“The natural world is a loving gift from God, the creator and sustainer, who has entrusted it in all its fullness to the care of all people for God’s glory and to the good of all life on earth now and in generations to come.” — Climate Change and the Church’s Response, 2016 Book of Resolutions, #1035
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Ask The UMC
What does the church say about climate change?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — How do United Methodists understand and respond to climate change? Ask The UMC reviews the church’s official statements and describes current actions United Methodists are taking to do their part.
Read story
Read more from Ask The UMC
Dakotas Conference
Pastor specializes in transitional ministry
MITCHELL, S.D. — Pastor John Madvig likes to help churches undergoing a leadership change by being a transitional leader. He says the goal is to create a healthy environment for the next pastor. "I wear two hats as a transitional pastor," Madvig said. “One is the hat of a pastor. The other is the hat of a consultant." Doreen Gosmire has the story.
Read story
Alaska Conference
Responding to historic Alaskan storm
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A powerful storm hit western Alaska during the weekend, leaving signs of flooding and damage across the region. The Alaska Conference announced in its weekly newsletter that its disaster response team is actively involved with partner agencies and state emergency response to help with relief.
See newsletter
New 2022 annual conference reports
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2022 annual conference reports. New this week is the Burundi Conference.
Read reports
PRESS RELEASES
The Upper Room
In-person spiritual formation program returns
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The first in-person Academy for Spiritual Formation classes since COVID-19 will take place starting Jan. 23 at Camp McDowell Retreat and Conference Center in Nauvoo, Alabama. The Upper Room curriculum creates transformative space for people to connect with God, self, others and creation. It is a two-year program, meeting in the same location for five days, every three months, totaling 40 days in residence over the course of two years. The cost to attend is $7,980.
Read press release
Register
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.
Susquehanna Conference
It takes a team for successful disaster response
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Douglas Hoy, disaster response coordinator for the Susquehanna Conference and an avid cyclist, spends every July watching the Tour de France. He finds similarities between the way both cycling and disaster response teams work.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
United Methodist Congress of the Deaf
Virtual service celebrates Deaf Awareness Week
LAUREL, Md. — To commemorate International Deaf Awareness Week, the United Methodist Congress of the Deaf will host a special virtual worship service at 11 a.m. U.S. Eastern time Sept. 24. The service will be in American Sign Language with captioning and interpreters, and it will feature greetings from United Methodist bishops and Deaf ministries from around the world. The United Methodist Congress of the Deaf is a caucus that represents Deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened and Deafblind United Methodists.
Register for event
Amplify Media
Webinar discusses the miracles of Jesus
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In a webinar, noted New Testament scholar Amy-Jill Levine will discuss with writer Rob Simbeck her new study, “Signs and Wonders: A Beginner’s Guide to the Miracles of Jesus.” Amplify Media, part of the United Methodist Publishing House, will host the webinar on Levine’s new book at 1 p.m. U.S. Central time Oct. 6.
Learn more and register
EVENTS
Saturday, Sept. 24
It’s Your Story to Tell! Storytelling for Legislative Advocacy Training
Friday, Sept. 30-Sunday, Oct. 2
IGNITE 2022 Conference
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
Hungarian camp houses Ukrainian Roma refugees
DEBRECEN, Hungary (UM News) — At the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, about 800,000 refugees crossed through Hungary. The United Methodist Church in Hungary has helped to house hundreds of refugees, including at a summer camp. Joey Butler reports, Mike DuBose has photos and Francisco Litardo has video.
Read story
Watch video
Grassroots groups talk up The United Methodist Church
AUBURN, Ala. (UM News) — A handful of U.S. conferences that are seeing considerable discussion and action around disaffiliation also have seen the emergence of grassroots groups advocating for churches to remain United Methodist. They go by such names as Celebrate UMC, Stay UMC, Abide South Georgia and That We May Be One. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
WCC Assembly closes with call to 'act for justice'
KARLSRUHE, Germany (UM News) — At the end of the 11th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches, delegates called for the “healing of our living planet.” The message, titled “A Call to Act Together,” read: “We will find a strength to act from a unity founded in Christ’s love.” The group also adopted statements on peace, including one denouncing the “illegal and unjustifiable” Russian invasion of Ukraine and another on the Israeli and Palestinian conflict. Klaus Ulrich Ruof reports.
Read story
Read sidebar on peace statements
See more photos
Commentary: Political context and the meaning of church
ATLANTA (UM News) — A pending separation and changing international composition find The United Methodist Church in a time of rethinking what it means to be a church, and a global church at that. David W. Scott, director of mission theology at the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, looks at the challenges of having different political contexts for different regions.
Read commentary
Global Ministries
Helping after Hurricane Fiona
ATLANTA — Hurricane Fiona, the first major hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, caused catastrophic damage in Puerto Rico and brought torrential rains to the Dominican Republic. It has left millions without power and running water. The United Methodist Committee on Relief is in close contact with the disaster response coordinator of the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico and has awarded an initial solidarity grant to help address immediate needs.
Donate to UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response
The Associated Press: Puerto Rico struggles to reach areas cut off by Fiona
Mississippi Conference
Churches assist neighbors in Jackson water crisis
JACKSON, Miss. — United Methodist volunteers and churches are harnessing the power of the connection to prioritize and meet the needs of the more than 170,000 people lacking access to safe drinking water because of the Jackson water crisis. Parkway Hills United Methodist Church is one of many churches collaborating to get to people in need the water purchased through a United Methodist Committee on Relief grant. Jasmine Haynes has the story.
