“I mourn the fact (that) the members of St. Andrew were denied both voice and vote on the most consequential decision their church has ever made.” — North Texas Conference Bishop Michael McKee, on a disaffiliation decision made by the executive committee of St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano, Texas.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Megachurch takes unusual disaffiliation route
PLANO, Texas (UM News) — St. Andrew United Methodist Church, the second-largest church in the North Texas Conference, has announced it is leaving the denomination. But the decision was made by the church’s executive committee, not the full congregation, triggering an objection from North Texas Conference Bishop Michael McKee. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Global Ministries
Solar power helped in Florida
ATLANTA — Volunteers from North Carolina who were already planning to meet in Florida to learn about solar generators ended up getting some real-world experience, courtesy of Hurricane Ian. The volunteers helped set up solar microgrids in the Fort Myers, Florida, area that were used to assist EMTs with triage. Another provided light, charging and cooling at night. The Rev. Jenny Phillips, senior technical adviser for environmental sustainability at United Methodist Global Ministries, explains.
Read story
New England Conference
Massachusetts church has open hearts, open parking lot
HADLEY, Mass. — United Methodist churches are known for opening their doors, but perhaps less so for opening their parking lots. But Wesley United Methodist Church has done just that by becoming a Harvest Host, a membership program for RVers that offers access to unique RV camping options such as farms, wineries and, yes, churches. New England Conference staff have the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
United Women in Faith
Women’s agency head plans to retire in 2023
NEW YORK — Harriett Jane Olson, top executive of United Women in Faith, has announced plans to retire in spring 2023. Olson took the helm of what was then the Women’s Division of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries in 2007. Under her leadership, the women’s mission organization became an autonomous United Methodist agency in 2012 and recently rebranded as United Women in Faith.
Read press release
UM News: Women’s agency hits refresh, expands welcome
Perkins School of Theology
First William J. Abraham lecture to be given
DALLAS — The inaugural William J. Abraham lecture, honoring a Perkins School of Theology professor who died last year, will be given at 9:30 a.m. U.S. Central time Oct. 17 at Perkins Chapel. The event also will be live-streamed, and a recording will be available afterward on YouTube. Fred Aquino, a former student of Abraham’s and a professor of theology at Abilene Christian University, will give the lecture. His title: “William J. Abraham and John Henry Newman on Faith and Reason.”
Read press release
Livestream link
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.
United Methodist Communications
Getting a grip on fear, worry and anxiety
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Mental health professionals tell us that it is natural to experience fear, worry and anxiety from time to time. The Bible also reflects this understanding. God created us as emotional beings. “If there’s one thing Jesus tried to teach his disciples,” writes Sam Murillo, “it is that they learn to master their emotions.”
Read commentary
EVENTS
Saturday, Oct. 22-Monday, Oct. 24
All People Conference
Monday, Oct. 31-Friday, Dec. 2
Online course: Children of Abraham
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Church helps Ukrainian refugees start sewing business
CLUJ-NAPOCA, Romania (UM News) — The United Methodist Church in Romania runs a hotel that hosts a variety of ministries. They helped two Ukrainian women begin a sewing business on site. Joey Butler has their story. Francisco Litardo has a video.
Read story
Watch video
United Methodist ministry with Ukraine
Ministry offers therapy to Ukrainian refugees
CLUJ-NAPOCA, Romania (UM News) — A Ukrainian therapist who fled Kyiv when the war began had an idea to create therapy groups for women refugees after seeing that no such groups existed. The Romanian United Methodist Church helped make that a reality. Joey Butler reports.
Read story
Churches walk alongside Hurricane Ian survivors
FORT MYERS, Florida (UM News) — In the first weeks following Hurricane Ian striking southwest Florida, pastors and church volunteers sprang into action to assess need and provide comfort. Joey Butler reports with photos from Mike DuBose.
Read story
UM News: Hurricane recovery begins in Florida
Florida Conference: Harrowing rescue of United Methodist and neighbor
General agencies face tough budgeting season
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist general agencies are in the process of developing their spending plans for the year ahead. They do so as the ongoing fallout of the pandemic, high inflation rates and rising church disaffiliations are affecting finances throughout the denomination. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Kenyan church helps drought-stricken community
GARSEN, Kenya (UM News) — Kenya is facing its worst drought in 40 years. With help from partners, Tumaini United Methodist Church is supplying food and clean water to children and families affected by the drought along Kenya’s coast. Gad Maiga reports.
