“The clergy in some ways match the membership of the church in being disproportionately older, but it doesn’t match the people God’s given us (to reach), the people in the population.” — The Rev. Lovett H. Weems Jr., on a study showing the decline in young United Methodist elders in the U.S.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Number of elders under 35 dropping
DALLAS (UM News) — The number of United Methodist elders in the U.S. who are under age 35 has declined for three years in a row, a new study from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership shows. But some conferences have found strategies to attract more young elders. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Botswana boarding school sees historic enrollment
MAUN, Botswana (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s Maun Senior Secondary School opened in 1970 with only 70 students, two classrooms and five staff members. The school has grown into the largest senior secondary school in Botswana with 2,400 students, and its success is helping Methodism grow in the country. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.
Read story
Island Free Press
Ocracoke recovery hits close to home for pastor
OCRACOKE ISLAND, N.C. — On the morning that Dorian made landfall on Cape Hatteras, the Rev. Tim Fitch got a terrifying call from his mother, the Rev. Susie Fitch-Slater of Ocracoke United Methodist Church. She said the water had risen more than 4 feet in her home and she didn’t think the flooding was going to stop. She wanted him to know she loved him. His mother survived and she and Fitch have been involved in hurricane recovery work. Joy Crist has the story.
Read story
World Council of Churches
Rising concern for human rights in Philippines
GENEVA — An event at the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Centre, “Defending the Sanctity of Life and Dignity of Creation: The Human Rights Situation in the Philippines,” gave a platform to four different speakers from victim, human rights and church perspectives.
Read story
WCC: Pilgrim team visits Philippines, amplifies call for human rights
PRESS RELEASES
United Methodist Development Fund
Loan helps DC church with community goals
WASHINGTON — With the help of a loan from the United Methodist Development Fund, McKendree United Methodist Church was able to start a daycare center and renovate three rental houses to provide affordable housing. The improvements also added $18,500 a month to the church budget.
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.
Rediscovering Native American-Methodist heritage
ATLANTA (UM News) — Thomas Kemper recalls the historical interaction of indigenous and Methodist cultures in the U.S. as “a history of both admirable and regrettable chapters that give context to the expanding opportunities we have today to be in ministry with Native American communities.” Kemper, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, will be present Sept. 21 when land in Ohio is transferred back to the Wyandotte people.
Read commentary
Read Washington Post story
Read UM News story
RECENT HEADLINES
Hospital garden sows healthy care for expectant mothers
Series: Singing the spirit in Cuba
EVENTS
Saturday, Sept. 21
Returning sacred land to the Wyandotte people
NEWS AND FEATURES
Number of elders under 35 dropping
DALLAS (UM News) — The number of United Methodist elders in the U.S. who are under age 35 has declined for three years in a row, a new study from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership shows. But some conferences have found strategies to attract more young elders. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Botswana boarding school sees historic enrollment
MAUN, Botswana (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s Maun Senior Secondary School opened in 1970 with only 70 students, two classrooms and five staff members. The school has grown into the largest senior secondary school in Botswana with 2,400 students, and its success is helping Methodism grow in the country. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.
Read story
Island Free Press
Ocracoke recovery hits close to home for pastor
OCRACOKE ISLAND, N.C. — On the morning that Dorian made landfall on Cape Hatteras, the Rev. Tim Fitch got a terrifying call from his mother, the Rev. Susie Fitch-Slater of Ocracoke United Methodist Church. She said the water had risen more than 4 feet in her home and she didn’t think the flooding was going to stop. She wanted him to know she loved him. His mother survived and she and Fitch have been involved in hurricane recovery work. Joy Crist has the story.
Read story
World Council of Churches
Rising concern for human rights in Philippines
GENEVA — An event at the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Centre, “Defending the Sanctity of Life and Dignity of Creation: The Human Rights Situation in the Philippines,” gave a platform to four different speakers from victim, human rights and church perspectives.
Read story
WCC: Pilgrim team visits Philippines, amplifies call for human rights
PRESS RELEASES
United Methodist Development Fund
Loan helps DC church with community goals
WASHINGTON — With the help of a loan from the United Methodist Development Fund, McKendree United Methodist Church was able to start a daycare center and renovate three rental houses to provide affordable housing. The improvements also added $18,500 a month to the church budget.
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.
Rediscovering Native American-Methodist heritage
ATLANTA (UM News) — Thomas Kemper recalls the historical interaction of indigenous and Methodist cultures in the U.S. as “a history of both admirable and regrettable chapters that give context to the expanding opportunities we have today to be in ministry with Native American communities.” Kemper, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, will be present Sept. 21 when land in Ohio is transferred back to the Wyandotte people.
Read commentary
Read Washington Post story
Read UM News story
RECENT HEADLINES
Hospital garden sows healthy care for expectant mothers
Series: Singing the spirit in Cuba
EVENTS
Saturday, Sept. 21
Returning sacred land to the Wyandotte people
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