“I’m so privileged. How many people can say they’ve been through two of these things?” — The Rev. Jim McIlrath, a retired United Methodist elder, on attending revivals at Asbury University in 1970 and 2023.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Kentucky Conference
Hunger for God on display at revival
WILMORE, Ky. — The revival at Asbury University and Asbury Theological Seminary has drawn considerable media coverage and large crowds, with United Methodists among those waiting in line to be part of worship services. Alan Wild’s on-the-scene account includes comments from a United Methodist pastor who said the revival shows “people are hungry and thirsty for God.” The school announced that on-campus public services would end on Feb. 20. But there will be additional services through Feb. 23 for high schoolers and young adults up to age 25. Revival services open to all are expected to shift to other locations in Central Kentucky.
Read Kentucky Conference article
Read schedule update from Asbury University
Amid budget woes, church sees slight rise in giving
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Overall giving to support The United Methodist Church’s denomination-wide ministries saw a small uptick in 2022 even in a time of rising church disaffiliations. However, worries remain — especially about the funding for bishops. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read press release
Holston Conference
New legal ministry helps low-income people
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Sixty-eight people have received attorney help with their legal issues since a new ministry started almost a year ago at Cokesbury United Methodist Church. Knoxville Legal Ministry is designed to help people with child support, child custody, debt, immigration, eviction, wills and other legal challenges that might require an expensive lawyer. Annette Spence reports.
Read story
North Texas Conference
Two congregations join to study racial history
DALLAS — Hamilton Park and Arapaho United Methodist churches joined on a recent Saturday to learn more about the city’s history of racism. The groups took tours of historical sites and then discussed what they learned over lunch. “Sharing the Hidden Dallas Tour with Arapaho UMC fleshed out what it means to have racial understanding,” said the Rev. Sheron Patterson, senior pastor of Hamilton Park. “The dual learning creates understanding.” The North Texas Conference has the story.
Read story
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Nature-guide pastor copes with hiking injury
PLUNKETTS CREEK TWP., Pa. — The Rev. Beth Jones, a United Methodist pastor and certified nature therapy guide, spent 16 days last year in the hospital after her hiking accident on a mountain near her home. She has spent much of her ministry outdoors and was eager to get back on the trail. Jason Nark has the story.
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.
Greater New Jersey Conference
Managing the fast pace of change
NEPTUNE, N.J. — As a young pastor in a new appointment, the Rev. Steven Morton was once scolded by his staff-parish relations committee, “Slow down! You’re exhausting us.” Now, he reflects on the debilitating level of constant change in local churches and the need for pastors to slow down.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
United Methodist women feed community
Disaffiliation shouldn’t result in lost history
EVENTS
Monday, March 6-Monday, May 15
Online course: Serious Answers to Hard Questions
Monday, March 13-Friday, March 24
Opening Ourselves to Grace: Basic Christian Practices
NEWS AND FEATURES
Kentucky Conference
Hunger for God on display at revival
WILMORE, Ky. — The revival at Asbury University and Asbury Theological Seminary has drawn considerable media coverage and large crowds, with United Methodists among those waiting in line to be part of worship services. Alan Wild’s on-the-scene account includes comments from a United Methodist pastor who said the revival shows “people are hungry and thirsty for God.” The school announced that on-campus public services would end on Feb. 20. But there will be additional services through Feb. 23 for high schoolers and young adults up to age 25. Revival services open to all are expected to shift to other locations in Central Kentucky.
Read Kentucky Conference article
Read schedule update from Asbury University
Amid budget woes, church sees slight rise in giving
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Overall giving to support The United Methodist Church’s denomination-wide ministries saw a small uptick in 2022 even in a time of rising church disaffiliations. However, worries remain — especially about the funding for bishops. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read press release
Holston Conference
New legal ministry helps low-income people
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Sixty-eight people have received attorney help with their legal issues since a new ministry started almost a year ago at Cokesbury United Methodist Church. Knoxville Legal Ministry is designed to help people with child support, child custody, debt, immigration, eviction, wills and other legal challenges that might require an expensive lawyer. Annette Spence reports.
Read story
North Texas Conference
Two congregations join to study racial history
DALLAS — Hamilton Park and Arapaho United Methodist churches joined on a recent Saturday to learn more about the city’s history of racism. The groups took tours of historical sites and then discussed what they learned over lunch. “Sharing the Hidden Dallas Tour with Arapaho UMC fleshed out what it means to have racial understanding,” said the Rev. Sheron Patterson, senior pastor of Hamilton Park. “The dual learning creates understanding.” The North Texas Conference has the story.
Read story
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Nature-guide pastor copes with hiking injury
PLUNKETTS CREEK TWP., Pa. — The Rev. Beth Jones, a United Methodist pastor and certified nature therapy guide, spent 16 days last year in the hospital after her hiking accident on a mountain near her home. She has spent much of her ministry outdoors and was eager to get back on the trail. Jason Nark has the story.
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.
Greater New Jersey Conference
Managing the fast pace of change
NEPTUNE, N.J. — As a young pastor in a new appointment, the Rev. Steven Morton was once scolded by his staff-parish relations committee, “Slow down! You’re exhausting us.” Now, he reflects on the debilitating level of constant change in local churches and the need for pastors to slow down.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
United Methodist women feed community
Disaffiliation shouldn’t result in lost history
EVENTS
Monday, March 6-Monday, May 15
Online course: Serious Answers to Hard Questions
Monday, March 13-Friday, March 24
Opening Ourselves to Grace: Basic Christian Practices
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