NEWS AND FEATURES
United Methodists killed in Congo massacre
BENI, Congo (UM News) — At least 25 civilians, including seven United Methodists from two families, were killed in the latest violence in this East Congo territory, according to the Rev. Dumas Balaganire. The church members were killed as they prepared for a baptism. Philippe Kituka Lolonga reports.
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Former megachurch pastor sentenced
SHREVEPORT, La. (UM News) — Kirbyjon Caldwell, former pastor of Houston's Windsor Village United Methodist Church, was sentenced to six years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a $3.5 million investment scheme. Caldwell, who has made restitution of more than $4 million to victims of the scheme, apologized for his conduct during a Jan. 13 sentencing hearing in federal court.
Read story
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Girl Scout raises funds for water in Africa
ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — If you’ve ever doubted “girl power,” you haven’t met 9-year-old Julia Barnes. The member of Glen Mar United Methodist Church has set out to change the world, and she’s using her gifts as a storyteller to raise funds for a water well in Africa. Melissa Lauber has the story.
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Kentucky Conference
Second Life reaches people on life’s margins
MONTICELLO, Ky. — Monticello United Methodist Church has a new faith community that is reaching marginalized people on the edge of Appalachia. Now, Second Life ministry is seeking permanent space for worship and Bible studies, as well as health and wellness clinics. “No matter what box life puts us in, we all need Jesus,” says Monticello’s pastor. Alan Wild has the story.
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PRESS RELEASES
Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship
Events highlight church, activism, MLK
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Five women of faith will discuss facilitating conversations between activists and church representatives during a free online panel at 6 p.m. U.S. Central time Jan. 14. The Rev. James Lawson, a United Methodist leader in the U.S. civil rights movement, will be the featured speaker at an online event honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the late Rep. John Lewis at 11 a.m. Central time Jan. 18.
To register for women’s panel
To register for the Rev. James Lawson event
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.
United Methodist Insight
Undoing America’s white supremacy
MESQUITE, Texas — Watching the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, United Methodist Insight editor Cynthia B. Astle saw an unmasking of the nation’s problems with white supremacy and what Christians must do to confront it. “The only way for Christians to get beyond this inherent evil in America’s identity is to surrender fully to the good news embodied in Jesus Christ,” Astle writes.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
World Council of Churches
‘Light of Peace’ book available in Korean
GENEVA — The National Council of Churches in Korea has published a Korean translation of “The Light of Peace: Churches in Solidarity With the Korean Peninsula,” a book the World Council of Churches fellowship is using to recognize 70 years of unresolved conflict on the Korean Peninsula. The translation is available online.
Read press release
Download resource
RECENT HEADLINES
2020: The year in UM News photos
COVID-19 is top church story of 2020
EVENTS
Sunday, Jan. 17
Human Relations Day
United Methodists killed in Congo massacre
BENI, Congo (UM News) — At least 25 civilians, including seven United Methodists from two families, were killed in the latest violence in this East Congo territory, according to the Rev. Dumas Balaganire. The church members were killed as they prepared for a baptism. Philippe Kituka Lolonga reports.
Read story
Former megachurch pastor sentenced
SHREVEPORT, La. (UM News) — Kirbyjon Caldwell, former pastor of Houston's Windsor Village United Methodist Church, was sentenced to six years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a $3.5 million investment scheme. Caldwell, who has made restitution of more than $4 million to victims of the scheme, apologized for his conduct during a Jan. 13 sentencing hearing in federal court.
Read story
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Girl Scout raises funds for water in Africa
ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — If you’ve ever doubted “girl power,” you haven’t met 9-year-old Julia Barnes. The member of Glen Mar United Methodist Church has set out to change the world, and she’s using her gifts as a storyteller to raise funds for a water well in Africa. Melissa Lauber has the story.
Read story
Kentucky Conference
Second Life reaches people on life’s margins
MONTICELLO, Ky. — Monticello United Methodist Church has a new faith community that is reaching marginalized people on the edge of Appalachia. Now, Second Life ministry is seeking permanent space for worship and Bible studies, as well as health and wellness clinics. “No matter what box life puts us in, we all need Jesus,” says Monticello’s pastor. Alan Wild has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship
Events highlight church, activism, MLK
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Five women of faith will discuss facilitating conversations between activists and church representatives during a free online panel at 6 p.m. U.S. Central time Jan. 14. The Rev. James Lawson, a United Methodist leader in the U.S. civil rights movement, will be the featured speaker at an online event honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the late Rep. John Lewis at 11 a.m. Central time Jan. 18.
To register for women’s panel
To register for the Rev. James Lawson event
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.
United Methodist Insight
Undoing America’s white supremacy
MESQUITE, Texas — Watching the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, United Methodist Insight editor Cynthia B. Astle saw an unmasking of the nation’s problems with white supremacy and what Christians must do to confront it. “The only way for Christians to get beyond this inherent evil in America’s identity is to surrender fully to the good news embodied in Jesus Christ,” Astle writes.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
World Council of Churches
‘Light of Peace’ book available in Korean
GENEVA — The National Council of Churches in Korea has published a Korean translation of “The Light of Peace: Churches in Solidarity With the Korean Peninsula,” a book the World Council of Churches fellowship is using to recognize 70 years of unresolved conflict on the Korean Peninsula. The translation is available online.
Read press release
Download resource
RECENT HEADLINES
2020: The year in UM News photos
COVID-19 is top church story of 2020
EVENTS
Sunday, Jan. 17
Human Relations Day
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