Read story
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Ask The UMC
What does the church say about climate change?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — How do United Methodists understand and respond to climate change? Ask The UMC reviews the church’s official statements and describes current actions United Methodists are taking to do their part.
Read story
Read more from Ask The UMC
Dakotas Conference
Pastor specializes in transitional ministry
MITCHELL, S.D. — Pastor John Madvig likes to help churches undergoing a leadership change by being a transitional leader. He says the goal is to create a healthy environment for the next pastor. "I wear two hats as a transitional pastor," Madvig said. “One is the hat of a pastor. The other is the hat of a consultant." Doreen Gosmire has the story.
Read story
Alaska Conference
Responding to historic Alaskan storm
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A powerful storm hit western Alaska during the weekend, leaving signs of flooding and damage across the region. The Alaska Conference announced in its weekly newsletter that its disaster response team is actively involved with partner agencies and state emergency response to help with relief.
See newsletter
New 2022 annual conference reports
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2022 annual conference reports. New this week is the Burundi Conference.
Read reports
PRESS RELEASES
The Upper Room
In-person spiritual formation program returns
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The first in-person Academy for Spiritual Formation classes since COVID-19 will take place starting Jan. 23 at Camp McDowell Retreat and Conference Center in Nauvoo, Alabama. The Upper Room curriculum creates transformative space for people to connect with God, self, others and creation. It is a two-year program, meeting in the same location for five days, every three months, totaling 40 days in residence over the course of two years. The cost to attend is $7,980.
Read press release
Register
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.
Susquehanna Conference
It takes a team for successful disaster response
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Douglas Hoy, disaster response coordinator for the Susquehanna Conference and an avid cyclist, spends every July watching the Tour de France. He finds similarities between the way both cycling and disaster response teams work.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
United Methodist Congress of the Deaf
Virtual service celebrates Deaf Awareness Week
LAUREL, Md. — To commemorate International Deaf Awareness Week, the United Methodist Congress of the Deaf will host a special virtual worship service at 11 a.m. U.S. Eastern time Sept. 24. The service will be in American Sign Language with captioning and interpreters, and it will feature greetings from United Methodist bishops and Deaf ministries from around the world. The United Methodist Congress of the Deaf is a caucus that represents Deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened and Deafblind United Methodists.
Register for event
Amplify Media
Webinar discusses the miracles of Jesus
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In a webinar, noted New Testament scholar Amy-Jill Levine will discuss with writer Rob Simbeck her new study, “Signs and Wonders: A Beginner’s Guide to the Miracles of Jesus.” Amplify Media, part of the United Methodist Publishing House, will host the webinar on Levine’s new book at 1 p.m. U.S. Central time Oct. 6.
Learn more and register
EVENTS
Saturday, Sept. 24
It’s Your Story to Tell! Storytelling for Legislative Advocacy Training
Friday, Sept. 30-Sunday, Oct. 2
IGNITE 2022 Conference
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
Hungarian camp houses Ukrainian Roma refugees
DEBRECEN, Hungary (UM News) — At the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, about 800,000 refugees crossed through Hungary. The United Methodist Church in Hungary has helped to house hundreds of refugees, including at a summer camp. Joey Butler reports, Mike DuBose has photos and Francisco Litardo has video.
Read story
Watch video
Grassroots groups talk up The United Methodist Church
AUBURN, Ala. (UM News) — A handful of U.S. conferences that are seeing considerable discussion and action around disaffiliation also have seen the emergence of grassroots groups advocating for churches to remain United Methodist. They go by such names as Celebrate UMC, Stay UMC, Abide South Georgia and That We May Be One. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
WCC Assembly closes with call to 'act for justice'
KARLSRUHE, Germany (UM News) — At the end of the 11th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches, delegates called for the “healing of our living planet.” The message, titled “A Call to Act Together,” read: “We will find a strength to act from a unity founded in Christ’s love.” The group also adopted statements on peace, including one denouncing the “illegal and unjustifiable” Russian invasion of Ukraine and another on the Israeli and Palestinian conflict. Klaus Ulrich Ruof reports.
Read story
Read sidebar on peace statements
See more photos
Commentary: Political context and the meaning of church
ATLANTA (UM News) — A pending separation and changing international composition find The United Methodist Church in a time of rethinking what it means to be a church, and a global church at that. David W. Scott, director of mission theology at the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, looks at the challenges of having different political contexts for different regions.
Read commentary
Global Ministries
Helping after Hurricane Fiona
ATLANTA — Hurricane Fiona, the first major hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, caused catastrophic damage in Puerto Rico and brought torrential rains to the Dominican Republic. It has left millions without power and running water. The United Methodist Committee on Relief is in close contact with the disaster response coordinator of the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico and has awarded an initial solidarity grant to help address immediate needs.
Donate to UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response
The Associated Press: Puerto Rico struggles to reach areas cut off by Fiona
Mississippi Conference
Churches assist neighbors in Jackson water crisis
JACKSON, Miss. — United Methodist volunteers and churches are harnessing the power of the connection to prioritize and meet the needs of the more than 170,000 people lacking access to safe drinking water because of the Jackson water crisis. Parkway Hills United Methodist Church is one of many churches collaborating to get to people in need the water purchased through a United Methodist Committee on Relief grant. Jasmine Haynes has the story.
Read story
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