“Bishop Russell was a very gentle, loving and pastoral person, who brought a keen sense of humor to any situation.” — The Rev. Tim Bruster, on Bishop John William Russell.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Central Texas Conference
Bishop Russell dies at age 96
FORT WORTH, Texas — Bishop John William Russell died Sept. 2 at age 96. He served various local churches and as a district superintendent before his election as bishop in 1980. In 1988, he became the first episcopal leader of the newly formed Central Texas Conference. Russell was a World War II veteran. He and his late wife, Mary Jean, were married for 71 years. J. Vance Morton reports on the bishop’s long, fruitful life and ministry.
Read obituary
Read Council of Bishops press release
Global Ministries
More relief for Kentucky after floods
ATLANTA — The recovery effort for Kentucky continues after storms in July resulted in 40 deaths and infrastructure damage. Early Response Teams from multiple United Methodist conferences are deploying to help set the stage for additional volunteers who will assist. In addition to two solidarity grants, the United Methodist Committee on Relief is undergirding the Kentucky and Central Appalachian conferences with the human resources necessary to identify and respond to survivor needs. Dan Curran has the story.
Read story
UM News: Kentucky churches care for neighbors hit by floods
United Methodist Communications
Celebrating the call of United Methodists
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Following God’s call to transform the world might seem impossible, but it’s a reality for United Methodists. The denomination’s global connection provides and supports a wide variety of robust ministries — from health care to education to social justice — that change and save lives every day. A new, downloadable video from United Methodist Communications celebrates that call.
Watch video
Dakotas Conference
A small but mighty quilting ministry
HOT SPRINGS, S.D. — Four women at Prairie View United Methodist Church planned a quilting group before their church had even been built in 2010. Since then, they’ve donated 220 quilts to people in need. Each quilt top is created by members from their vast collection of donated fabrics and brought to the group’s monthly meetings, where they are carefully assembled. Charity Maness of the Fall River County Herald and Star reports.
Read story
WPXI-TV, Western Pennsylvania Conference
Church display memorializes gun violence victims
SEWICKLEY, Pa. — Sewickley United Methodist Church is part of a broader movement to remember those lost to gun violence and encourage people to do something about it. The memorial outside the church is impossible to miss. Sixty-five T-shirts sit on 65 poles, each representing someone lost to gun violence in Allegheny County. Rich Pierce has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
United Women in Faith
Green Team Summit is Sept. 11-14
NEW YORK — Faith in Place, a partner with United Women in Faith, is offering a free online summit that is focused connecting communities to environmental justice, healing and climate resilience. The keynote speaker, Katharine Hayhoe, is the chief climate scientist for The Nature Conservancy and a distinguished professor and chair at Texas Tech University. Green Team Summit: Rooted Together will take place over six sessions Sept. 11-14.
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.
National Justice for Our Neighbors
More needs to be done beyond DACA’s codification
CHICAGO — National Justice for Our Neighbors argues that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s codification of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is just a start to help immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. “It gave us the ability to work legally. But it is not enough,” writes Claudia Marchan, head of Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors and a DACA recipient. “We need a pathway to citizenship.”
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century
Tour to focus on Medicare education, health, wellness
ATLANTA — Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century is launching the Health, Wellness and Medicare Education Tour to help pastors, leaders, lay people and community members "build a better you." The tour will kick off at noon Sept. 10 at Impact Church in Atlanta. Other cities include Houston, Sept. 17; Dallas, Oct. 2; and Greenville, South Carolina, Oct. 15.
Learn more
RECENT HEADLINES
Bishops call for rejecting ‘idolatry of guns’
‘Mother of the disabled’ provides safe place for kids
EVENTS
Thursday, Sept. 15
Webinar: Prepare for the Celebration of Advent
Wednesday, Nov. 16
Facing the Future Virtual Session 2022
NEWS AND FEATURES
Central Texas Conference
Bishop Russell dies at age 96
FORT WORTH, Texas — Bishop John William Russell died Sept. 2 at age 96. He served various local churches and as a district superintendent before his election as bishop in 1980. In 1988, he became the first episcopal leader of the newly formed Central Texas Conference. Russell was a World War II veteran. He and his late wife, Mary Jean, were married for 71 years. J. Vance Morton reports on the bishop’s long, fruitful life and ministry.
Read obituary
Read Council of Bishops press release
Global Ministries
More relief for Kentucky after floods
ATLANTA — The recovery effort for Kentucky continues after storms in July resulted in 40 deaths and infrastructure damage. Early Response Teams from multiple United Methodist conferences are deploying to help set the stage for additional volunteers who will assist. In addition to two solidarity grants, the United Methodist Committee on Relief is undergirding the Kentucky and Central Appalachian conferences with the human resources necessary to identify and respond to survivor needs. Dan Curran has the story.
Read story
UM News: Kentucky churches care for neighbors hit by floods
United Methodist Communications
Celebrating the call of United Methodists
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Following God’s call to transform the world might seem impossible, but it’s a reality for United Methodists. The denomination’s global connection provides and supports a wide variety of robust ministries — from health care to education to social justice — that change and save lives every day. A new, downloadable video from United Methodist Communications celebrates that call.
Watch video
Dakotas Conference
A small but mighty quilting ministry
HOT SPRINGS, S.D. — Four women at Prairie View United Methodist Church planned a quilting group before their church had even been built in 2010. Since then, they’ve donated 220 quilts to people in need. Each quilt top is created by members from their vast collection of donated fabrics and brought to the group’s monthly meetings, where they are carefully assembled. Charity Maness of the Fall River County Herald and Star reports.
Read story
WPXI-TV, Western Pennsylvania Conference
Church display memorializes gun violence victims
SEWICKLEY, Pa. — Sewickley United Methodist Church is part of a broader movement to remember those lost to gun violence and encourage people to do something about it. The memorial outside the church is impossible to miss. Sixty-five T-shirts sit on 65 poles, each representing someone lost to gun violence in Allegheny County. Rich Pierce has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
United Women in Faith
Green Team Summit is Sept. 11-14
NEW YORK — Faith in Place, a partner with United Women in Faith, is offering a free online summit that is focused connecting communities to environmental justice, healing and climate resilience. The keynote speaker, Katharine Hayhoe, is the chief climate scientist for The Nature Conservancy and a distinguished professor and chair at Texas Tech University. Green Team Summit: Rooted Together will take place over six sessions Sept. 11-14.
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.
National Justice for Our Neighbors
More needs to be done beyond DACA’s codification
CHICAGO — National Justice for Our Neighbors argues that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s codification of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is just a start to help immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. “It gave us the ability to work legally. But it is not enough,” writes Claudia Marchan, head of Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors and a DACA recipient. “We need a pathway to citizenship.”
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century
Tour to focus on Medicare education, health, wellness
ATLANTA — Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century is launching the Health, Wellness and Medicare Education Tour to help pastors, leaders, lay people and community members "build a better you." The tour will kick off at noon Sept. 10 at Impact Church in Atlanta. Other cities include Houston, Sept. 17; Dallas, Oct. 2; and Greenville, South Carolina, Oct. 15.
Learn more
RECENT HEADLINES
Bishops call for rejecting ‘idolatry of guns’
‘Mother of the disabled’ provides safe place for kids
EVENTS
Thursday, Sept. 15
Webinar: Prepare for the Celebration of Advent
Wednesday, Nov. 16
Facing the Future Virtual Session 2022
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