“With each of you, we will do the work of Christ that will lead our church into Easter resurrection.” — Letter to the Connection upon the Postponement of General Conference
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Delegates urge hope for denomination’s future
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Amid talk of denominational division, more than 275 General Conference delegates and other church leaders have signed an open letter sharing their commitment to staying in and strengthening The United Methodist Church. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read letter
Ask The UMC, Michigan Conference
What is UMCOR Sunday?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodists can help people around the world by giving on UMCOR Sunday, which falls on March 27 this year. Ask The UMC has an explainer on this special offering, which lays the foundation for the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s work. And Kay DeMoss with the Michigan Conference looks back on the agency’s 82-year history.
Read Ask The UMC
Read conference story
Download resources
Holston Conference
Mission trips provide avenue to aid Ukraine
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Knowing their friends are already housing refugees and driving supplies to Ukraine, some Holston Conference members are aiding the people of the besieged country by helping United Methodist pastors and churches they know personally from mission trips to Romania and the Czech Republic. Annette Spence has the story.
Read story
Global Ministries
Helping the displaced in Afghanistan
ATLANTA — More than 700,000 people in Afghanistan are in need of help after the Taliban took over following the U.S. withdrawal. The United Methodist Committee on Relief is working with longtime partner International Blue Crescent to help. In February, the organization was approved to receive a second UMCOR grant for nearly $100,000 to extend its humanitarian operations. Christie R. House has the story.
Read story
South Carolina Conference
‘Merry Mouse’ series aims to teach about Jesus
GREER, S.C. — An 80-year-old great-grandmother has published her third children’s book, and she’s hoping this newest story will help children understand the meaning behind Easter. Jessica Brodie talks to United Methodist Patricia Galbreath about her “Merry Mouse” book series.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Morningside University
Mosley to lead Morningside University
SIOUX CITY, Iowa — An executive with Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis and past president of Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta was selected as the new president of Morningside University. The Rev. Albert Mosley will become president at Morningside, a private liberal arts university, in June. He is a United Methodist minister.
Read press release
RESOURCES
General Council on Finance and Administration
Webinar discusses church-specific insurance
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Insurance Program, an affiliate of the General Council on Finance and Administration, will present “Church-Specific Insurance: Why It Matters.” The webinar is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. U.S. Central time March 31.
To register
EVENTS
Tuesday, March 22 and April 19
Two-part webinar series: How to Be an Anti-Racist Church
Wednesday, March 30-Thursday, March 31
United Methodist Association of Communicators annual meeting
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Multifaith coalition helps repair storm damage
LAKE CHARLES, La. (UM News) — A unique partnership formed between the United Methodist, Mennonite and Amish communities is helping with recovery and rebuilding efforts in storm-ridden southwestern Louisiana. Story by Joey Butler, with photos by Mike DuBose.
Read story
Louisiana’s long road to recovery
THIBODAUX, La. (UM News) — Six months after Hurricane Ida devastated much of Louisiana, the Louisiana Conference and the United Methodist Committee on Relief are still overseeing recovery efforts. Joey Butler has the story, and Mike DuBose has photos.
Read story
UM News: Finding hope amid tragedy after tornadoes
Women’s agency hits refresh, expands welcome
NEW YORK (UM News) — United Methodist Women, a place for Christian women to put their faith into practice, announced this month that going forward it will be known as United Women in Faith. Harriett Jane Olson and Sally Vonner of the renamed 153-year-old organization talked with United Methodist News about the intent behind the change, which goes deeper than a name. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
Church court weighs annual conference questions
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Judicial Council released three decisions dealing with annual conference matters, as well as a memorandum clarifying an earlier ruling on church disaffiliations. The United Methodist Church’s top court also is now accepting briefs on two docket items added at the request of the Council of Bishops. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
White church donates to reparations fund
EVANSTON, Ill. (UM News) — Members of Evanston First United Methodist Church have donated $50,000 to a fund set up to pay reparations to citizens who are descendants of slaves. The primarily white congregation has contributed to the city’s reparations fund, which is supported mostly by cannabis sales. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
UM News: Racism still challenges church
Bishop Yambasu receives posthumous peace award
BO, Sierra Leone (UM News) — The late Bishop John K. Yambasu received the World Methodist Council’s top peace award for his work as a bridge builder in his home country and across the United Methodist connection. His wife, Millicent, accepted the award on his behalf during the 142nd session of the Sierra Leone Annual Conference. Phileas Jusu has the story.
Read story
Commentary: Mental health and the Black church
ST. PAUL, Minn. (UM News) — A recent Barna Group study shows that Black church leaders and members have experienced high levels of depression and mental stress during the pandemic, with 15% suffering the loss of a loved one as compared with 7% of white church attendees during the same time, writes the Rev. Dr. Ron Bell. The church must invest in the emotional health of Black church members, he writes.
Read commentary
Council of Bishops
Press release: Exploring disaffiliations
WASHINGTON — United Methodist bishops in an online meeting March 15 discerned pathways for churches choosing to disaffiliate from the denomination. By an overwhelming majority, the bishops affirmed that Paragraph 2553 in the Book of Discipline would be the primary paragraph used for disaffiliation and separation. That paragraph, approved by the 2019 special General Conference, allows congregations to exit with property for “reasons of conscience” related to homosexuality if they meet certain requirements.
