“Our challenge is to both heal and move forward with purpose, vision and determination.” — Council of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton, following this season of disaffiliations.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Heartbreak, hope follow season of church exits
CLYDE, N.C. (UM News) — The Lewis Center for Church Leadership has released its final report documenting disaffiliations from The United Methodist Church. While a quarter of U.S. churches have left the denomination, new United Methodist faith communities are springing up out of the remnants. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read sidebar on tracking the official disaffiliation data
Read Lewis Center report (PDF)
Holston Conference
Churches open as warming shelters
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist churches have been providing crucial warming shelters this week as an arctic blast has brought snow, ice and life-threatening freezing temperatures across the U.S. In Knoxville, all of the church shelters offered by the city are United Methodist. Annette Spence has the story.
Read story
WTVA
Fire destroys church
TUPELO, Miss. — St. Paul United Methodist Church was destroyed the morning of Jan. 17 by a fire that started in the sanctuary. “It has really affected me like I've lost a little one or something special,” said Nettie Davis, a member of the Tupelo city council and lifetime member of St. Paul’s. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Daniella Oropeza and Jake White have the story.
Read story and watch video
PRESS RELEASES
Higher Education Foundation
Foundation seeks new top executive
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation is seeking its next president/chief executive. The search follows the retirement announcement of Robert Fletcher, who has led the foundation since 2011. Interested and qualified persons are invited to apply by Feb. 15.
Read press release
To apply
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.
Creating a Culture of Renewal
Solving the dilemma of clergy burnout
CASPER, Wyo. — With so many churches in the U.S. struggling, it’s no wonder that clergy burnout is on the rise. The Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter is examining clergy burnout, and she starts by talking about how mindsets might contribute to the problem.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Hope Springs Eternal
Pastor hosts video interviews on faith
MARION, Va. — The Rev. Natalie Justice, a pastor in the Holston Conference, is conducting video interviews with leaders about developments in faith. She speaks to Amy-Jill Levine about rediscovering Jesus in a Jewish context, Katie Allred about social media in the small church and Jason Moore about artificial intelligence and the church.
Interview with Levine
Interview with Allred
Interview with Moore
RECENT HEADLINES
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Church helps thousands of malnourished children in Congo
EVENTS
Monday, Jan. 29-Friday, Feb. 9
Online course: Anxiety, Fear and Faith
Wednesday, Feb. 28-Thursday, Feb. 29
2024 Schooler Institute on Preaching
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