“If the conference itself is not well managed, it challenges our ability to do good work.” — The Rev. Mark Holland, General Conference delegate from the Great Plains Conference.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Concerns mount about General Conference prep
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Delegates to The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking assembly are raising alarms that they have yet to receive critical information that they usually receive months ahead of the big event. General Conference organizers promise that the information is coming soon. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Register for Feb. 29-March 1 delegate orientation
Council of Bishops
Bishops’ president offers Lenten message
WASHINGTON — Council of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton shared a message as Christians around the world begin the season of Lent. For United Methodists, the season comes after painful disaffiliations and before General Conference gathers to shape the denomination’s future. Bickerton writes that United Methodists “not only need this season of Lent, we need the disciplines and devotion this season calls us to remember.”
Read message
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Pickleball with a purpose
HUNTINGTOWN, Md. — Members of Huntingtown United Methodist Church held a 24-hour pickleball marathon and raised more than $5,000, which they split among three community ministry partners, organizations that provide weekend meals to children and shelter and resources to those experiencing homelessness. Baltimore-Washington Conference staff report.
Read story
North Alabama Conference
Task group named for bishop transition
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Bishops Debra Wallace-Padgett and David Graves have collaboratively established a task group to begin shaping the future of the United Methodist annual conferences in Alabama-West Florida, North Alabama and South Georgia. The goal is to establish a seamless transition as three conferences move to sharing one bishop, starting Sept. 1.
Read story
General Council on Finance and Administration
Agency reports on 2023 giving
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The General Council on Finance and Administration, the denomination’s finance agency, has released a video on 2023 apportionment collections to support denomination-wide ministries. Including fourth-quarter giving, apportionment collections were down overall compared with 2022.
Watch video
SevenDaysVT.com
Church building repurposed into teen thrift store
JERICHO, Vt. — Jericho United Methodist Church is reaching out to young people in the community through Reframe, a thrift store just for teens, housed in the church’s former parsonage. It’s also become a popular place for teens to hang out. Rachel Hellman reports.
Read story
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 UM News staff.
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
Restoring trust in the institutional church
WASHINGTON — The Rev. Gil Rendle says all institutions eventually gravitate from serving their stated purposes to satisfying powerful institutional constituencies. The current deep mistrust of the institutional church is fueled by the focus more on its own people, clergy, resources and rules than on its true, lifegiving mission.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Rethink Church
Photo-a-day Lenten challenge begins
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, a time of self-examination and reflection to prepare for Easter. Rethink Church, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, encourages others to help create a photo-a-day devotional. Each day, team members will present a Scripture-inspired word and challenge participants to see how that word shows up in their lives. They can share their thoughts by posting a picture to their social media and tagging #rethinkchurch.
View resource
RECENT HEADLINES
Church members dial in for fellowship
As migrant numbers surge, Mexican Methodists offer hospitality
EVENTS
Monday, Feb. 26-Friday, March 8
Online course: Mentoring Young People in Their Faith
Monday, March 4-Friday, March 15
Online course: Becoming Accountable Disciples
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.