“It’s come and look, and go and tell. … Now that you have different eyes to look deeper, be a part of the solution in your own community.” — The Rev. Kristen Brown, on participating in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference’s Native American immersion experience.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Group gets immersion in Native history, concerns
OKLAHOMA CITY (UM News) — The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference brought together United Methodists from nine states for a deep dive into Native American ministries and challenges. The immersion group visited historic sites and the new First Americans Museum, as well as a local church and public charter school focused on teaching Native youth about their culture. Tim Tanton has the stories.
Read about immersion experience
Read about youth programs
UM News: Native American museum makes belated debut
Ask The UMC
What do the candles in the Advent wreath mean?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — This Sunday, many United Methodist churches will light the first candle of the Advent wreath. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, explains why Christians do this and what it means.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Florida Conference
Pastor creates oasis behind bars
OCALA, Fla. — The Rev. Kris Schonewolf leads the Oasis prison ministry for the Florida Conference. She hopes to change lives by showing the light of Christ in one of society’s darkest places. Joe Henderson has the story.
Read story
Missouri Conference
Korean pastors at work in rural Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Three pastors who came to the U.S. from South Korea are serving rural United Methodist congregations in Missouri. “One of the best decisions I have ever made was to come here,” said the Rev. BeomSeon Hong. Fred Koenig has compiled mini-profiles of the pastors.
Read story
WPLN News
Happy Thanksgiving, Meharry students
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Students at Meharry Medical College learned Nov. 22 that they each would receive $10,000 in cash. The money comes from federal COVID relief funds. The historically Black medical school has helped the city respond to the pandemic. It is one of 11 schools supported by the United Methodist Black College Fund. Blake Farmer reports.
Read story
No Daily Digest Nov. 24-26
This is the last UM News Daily Digest before the Thanksgiving holiday. The digest will resume on Monday, Nov. 29. The UM News staff wishes everyone a blessed Thanksgiving.
PRESS RELEASES
United Methodist Women
Rittenhouse verdict lamented
NEW YORK — The acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse from homicide and reckless endangerment charges in Wisconsin could encourage vigilantes, said United Methodist Women in a statement. “This verdict sends a message that anyone exercising their constitutional right to assemble and peacefully protest cannot assume they will have the protection of state governments,” said the statement.
Read statement
United Methodist Communications
Ad campaign celebrates community, joy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A national advertising campaign that will be seen in Times Square in New York and markets including Atlanta, Dallas and Indianapolis is designed to offer a voice of positivity and hope to people battling the holiday blues. The Advent-Neighbors campaign will drive people to two websites, UMC.org/Joy and UMC.org/JoyEnFamilia, to find resources to connect with the United Methodist community.
Read press release
Church and Society
Winter webinar series on climate justice announced
WASHINGTON — Following COP26, the U.N. Climate Change Conference recently held in Glasgow, Scotland, the United Methodist Board of Church and Society will host a winter webinar series called “Climate & Community: A Faithful Action for Climate Justice.” At the Dec. 6-9 event, attendees will hear from experts and assemble toolkits to take the next steps in calling for creation care. Registration is required.
Read press release
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.
5 theses for The United Methodist Church
LANCASTER, N.Y. (UM News) — Deeply rooted problems plaguing the denomination will not be solved by legislation but by repentance and a return to radical obedience to Scripture, says Pastor Stephen Mannion. “The United Methodist Church, progressives and traditionalists alike, have wandered so far from our biblical Wesleyan roots that they are barely recognizable,” he writes.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Checkpoint Church
Advent-themed online game available
DENVER, N.C. — This Advent, why read a devotional when you can play one? Checkpoint Church, an online United Methodist congregation, has developed a choose-your-own-adventure game that can be played on desktop or mobile browsers. In “Not Another Advent Story,” players will control the journey of “MC” as they try to make their way to church on Christmas Eve.
