“I would say that for Jovita, part of living out her Methodism was helping others. Prayer was very important, of course, but it was also about doing what Jesus would have done.” — Gabriela González, who is working on a biography of activist Jovita Idár.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Spotlight shines on Jovita Idár, Methodist reformer
DALLAS, Texas (UM News) — Jovita Idár, a Mexican American journalist, activist and faithful Methodist working in South Texas in the early 20th century, continues to gain recognition from historians and others. The United States Mint also is including her in its American Women Quarters series. Sam Hodges has the story.
Read story
California-Nevada Conference
Bishop urges churches to bring hope after shootings
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Following recent shootings connected to San Francisco Bay Area schools, interim Bishop Sally Dyck of the California-Nevada Conference calls for prayer. She also urges “United Methodists find ways to reach out to our communities to bring hope and healing when such violence occurs and importantly to prevent gun violence in the future.”
Read pastoral letter
UM News: Bishops call for rejecting ‘idolatry of guns’
United Methodist Communications
Help kids explore the mystery of baptism
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Baptism is one of the few things that almost every Christian has experienced, either through their own baptism or by witnessing others go through the ritual. Caregivers don’t have to be experts to answer a child’s big questions about God. Laura Buchanan offers some suggestions for having these conversations.
Read story
Michigan Conference
Red Bird Mission helps with flood recovery
LANSING, Mich. — Red Bird Mission is assisting people in eastern Kentucky who have been devastated by flooding. The nonprofit, which is supported by the Michigan Conference, is helping with food deliveries and cleanup efforts. The flooding did not affect Red Bird Mission’s campus, but some students' families were impacted. The mission operates a school and medical clinic that provides discounted services to people living in the remote mountain region of Appalachia. James Deaton has the story.
Read story
UM News: Kentucky churches care for neighbors hit by floods
PRESS RELEASES
Alabama-West Florida Conference
Bishop calls for holiday-season pause
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Bishop David Graves has called for a pause on any special church conferences or town hall meetings related to local church disaffiliations between Nov. 20 and Jan. 1. “During this time our focus should be on giving thanks before moving into Advent,” he said in a statement to the Alabama-West Florida Conference. The conference has scheduled three special sessions to take up disaffiliations: Nov. 12 of this year as well as May 7 and Nov. 12 of next year.
Read bishop’s statement
Holston Conference
Conference calls 2023 session on disaffiliations
ALCOA, Tenn. — The Holston Conference is calling for a special session next year to take up resolutions for church disaffiliations. The special session is scheduled for 10 a.m. U.S. Eastern time April 22. The location is still being finalized. The neighboring Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference also plans to hold special sessions next year.
Read announcement
RESOURCES
Louisiana Conference
October is pastor appreciation month
BATON ROUGE, La. — October is Pastor (or Clergy) Appreciation Month with the second Sunday designated as Pastor Appreciation Day. The Louisiana Conference’s Office of Clergy Excellence has put together a list of 15 ways individuals and congregations can show their support, including with prayer.
Read list
RECENT HEADLINES
Hurricane recovery begins in Florida
Celebrating unity on World Communion Sunday
EVENTS
Monday, Oct. 17-Friday, Oct. 28
Online course: Standing Against Racism Today
Monday, Oct. 17-Friday, Nov. 4
Online course: Country Music and Christian Faith
NEWS AND FEATURES
Spotlight shines on Jovita Idár, Methodist reformer
DALLAS, Texas (UM News) — Jovita Idár, a Mexican American journalist, activist and faithful Methodist working in South Texas in the early 20th century, continues to gain recognition from historians and others. The United States Mint also is including her in its American Women Quarters series. Sam Hodges has the story.
Read story
California-Nevada Conference
Bishop urges churches to bring hope after shootings
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Following recent shootings connected to San Francisco Bay Area schools, interim Bishop Sally Dyck of the California-Nevada Conference calls for prayer. She also urges “United Methodists find ways to reach out to our communities to bring hope and healing when such violence occurs and importantly to prevent gun violence in the future.”
Read pastoral letter
UM News: Bishops call for rejecting ‘idolatry of guns’
United Methodist Communications
Help kids explore the mystery of baptism
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Baptism is one of the few things that almost every Christian has experienced, either through their own baptism or by witnessing others go through the ritual. Caregivers don’t have to be experts to answer a child’s big questions about God. Laura Buchanan offers some suggestions for having these conversations.
Read story
Michigan Conference
Red Bird Mission helps with flood recovery
LANSING, Mich. — Red Bird Mission is assisting people in eastern Kentucky who have been devastated by flooding. The nonprofit, which is supported by the Michigan Conference, is helping with food deliveries and cleanup efforts. The flooding did not affect Red Bird Mission’s campus, but some students' families were impacted. The mission operates a school and medical clinic that provides discounted services to people living in the remote mountain region of Appalachia. James Deaton has the story.
Read story
UM News: Kentucky churches care for neighbors hit by floods
PRESS RELEASES
Alabama-West Florida Conference
Bishop calls for holiday-season pause
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Bishop David Graves has called for a pause on any special church conferences or town hall meetings related to local church disaffiliations between Nov. 20 and Jan. 1. “During this time our focus should be on giving thanks before moving into Advent,” he said in a statement to the Alabama-West Florida Conference. The conference has scheduled three special sessions to take up disaffiliations: Nov. 12 of this year as well as May 7 and Nov. 12 of next year.
Read bishop’s statement
Holston Conference
Conference calls 2023 session on disaffiliations
ALCOA, Tenn. — The Holston Conference is calling for a special session next year to take up resolutions for church disaffiliations. The special session is scheduled for 10 a.m. U.S. Eastern time April 22. The location is still being finalized. The neighboring Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference also plans to hold special sessions next year.
Read announcement
RESOURCES
Louisiana Conference
October is pastor appreciation month
BATON ROUGE, La. — October is Pastor (or Clergy) Appreciation Month with the second Sunday designated as Pastor Appreciation Day. The Louisiana Conference’s Office of Clergy Excellence has put together a list of 15 ways individuals and congregations can show their support, including with prayer.
Read list
RECENT HEADLINES
Hurricane recovery begins in Florida
Celebrating unity on World Communion Sunday
EVENTS
Monday, Oct. 17-Friday, Oct. 28
Online course: Standing Against Racism Today
Monday, Oct. 17-Friday, Nov. 4
Online course: Country Music and Christian Faith
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