Read story
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Megachurch takes unusual disaffiliation route
PLANO, Texas (UM News) — St. Andrew United Methodist Church, the second-largest church in the North Texas Conference, has announced it is leaving the denomination. But the decision was made by the church’s executive committee, not the full congregation, triggering an objection from North Texas Conference Bishop Michael McKee. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Global Ministries
Solar power helped in Florida
ATLANTA — Volunteers from North Carolina who were already planning to meet in Florida to learn about solar generators ended up getting some real-world experience, courtesy of Hurricane Ian. The volunteers helped set up solar microgrids in the Fort Myers, Florida, area that were used to assist EMTs with triage. Another provided light, charging and cooling at night. The Rev. Jenny Phillips, senior technical adviser for environmental sustainability at United Methodist Global Ministries, explains.
Read story
New England Conference
Massachusetts church has open hearts, open parking lot
HADLEY, Mass. — United Methodist churches are known for opening their doors, but perhaps less so for opening their parking lots. But Wesley United Methodist Church has done just that by becoming a Harvest Host, a membership program for RVers that offers access to unique RV camping options such as farms, wineries and, yes, churches. New England Conference staff have the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
United Women in Faith
Women’s agency head plans to retire in 2023
NEW YORK — Harriett Jane Olson, top executive of United Women in Faith, has announced plans to retire in spring 2023. Olson took the helm of what was then the Women’s Division of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries in 2007. Under her leadership, the women’s mission organization became an autonomous United Methodist agency in 2012 and recently rebranded as United Women in Faith.
Read press release
UM News: Women’s agency hits refresh, expands welcome
Perkins School of Theology
First William J. Abraham lecture to be given
DALLAS — The inaugural William J. Abraham lecture, honoring a Perkins School of Theology professor who died last year, will be given at 9:30 a.m. U.S. Central time Oct. 17 at Perkins Chapel. The event also will be live-streamed, and a recording will be available afterward on YouTube. Fred Aquino, a former student of Abraham’s and a professor of theology at Abilene Christian University, will give the lecture. His title: “William J. Abraham and John Henry Newman on Faith and Reason.”
Read press release
Livestream link
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.
United Methodist Communications
Getting a grip on fear, worry and anxiety
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Mental health professionals tell us that it is natural to experience fear, worry and anxiety from time to time. The Bible also reflects this understanding. God created us as emotional beings. “If there’s one thing Jesus tried to teach his disciples,” writes Sam Murillo, “it is that they learn to master their emotions.”
Read commentary
EVENTS
Saturday, Oct. 22-Monday, Oct. 24
All People Conference
Monday, Oct. 31-Friday, Dec. 2
Online course: Children of Abraham
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Church helps Ukrainian refugees start sewing business
CLUJ-NAPOCA, Romania (UM News) — The United Methodist Church in Romania runs a hotel that hosts a variety of ministries. They helped two Ukrainian women begin a sewing business on site. Joey Butler has their story. Francisco Litardo has a video.
Read story
Watch video
United Methodist ministry with Ukraine
Ministry offers therapy to Ukrainian refugees
CLUJ-NAPOCA, Romania (UM News) — A Ukrainian therapist who fled Kyiv when the war began had an idea to create therapy groups for women refugees after seeing that no such groups existed. The Romanian United Methodist Church helped make that a reality. Joey Butler reports.
Read story
Churches walk alongside Hurricane Ian survivors
FORT MYERS, Florida (UM News) — In the first weeks following Hurricane Ian striking southwest Florida, pastors and church volunteers sprang into action to assess need and provide comfort. Joey Butler reports with photos from Mike DuBose.
Read story
UM News: Hurricane recovery begins in Florida
Florida Conference: Harrowing rescue of United Methodist and neighbor
General agencies face tough budgeting season
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist general agencies are in the process of developing their spending plans for the year ahead. They do so as the ongoing fallout of the pandemic, high inflation rates and rising church disaffiliations are affecting finances throughout the denomination. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Kenyan church helps drought-stricken community
GARSEN, Kenya (UM News) — Kenya is facing its worst drought in 40 years. With help from partners, Tumaini United Methodist Church is supplying food and clean water to children and families affected by the drought along Kenya’s coast. Gad Maiga reports.
Read story
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