“Honestly, I’m kind of tired of innovation right now. We’ve been doing innovation nonstop for two years.” — The Rev. Meredith Mills, pastor of Westminster United Methodist Church in Houston, speaking on ministry during the pandemic.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Texas Conference
Pandemic an ongoing test for pastors
HOUSTON — Three pastors of the Texas Conference have shared candidly about what the pandemic has meant for them and their churches. One called the past two years “a masterclass in discouragement.” But though numbers are down at her church, she’s seeing increased excitement among those who keep coming. Lindsay Peyton asked the pastors about finding inspiration and continuing to pursue innovation as the pandemic continues.
Read Q&A
Great Plains Conference
Pastor helps Afghan family settle in
MAIZE, Kan. — The Rev. Kane McEntire, pastor of Maize United Methodist Church, led the effort to provide household furnishings for an Afghan refugee family. Everything from diapers to a flat-panel TV to much-needed cash came pouring in. David Burke reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Wesley Theological Seminary
Wesley teams with Hispanic education group
WASHINGTON — La Asociación Para La Educación Teológica Hispana (the Association for Hispanic Theological Education) and Wesley Theological Seminary have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand theological education in Hispanic-Latino/a communities. One goal is to help students at AETH-certified Bible institutes pursue master’s-level degrees at Wesley, a United Methodist seminary.
Read press release
Read release in Spanish
Holston Conference
Conference clarifies children’s home relationship
ALCOA, Tenn. — The Holston Conference has released a statement clarifying its relationship with Holston United Methodist Children’s Home. The home is the focus of a lawsuit that says the adoption agency refused to help a couple because they are Jewish. While acknowledging a historic connection, the Holston Conference says the home is a separate institution with its own board of trustees.
Read statement
Read Knoxville News Sentinel article
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.
Alabama minister ‘never lost himself in the battle’
MOBILE, Ala. (UM News) — The Rev. Stephen Dill died recently after a long, fruitful and courageous career as a United Methodist minister. Frye Gaillard, a Mobile-based author and the editor of a collection of Dill’s sermons, reflects on a pastor who taught him much.
Read commentary
Read obituary
RESOURCES
Discipleship Ministries
Help with taxes for clergy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Clergy stressed about filing their tax returns are invited to a webinar Feb. 7 led by the Rev. Don Joiner, a certified financial planner. Questions about Social Security payments, estimated tax payments and housing allowances and exclusions as well as reimbursed expenses will be addressed.
Read press release
Register
EVENTS
Thursday, March 10 and 24
First Aid for Mental Health
Monday, March 7-Saturday, March 19
Online course: Called to Preach
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Debate about church future heats up
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodists are gearing up to go in different directions. At the same time, disputes over church rules and the status of LGBTQ people continue to flare. Heather Hahn has an overview of some recent developments.
Read story
Church helps nurse children back to health in Congo
BUKAVU, Congo (UM News) — Over the past three years, The United Methodist Church has fed more than 1,000 malnourished children in Bukavu, Kisangani, Kindu and Tunda. The effort — part of the Maternal and Child Health Program in East Congo — receives financial support from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries’ Global Health unit. Philippe Kituka Lolonga reports.
Read story
Read story in French
New science lab grows options for students
MACHEKE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Dreams of becoming doctors and scientists are within reach for students at United Methodist Hanwa Secondary School, thanks to a new state-of-the-art science laboratory. Zimbabwe Volunteers in Mission helped fund the construction of a spacious science lab and library at the Hanwa Mission school. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.
Read story
Ask The UMC
What is Ordinary Time?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Christian year includes two central cycles focused on major events in the life of Christ: the Christmas cycle and Easter cycle. Ordinary Time follows each season. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, has more on these in-between times, when Christians see, speak about and join God’s ongoing work in the world.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
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
Commentary: Clergy morale in today's climate
GARLAND, Texas (UM News) — Reports indicate that clergy burnout is at an all-time high. Potential causes include ongoing isolation due to COVID-19, division within the church and the nation, and serious decline in church attendance. Showing clergy appreciation would go a long way, writes the Rev. Dr. René Lawson.
