“I don’t take any great joy in this. I don’t think anybody does.” — Retired Bishop Michael McKee, on the continued budget cuts in response to church disaffiliations.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Amid church losses, proposed budget slashed
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s financial leaders met to finalize the proposed denominational budget heading to General Conference. Their work included making more cuts in response to church disaffiliations. The leaders also agreed to a plan to shore up financial support for the bishops. General Conference delegates will have the final say when they vote on the 2025-2028 budget that supports denomination-wide ministries. Heather Hahn reports.
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Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
Program links churches, student pastors
NORRISTOWN, Pa. — Mosaic Ministries, the Greater New Jersey Conference’s model of pastoral recruitment, engagement and support, connects seminary students with churches that have pastoral leadership opportunities. Now the program is expanding to eastern Pennsylvania and is exploring creative ways to help more young adults and youth to explore a call to ministry. John W. Coleman has the story.
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Upper New York Conference
Church connects through bilingual Bible study
BUFFALO, N.Y. — In the aftermath of the challenges of isolation associated with the coronavirus pandemic, Community Church Jehovah Jireh emerged with a renewed mission: to forge deeper connections among its members and with God, no matter the distance or language barriers. The church developed an innovative hybrid bilingual Bible study that has become a beacon of inclusivity, connectivity and hope. The Upper New York Conference has produced a video profiling the ministry.
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Dakotas Conference
Kids’ program plants seeds of faith
HETTINGER, N.D. — Rather than accept the lack of children at Hettinger United Methodist, church members started Kids Worship on Wednesdays — an after-school club that brings about 15 children to the church once a week. “Hopefully, we are planting a seed for these children to know the stories of the Bible and about God,” said church pastor the Rev. Laurie Kidd. Doreen Gosmire reports.
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PRESS RELEASES
Archives and History
Book about white supremacy awarded
MADISON, N.J. — A retired Texas pastor was named the 2023 recipient of the Jesse Lee Prize for manuscripts about American Methodist history. The Rev. John Elford, emeritus pastor of University United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas, won $2,000 for his book “Our Hearts Were Strangely Lukewarm: The American Methodist Church and the Struggle With White Supremacy.” The money is intended for use with marketing, teaching resources and other ways of promoting the book.
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UM News: Leaders, scholars confront racism in the church
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.
Move forward in spirit of Wesley
WASHINGTON (UM News) — The Rev. Lovett Weems Jr. says that only those committed to remaining in The United Methodist Church should try to influence decision-making at the upcoming United Methodist General Conference. Weems also argues that it’s time for United Methodists to follow the spirit of John Wesley in staying connected, despite differences, for the sake of making disciples of Jesus Christ. Weems is senior consultant at the Lewis Center for Church Leadership and distinguished professor of church leadership emeritus at Wesley Theological Seminary.
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EVENTS
Thursday, Feb. 29-Friday, March 1
Livestreamed General Conference orientation for delegates
Monday, March 11-Friday, March 22
Awe and Wonder: The Arts in Worship
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
United Methodists embrace Amy-Jill Levine
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Lots of people are having an Amy-Jill Levine experience these days. Through her books, videos and visits to churches, the renowned Jewish scholar of the New Testament has become one of the most popular Bible teachers for The United Methodist Church and other mainline Protestant denominations. Sam Hodges reports.
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Fresh Expressions movement offers hope
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UM News) — People are increasingly choosing to stay away from churches, and the answer to that dilemma for The United Methodist Church may be to hold meetings elsewhere, say members of the Fresh Expressions movement. Finding community in brew pubs, coffee shops, campgrounds and digital spaces was examined and promoted during Futuring Forward: The Reawakening of the People Called Methodist, the first national meeting of the group. Jim Patterson reports.
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Fresh Expressions gets new showcase
New discipleship program kicks off in Philippines
SANTA MARIA, Philippines (UM News) — More than 1,800 Filipino United Methodists gathered to launch a discipleship program at Seed of Faith United Methodist Church in the Bulacan Province. Called “Lakbayin” or “journey,” the Manila Area program aims to make disciples as mandated by Matthew 28. Lessons can be contextualized according to geographic locations and local church situations. Gladys P. Mangiduyos reports.
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United Methodists killed in Congo attack
KOMANDA, Congo (UM News) — At least 13 civilians, including a faithful United Methodist woman and two of her children, were killed in the latest violence in the Ituri Province in the northeastern part of Congo. Local authorities attribute the Feb. 17-18 attack to the Allied Democratic Forces, an armed rebel group operating in eastern Congo and Uganda. United Methodist Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda expressed his compassion and strongly condemned the acts of violence. Philippe Kituka Lolonga reports.
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Global Ministries
Help for Gaza Strip population
ATLANTA — The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries is doing all it can to support people in the Gaza Strip who are suffering because of the conflict between Hamas and Israel. Palestinians are unable to move across checkpoints, buy or sell food and face the constant threat of harassment. “In the face of so much loss — Muslim, Christian and Jewish lives, the 28,000 men, women and children lost in Gaza, our hearts are breaking,” said Roland Fernandes, the top executive of Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief. “But we believe that God is with those who suffer, and we are a small part of a much larger effort to work for peace in the region.” Christie R. House reports.
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