"Our guiding principles in creating this framework are transparency, fairness, full participation of delegates and stewardship of our limited time."— From the Commission on General Conference rationale for setting the number of legislative committees at one.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Plan approved for GC2019 decision-making
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (UMNS) — The Commission on General Conference has decided on a process to help delegates to the 2019 special session do the legislative work together. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read press release
Board of Global Ministries
Support and solidarity for Indonesia
ATLANTA — Thomas Kemper, chief mission and disaster relief executive of The United Methodist Church, calls on United Methodists to join him in prayer and compassion for the families and friends of the thousands who perished in the Sept. 28 earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Christie R. House has the story.
Read story
Texas Methodist Foundation
Pastor shows fancy footwork
SAN ANTONIO — The Rev. James Amerson, pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church, recently won a ballroom dance competition benefiting the San Antonio Area African American Community Fund. Amerson and partner Lina Garcia showed off salsa and R&B moves dancing to Janet Jackson's “Control.” The Texas Methodist Foundation has the story.
Read story
National Justice for Our Neighbors
Immigrant raises money to help migrant children
COVINA, Calif. — The news reports of migrant children being forcibly separated from their parents moved Rose Schneeberger, a member of Claremont United Methodist Church, to take action. She has raised over $10,000 for Justice for Our Neighbors to help children reunite with their families. And she is just getting started.
Read story
United Methodist Men
A return trip to Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Hope of Hearing, a team of three, returned to Haiti Sept. 23-28 to provide the gift of hearing to Deaf children. Gil Hanke, top executive of United Methodist Men, talks about the life-changing trip he has made to Haiti nearly every year since 1989.
Read story
COMMENTARIES
United Methodist News Service plans to include various commentaries about proposals for the future of the church in the Daily Digest over the coming months. The commentaries will reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not the UMNS staff.
‘Gracious exit’ should be first on agenda
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio — In February, The United Methodist Church will have a special General Conference aimed at finding a way forward after decades of division over homosexuality. Three main legislative plans are to be considered. But the Rev. Keith Boyette, president of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, says delegates should first approve a gracious exit plan for churches wishing to leave the denomination.
Read commentary
Should be hard to leave denomination
WASHINGTON — The Rev. Lovett H. Weems Jr. argues that The United Methodist Church should not loosen the trust clause or in other ways make it easier for congregations to leave the denomination. “Moving too quickly to the option of leaving removes the needed impetus to stay with the struggle and undermines the historic, though inadequately lived out, goal of unity among Christians,” writes Weems, of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Pianist, violist seek out ‘Novel Voices’
Cuban missionaries work on reviving Angola mission
EVENTS
Tuesday, Oct. 9-Friday, Oct. 12
Christians Engaged in Faith Formation national conference
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.