Read announcement
UM News: ‘Church for nerds’ builds community without a building
RECENT HEADLINES
COVID sparks interest in BeADisciple courses
Judicial Council to review church-exit rules
EVENTS
Monday, Nov. 29-Friday, Dec. 24
Advent course: The 'I Am' Statements of Jesus
NEWS AND FEATURES
Group gets immersion in Native history, concerns
OKLAHOMA CITY (UM News) — The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference brought together United Methodists from nine states for a deep dive into Native American ministries and challenges. The immersion group visited historic sites and the new First Americans Museum, as well as a local church and public charter school focused on teaching Native youth about their culture. Tim Tanton has the stories.
Read about immersion experience
Read about youth programs
UM News: Native American museum makes belated debut
Ask The UMC
What do the candles in the Advent wreath mean?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — This Sunday, many United Methodist churches will light the first candle of the Advent wreath. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, explains why Christians do this and what it means.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Florida Conference
Pastor creates oasis behind bars
OCALA, Fla. — The Rev. Kris Schonewolf leads the Oasis prison ministry for the Florida Conference. She hopes to change lives by showing the light of Christ in one of society’s darkest places. Joe Henderson has the story.
Read story
Missouri Conference
Korean pastors at work in rural Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Three pastors who came to the U.S. from South Korea are serving rural United Methodist congregations in Missouri. “One of the best decisions I have ever made was to come here,” said the Rev. BeomSeon Hong. Fred Koenig has compiled mini-profiles of the pastors.
Read story
WPLN News
Happy Thanksgiving, Meharry students
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Students at Meharry Medical College learned Nov. 22 that they each would receive $10,000 in cash. The money comes from federal COVID relief funds. The historically Black medical school has helped the city respond to the pandemic. It is one of 11 schools supported by the United Methodist Black College Fund. Blake Farmer reports.
Read story
No Daily Digest Nov. 24-26
This is the last UM News Daily Digest before the Thanksgiving holiday. The digest will resume on Monday, Nov. 29. The UM News staff wishes everyone a blessed Thanksgiving.
PRESS RELEASES
United Methodist Women
Rittenhouse verdict lamented
NEW YORK — The acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse from homicide and reckless endangerment charges in Wisconsin could encourage vigilantes, said United Methodist Women in a statement. “This verdict sends a message that anyone exercising their constitutional right to assemble and peacefully protest cannot assume they will have the protection of state governments,” said the statement.
Read statement
United Methodist Communications
Ad campaign celebrates community, joy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A national advertising campaign that will be seen in Times Square in New York and markets including Atlanta, Dallas and Indianapolis is designed to offer a voice of positivity and hope to people battling the holiday blues. The Advent-Neighbors campaign will drive people to two websites, UMC.org/Joy and UMC.org/JoyEnFamilia, to find resources to connect with the United Methodist community.
Read press release
Church and Society
Winter webinar series on climate justice announced
WASHINGTON — Following COP26, the U.N. Climate Change Conference recently held in Glasgow, Scotland, the United Methodist Board of Church and Society will host a winter webinar series called “Climate & Community: A Faithful Action for Climate Justice.” At the Dec. 6-9 event, attendees will hear from experts and assemble toolkits to take the next steps in calling for creation care. Registration is required.
Read press release
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.
5 theses for The United Methodist Church
LANCASTER, N.Y. (UM News) — Deeply rooted problems plaguing the denomination will not be solved by legislation but by repentance and a return to radical obedience to Scripture, says Pastor Stephen Mannion. “The United Methodist Church, progressives and traditionalists alike, have wandered so far from our biblical Wesleyan roots that they are barely recognizable,” he writes.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Checkpoint Church
Advent-themed online game available
DENVER, N.C. — This Advent, why read a devotional when you can play one? Checkpoint Church, an online United Methodist congregation, has developed a choose-your-own-adventure game that can be played on desktop or mobile browsers. In “Not Another Advent Story,” players will control the journey of “MC” as they try to make their way to church on Christmas Eve.
Read announcement
UM News: ‘Church for nerds’ builds community without a building
RECENT HEADLINES
COVID sparks interest in BeADisciple courses
Judicial Council to review church-exit rules
EVENTS
Monday, Nov. 29-Friday, Dec. 24
Advent course: The 'I Am' Statements of Jesus
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.