“I refuse to lose faith in our future because I have seen our past. We need only to learn from it, and to confront our historical blind spots.” — The Rev. Junius B. Dotson, speaking at the 2019 Leadership Institute.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Annual event becomes forum on church’s future
LEAWOOD, Kan. (UM News) — A typical Leadership Institute at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection offers advice to church leaders for growing their congregations. Not this year. Some 2,500 United Methodists, overwhelmingly centrist or progressive on LGBTQ inclusion, gathered to discuss and strategize about the denomination’s future in a fragile time. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Multicultural ministries in midst of migration
STUTTGART, Germany (UM News) — As Methodist congregations across Europe open their doors to migrants, leaders see the need to adapt their ministry to include new and different cultures. Klaus Ulrich Ruof and John Calhoun report on a United Methodist Board of Global Ministries’ pilot project to train pastors and laity leading congregations affected by migration.
Read story
Memphis Commercial Appeal
Hospital system reduces debt of thousands
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — About 7,000 Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare patients have seen a fully or partly reduced balance to what they owe the United Methodist-affiliated health system. The debt reduction for patients in legal proceedings with Methodist Le Bonheur stems from a new financial assistance policy announced in July. Max Garland reports.
Read story
Read UM News story
PRESS RELEASES
Church and Society
Agency head denounces record-low refugee cap
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration decision to sharply reduce the number of refugees admitted to the U.S. is antithetical to the Bible, said the Rev. Susan Henry Crowe, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. The administration wants to limit the number of refugees admitted to 18,000 in 2020, the lowest since the program began in 1980.
Read press release
Faith and Order
Teaching on church’s nature heading to GC2020
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Committee on Faith and Order has proposed a theological statement titled “Sent in Love: A United Methodist Understanding of the Church.” The document is being sent to the 2020 General Conference for its review and adoption as an official teaching statement similar to “By Water and the Spirit” on baptism and “The Holy Mystery” on communion.
Read press release
Read proposed theological statement
Discipleship Ministries
3 chosen to deliver GC2020 Young People’s Address
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Three university students will deliver the Young People’s Address at the 2020 General Conference. The three are Senesie Timothy Arounah Rogers of Sierra Leone, Alejandra Salemi of Florida and Brennan Hurley of North Carolina. The address is scheduled for May 6 during the lawmaking assembly in Minneapolis.
Read press release
Boston University
Seminary dean plans retirement
BOSTON — The dean of the School of Theology at Boston University will step down from her leadership role at the conclusion of the year. Mary Elizabeth Moore will take a research sabbatical during the 2020-21 academic year, after which she will retire from teaching.
Read press release
RECENT HEADLINES
9 New England churches consider disaffiliation
Audit reveals Zimbabwe church’s farming potential
EVENTS
Sunday, Oct. 6
World Communion Sunday
NEWS AND FEATURES
Annual event becomes forum on church’s future
LEAWOOD, Kan. (UM News) — A typical Leadership Institute at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection offers advice to church leaders for growing their congregations. Not this year. Some 2,500 United Methodists, overwhelmingly centrist or progressive on LGBTQ inclusion, gathered to discuss and strategize about the denomination’s future in a fragile time. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Multicultural ministries in midst of migration
STUTTGART, Germany (UM News) — As Methodist congregations across Europe open their doors to migrants, leaders see the need to adapt their ministry to include new and different cultures. Klaus Ulrich Ruof and John Calhoun report on a United Methodist Board of Global Ministries’ pilot project to train pastors and laity leading congregations affected by migration.
Read story
Memphis Commercial Appeal
Hospital system reduces debt of thousands
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — About 7,000 Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare patients have seen a fully or partly reduced balance to what they owe the United Methodist-affiliated health system. The debt reduction for patients in legal proceedings with Methodist Le Bonheur stems from a new financial assistance policy announced in July. Max Garland reports.
Read story
Read UM News story
PRESS RELEASES
Church and Society
Agency head denounces record-low refugee cap
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration decision to sharply reduce the number of refugees admitted to the U.S. is antithetical to the Bible, said the Rev. Susan Henry Crowe, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. The administration wants to limit the number of refugees admitted to 18,000 in 2020, the lowest since the program began in 1980.
Read press release
Faith and Order
Teaching on church’s nature heading to GC2020
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Committee on Faith and Order has proposed a theological statement titled “Sent in Love: A United Methodist Understanding of the Church.” The document is being sent to the 2020 General Conference for its review and adoption as an official teaching statement similar to “By Water and the Spirit” on baptism and “The Holy Mystery” on communion.
Read press release
Read proposed theological statement
Discipleship Ministries
3 chosen to deliver GC2020 Young People’s Address
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Three university students will deliver the Young People’s Address at the 2020 General Conference. The three are Senesie Timothy Arounah Rogers of Sierra Leone, Alejandra Salemi of Florida and Brennan Hurley of North Carolina. The address is scheduled for May 6 during the lawmaking assembly in Minneapolis.
Read press release
Boston University
Seminary dean plans retirement
BOSTON — The dean of the School of Theology at Boston University will step down from her leadership role at the conclusion of the year. Mary Elizabeth Moore will take a research sabbatical during the 2020-21 academic year, after which she will retire from teaching.
Read press release
RECENT HEADLINES
9 New England churches consider disaffiliation
Audit reveals Zimbabwe church’s farming potential
EVENTS
Sunday, Oct. 6
World Communion Sunday
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