Read press release
UM News: Church court clarifies disaffiliation rules
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Delegates urge hope for denomination’s future
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Amid talk of denominational division, more than 275 General Conference delegates and other church leaders have signed an open letter sharing their commitment to staying in and strengthening The United Methodist Church. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read letter
Ask The UMC, Michigan Conference
What is UMCOR Sunday?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodists can help people around the world by giving on UMCOR Sunday, which falls on March 27 this year. Ask The UMC has an explainer on this special offering, which lays the foundation for the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s work. And Kay DeMoss with the Michigan Conference looks back on the agency’s 82-year history.
Read Ask The UMC
Read conference story
Download resources
Holston Conference
Mission trips provide avenue to aid Ukraine
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Knowing their friends are already housing refugees and driving supplies to Ukraine, some Holston Conference members are aiding the people of the besieged country by helping United Methodist pastors and churches they know personally from mission trips to Romania and the Czech Republic. Annette Spence has the story.
Read story
Global Ministries
Helping the displaced in Afghanistan
ATLANTA — More than 700,000 people in Afghanistan are in need of help after the Taliban took over following the U.S. withdrawal. The United Methodist Committee on Relief is working with longtime partner International Blue Crescent to help. In February, the organization was approved to receive a second UMCOR grant for nearly $100,000 to extend its humanitarian operations. Christie R. House has the story.
Read story
South Carolina Conference
‘Merry Mouse’ series aims to teach about Jesus
GREER, S.C. — An 80-year-old great-grandmother has published her third children’s book, and she’s hoping this newest story will help children understand the meaning behind Easter. Jessica Brodie talks to United Methodist Patricia Galbreath about her “Merry Mouse” book series.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Morningside University
Mosley to lead Morningside University
SIOUX CITY, Iowa — An executive with Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis and past president of Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta was selected as the new president of Morningside University. The Rev. Albert Mosley will become president at Morningside, a private liberal arts university, in June. He is a United Methodist minister.
Read press release
RESOURCES
General Council on Finance and Administration
Webinar discusses church-specific insurance
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Insurance Program, an affiliate of the General Council on Finance and Administration, will present “Church-Specific Insurance: Why It Matters.” The webinar is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. U.S. Central time March 31.
To register
EVENTS
Tuesday, March 22 and April 19
Two-part webinar series: How to Be an Anti-Racist Church
Wednesday, March 30-Thursday, March 31
United Methodist Association of Communicators annual meeting
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Multifaith coalition helps repair storm damage
LAKE CHARLES, La. (UM News) — A unique partnership formed between the United Methodist, Mennonite and Amish communities is helping with recovery and rebuilding efforts in storm-ridden southwestern Louisiana. Story by Joey Butler, with photos by Mike DuBose.
Read story
Louisiana’s long road to recovery
THIBODAUX, La. (UM News) — Six months after Hurricane Ida devastated much of Louisiana, the Louisiana Conference and the United Methodist Committee on Relief are still overseeing recovery efforts. Joey Butler has the story, and Mike DuBose has photos.
Read story
UM News: Finding hope amid tragedy after tornadoes
Women’s agency hits refresh, expands welcome
NEW YORK (UM News) — United Methodist Women, a place for Christian women to put their faith into practice, announced this month that going forward it will be known as United Women in Faith. Harriett Jane Olson and Sally Vonner of the renamed 153-year-old organization talked with United Methodist News about the intent behind the change, which goes deeper than a name. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
Church court weighs annual conference questions
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Judicial Council released three decisions dealing with annual conference matters, as well as a memorandum clarifying an earlier ruling on church disaffiliations. The United Methodist Church’s top court also is now accepting briefs on two docket items added at the request of the Council of Bishops. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
White church donates to reparations fund
EVANSTON, Ill. (UM News) — Members of Evanston First United Methodist Church have donated $50,000 to a fund set up to pay reparations to citizens who are descendants of slaves. The primarily white congregation has contributed to the city’s reparations fund, which is supported mostly by cannabis sales. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
UM News: Racism still challenges church
Bishop Yambasu receives posthumous peace award
BO, Sierra Leone (UM News) — The late Bishop John K. Yambasu received the World Methodist Council’s top peace award for his work as a bridge builder in his home country and across the United Methodist connection. His wife, Millicent, accepted the award on his behalf during the 142nd session of the Sierra Leone Annual Conference. Phileas Jusu has the story.
Read story
Commentary: Mental health and the Black church
ST. PAUL, Minn. (UM News) — A recent Barna Group study shows that Black church leaders and members have experienced high levels of depression and mental stress during the pandemic, with 15% suffering the loss of a loved one as compared with 7% of white church attendees during the same time, writes the Rev. Dr. Ron Bell. The church must invest in the emotional health of Black church members, he writes.
Read commentary
Council of Bishops
Press release: Exploring disaffiliations
WASHINGTON — United Methodist bishops in an online meeting March 15 discerned pathways for churches choosing to disaffiliate from the denomination. By an overwhelming majority, the bishops affirmed that Paragraph 2553 in the Book of Discipline would be the primary paragraph used for disaffiliation and separation. That paragraph, approved by the 2019 special General Conference, allows congregations to exit with property for “reasons of conscience” related to homosexuality if they meet certain requirements.
Read press release
UM News: Church court clarifies disaffiliation rules
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