“What happens if some day we come in and understand we have $1 billion in assets under management, but also discover we’re serving a lesser church? Did we win?” — Tom Locke, president of the Texas Methodist Foundation.
NEWS AND FEATURES
From 'church bank' to change agent
AUSTIN, Texas (UMNS) — The Texas Methodist Foundation has grown financially and in influence since the late 1990s, when president Tom Locke decided it needed to be more than a “church bank.” The foundation still makes church loans and manages investments, but it has stretched the definition of a denomination foundation through offering clergy and laity leadership training, convening high-level meetings and in other ways pushing for mission-focused change. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
WCCO-TV
Still ushering after all these years
MINNEAPOLIS — At Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, the “star usher,” according to the Rev. Judy Zabel, is Bill Pilgrim. The 101-year-old is still at it after 79 years, ushering at the 10 a.m. Sunday service and meeting with the “recyclers” repair group on Wednesday afternoons. Katie Steiner reports.
Watch video
Foundation for Evangelism
Mary Ann Hunt, bishop's widow, dies at 98
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Mary Ann Hunt, widow of the late United Methodist Bishop Earl Hunt, passed away Nov. 10 at the age of 98. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. EST Dec. 1 at Central United Methodist Church in Asheville. The Foundation for Evangelism, where her husband served as president, shared a remembrance.
Read remembrance
Read obituary in The Mountaineer
Greater New Jersey Conference
Pastor starts water color ministry for children
BURLINGTON, N.J. — Children and teens at Broad Street United Methodist Church are developing the right side of their brains with help from their pastor, who is a dedicated watercolor artist. The Rev. James Kim Crutchfield believes addressing the artistic side of his students is a way to express glory to God. Denise Herschel has the story.
Read more
PRESS RELEASES
Discipleship Ministries
'Let others see Christ in you today'
NEW YORK — For Giving Tuesday on Nov. 27, the “See All The People” project had 250 messages in three locations in the Times Square area. The message from United Methodist Discipleship Ministries asked all to “Let others see Christ in you today.”
Read press release
Watch video
COMMENTARIES
Disciple-making requires truth-telling
FULTON, Md. (UMNS) — Living out the mission of making disciples requires truth-telling, writes a longtime church communicator. “As the church struggles with issues of identity and finding its way forward, I have become increasingly concerned about the willingness of many church leaders to want to avoid truth-telling in favor of doing public relations for God,” writes Melissa Lauber, Baltimore-Washington Conference director of communications.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Churchgoers arrested after ICE detains man
Many Voices, One Faith commentaries
EVENTS
Monday, Dec. 3-Monday, Jan. 7
Online small group for Advent: A photography journey
NEWS AND FEATURES
From 'church bank' to change agent
AUSTIN, Texas (UMNS) — The Texas Methodist Foundation has grown financially and in influence since the late 1990s, when president Tom Locke decided it needed to be more than a “church bank.” The foundation still makes church loans and manages investments, but it has stretched the definition of a denomination foundation through offering clergy and laity leadership training, convening high-level meetings and in other ways pushing for mission-focused change. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
WCCO-TV
Still ushering after all these years
MINNEAPOLIS — At Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, the “star usher,” according to the Rev. Judy Zabel, is Bill Pilgrim. The 101-year-old is still at it after 79 years, ushering at the 10 a.m. Sunday service and meeting with the “recyclers” repair group on Wednesday afternoons. Katie Steiner reports.
Watch video
Foundation for Evangelism
Mary Ann Hunt, bishop's widow, dies at 98
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Mary Ann Hunt, widow of the late United Methodist Bishop Earl Hunt, passed away Nov. 10 at the age of 98. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. EST Dec. 1 at Central United Methodist Church in Asheville. The Foundation for Evangelism, where her husband served as president, shared a remembrance.
Read remembrance
Read obituary in The Mountaineer
Greater New Jersey Conference
Pastor starts water color ministry for children
BURLINGTON, N.J. — Children and teens at Broad Street United Methodist Church are developing the right side of their brains with help from their pastor, who is a dedicated watercolor artist. The Rev. James Kim Crutchfield believes addressing the artistic side of his students is a way to express glory to God. Denise Herschel has the story.
Read more
PRESS RELEASES
Discipleship Ministries
'Let others see Christ in you today'
NEW YORK — For Giving Tuesday on Nov. 27, the “See All The People” project had 250 messages in three locations in the Times Square area. The message from United Methodist Discipleship Ministries asked all to “Let others see Christ in you today.”
Read press release
Watch video
COMMENTARIES
Disciple-making requires truth-telling
FULTON, Md. (UMNS) — Living out the mission of making disciples requires truth-telling, writes a longtime church communicator. “As the church struggles with issues of identity and finding its way forward, I have become increasingly concerned about the willingness of many church leaders to want to avoid truth-telling in favor of doing public relations for God,” writes Melissa Lauber, Baltimore-Washington Conference director of communications.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Churchgoers arrested after ICE detains man
Many Voices, One Faith commentaries
EVENTS
Monday, Dec. 3-Monday, Jan. 7
Online small group for Advent: A photography journey
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