Read commentary
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Texas Conference
Pandemic an ongoing test for pastors
HOUSTON — Three pastors of the Texas Conference have shared candidly about what the pandemic has meant for them and their churches. One called the past two years “a masterclass in discouragement.” But though numbers are down at her church, she’s seeing increased excitement among those who keep coming. Lindsay Peyton asked the pastors about finding inspiration and continuing to pursue innovation as the pandemic continues.
Read Q&A
Great Plains Conference
Pastor helps Afghan family settle in
MAIZE, Kan. — The Rev. Kane McEntire, pastor of Maize United Methodist Church, led the effort to provide household furnishings for an Afghan refugee family. Everything from diapers to a flat-panel TV to much-needed cash came pouring in. David Burke reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Wesley Theological Seminary
Wesley teams with Hispanic education group
WASHINGTON — La Asociación Para La Educación Teológica Hispana (the Association for Hispanic Theological Education) and Wesley Theological Seminary have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand theological education in Hispanic-Latino/a communities. One goal is to help students at AETH-certified Bible institutes pursue master’s-level degrees at Wesley, a United Methodist seminary.
Read press release
Read release in Spanish
Holston Conference
Conference clarifies children’s home relationship
ALCOA, Tenn. — The Holston Conference has released a statement clarifying its relationship with Holston United Methodist Children’s Home. The home is the focus of a lawsuit that says the adoption agency refused to help a couple because they are Jewish. While acknowledging a historic connection, the Holston Conference says the home is a separate institution with its own board of trustees.
Read statement
Read Knoxville News Sentinel article
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.
Alabama minister ‘never lost himself in the battle’
MOBILE, Ala. (UM News) — The Rev. Stephen Dill died recently after a long, fruitful and courageous career as a United Methodist minister. Frye Gaillard, a Mobile-based author and the editor of a collection of Dill’s sermons, reflects on a pastor who taught him much.
Read commentary
Read obituary
RESOURCES
Discipleship Ministries
Help with taxes for clergy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Clergy stressed about filing their tax returns are invited to a webinar Feb. 7 led by the Rev. Don Joiner, a certified financial planner. Questions about Social Security payments, estimated tax payments and housing allowances and exclusions as well as reimbursed expenses will be addressed.
Read press release
Register
EVENTS
Thursday, March 10 and 24
First Aid for Mental Health
Monday, March 7-Saturday, March 19
Online course: Called to Preach
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Debate about church future heats up
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodists are gearing up to go in different directions. At the same time, disputes over church rules and the status of LGBTQ people continue to flare. Heather Hahn has an overview of some recent developments.
Read story
Church helps nurse children back to health in Congo
BUKAVU, Congo (UM News) — Over the past three years, The United Methodist Church has fed more than 1,000 malnourished children in Bukavu, Kisangani, Kindu and Tunda. The effort — part of the Maternal and Child Health Program in East Congo — receives financial support from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries’ Global Health unit. Philippe Kituka Lolonga reports.
Read story
Read story in French
New science lab grows options for students
MACHEKE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Dreams of becoming doctors and scientists are within reach for students at United Methodist Hanwa Secondary School, thanks to a new state-of-the-art science laboratory. Zimbabwe Volunteers in Mission helped fund the construction of a spacious science lab and library at the Hanwa Mission school. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.
Read story
Ask The UMC
What is Ordinary Time?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Christian year includes two central cycles focused on major events in the life of Christ: the Christmas cycle and Easter cycle. Ordinary Time follows each season. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, has more on these in-between times, when Christians see, speak about and join God’s ongoing work in the world.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
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
Commentary: Clergy morale in today's climate
GARLAND, Texas (UM News) — Reports indicate that clergy burnout is at an all-time high. Potential causes include ongoing isolation due to COVID-19, division within the church and the nation, and serious decline in church attendance. Showing clergy appreciation would go a long way, writes the Rev. Dr. René Lawson.
Read commentary
Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.