.
Read story
Government Technology
Working toward a more equitable ID
WASHINGTON — Foundry United Methodist Church has a ministry that helps thousands of D.C. residents a year obtain personal identification documents. Ministry leaders are among those who see digital ID as a more equitable ID for unhoused people, disaster survivors and others who lost their documents for whatever reason. Leslie Aloud reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Finance and Administration
Christian Expedition named ministry partner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The General Council on Finance and Administration has named Christian Expedition, a travel company, as a United Methodist ministry partner. Christian Expedition provides group tours that aim to bring the Bible to life at historic Christian sites worldwide. Educational Opportunities Tours, another travel agency, also continues to be a ministry partner.
Read press release
Learn more about ministry partners
RESOURCES
Pre-General Conference video resources
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — As The United Methodist Church approaches General Conference, UM News is providing video resources to help people better understand how the legislative assembly works and what legislation is under consideration. The first three videos are now posted with more to come over the next few weeks.
Watch videos
RECENT HEADLINES
Caring for people with memory issues
Mississippi church services target racism
EVENTS
Monday, April 8-Monday, April 22
Online course: Becoming an Effective Witness for Jesus Christ
Wednesday, April 10
Live From Wespath: A virtual UMC Event
Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.