“Eastern Congo has and will always need Bishop (Gabriel Yemba) Unda, because he is a man of evangelization, a unifier, a peacemaker and a man of development.” — The Rev. Henry Jean Robert Kasongo Numbize, Goma District superintendent.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Bishop Unda picked to lead ecumenical group
KINDU, Congo (UM News) — Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda, the first United Methodist bishop of the East Congo Episcopal Area, has been elected provincial president of the Church of Christ in Congo in Maniema. The ecumenical group is a union of 95 Protestant and Evangelical Christian denominations in the country. Judith Osongo and Philippe Kituka Lolonga report.
Read story
Read story in French
South Carolina Conference
Church makes space for mental healing
TRAVELERS REST, S.C. — Mickey Hess knows what it’s like to navigate mental illness alone. At the suggestion of his pastor, he started the Healthy Minds Team at Travelers Rest United Methodist Church. As mental health issues become more prevalent, and more talked about, churches are seeing a strong need for this kind of support. Jessica Brodie has the story.
Read story
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
Philadelphia church targeted again
PHILADELPHIA — An abusive letter was received by Emmanuel United Methodist Church less than a month after the church was ransacked and burglarized. The racist note was received through U.S. mail on Jan. 18, one day after celebrations for the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Police are investigating both incidents. John W. Coleman reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
World Council of Churches
Appealing for peace for Ukraine’s people
GENEVA — As Russian forces amass along Ukraine’s border and NATO forces are on high alert, the World Council of Churches is urgently appealing for peace for the people of Ukraine. “We pray for a change of hearts and minds, for de-escalation and for dialogue instead of threats,” said the ecumenical group’s top executive.
Read statement
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.
Greater New Jersey Conference
When ‘no’ opens doors
NEPTUNE, N.J. — The Rev. Enger Muteteke has a New Year’s Eve tradition of preparing a vision board for the coming year. As she worked on her 2022 vision, the confusing phrase “no opens doors” came to her. Then she recalled how the Holy Spirit forbidding Paul to share the gospel in Asia led him instead to Macedonia.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
United Methodist Communications
Fighting human trafficking
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. United Methodist agencies and conferences offer resources to raise awareness and help people to work to end human trafficking.
See resources
RECENT HEADLINES
New science lab grows options for students
Claremont School of Theology ordered to sell campus
EVENTS
Thursday, Jan. 27
Energy Efficiency From Audit to Action: Local Church Stories
NEWS AND FEATURES
Bishop Unda picked to lead ecumenical group
KINDU, Congo (UM News) — Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda, the first United Methodist bishop of the East Congo Episcopal Area, has been elected provincial president of the Church of Christ in Congo in Maniema. The ecumenical group is a union of 95 Protestant and Evangelical Christian denominations in the country. Judith Osongo and Philippe Kituka Lolonga report.
Read story
Read story in French
South Carolina Conference
Church makes space for mental healing
TRAVELERS REST, S.C. — Mickey Hess knows what it’s like to navigate mental illness alone. At the suggestion of his pastor, he started the Healthy Minds Team at Travelers Rest United Methodist Church. As mental health issues become more prevalent, and more talked about, churches are seeing a strong need for this kind of support. Jessica Brodie has the story.
Read story
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
Philadelphia church targeted again
PHILADELPHIA — An abusive letter was received by Emmanuel United Methodist Church less than a month after the church was ransacked and burglarized. The racist note was received through U.S. mail on Jan. 18, one day after celebrations for the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Police are investigating both incidents. John W. Coleman reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
World Council of Churches
Appealing for peace for Ukraine’s people
GENEVA — As Russian forces amass along Ukraine’s border and NATO forces are on high alert, the World Council of Churches is urgently appealing for peace for the people of Ukraine. “We pray for a change of hearts and minds, for de-escalation and for dialogue instead of threats,” said the ecumenical group’s top executive.
Read statement
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.
Greater New Jersey Conference
When ‘no’ opens doors
NEPTUNE, N.J. — The Rev. Enger Muteteke has a New Year’s Eve tradition of preparing a vision board for the coming year. As she worked on her 2022 vision, the confusing phrase “no opens doors” came to her. Then she recalled how the Holy Spirit forbidding Paul to share the gospel in Asia led him instead to Macedonia.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
United Methodist Communications
Fighting human trafficking
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. United Methodist agencies and conferences offer resources to raise awareness and help people to work to end human trafficking.
See resources
RECENT HEADLINES
New science lab grows options for students
Claremont School of Theology ordered to sell campus
EVENTS
Thursday, Jan. 27
Energy Efficiency From Audit to Action: Local Church Stories
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