“Above all, we call upon our congregations to be agents of God’s mercy toward the migrant.” — Bishop Grant Hagiya on migrant caravan reaching the United States.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Members of migrant caravan ‘seeking better lives’
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) —Thousands of migrants from Central America have been labeled criminals or opportunists by some, but United Methodist leaders say many people of faith see the members of the migrant caravan as children of God escaping desperate situations in their home countries. Kathy L. Gilbert reports.
Read more
Finance board moves ahead with budget cuts
MOUNT JULIET, Tenn. (UMNS) — Despite a request to reconsider, the board of The United Methodist Church’s finance agency is moving full speed ahead with planned cuts to the denominational budget. Nevertheless, the board spent some time discussing a letter raising concerns about those cuts. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Worshipping without walls in rural Zimbabwe
MUZARABANI, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — John Wesley’s “The world is my parish” is being relived in the Muzarabani Circuit as congregants worship under grass-thatched homesteads and pole sheds. Having no walls around the worshippers is no obstacle to the celebrations. The Rev. Taurai Emmanuel Maforo has the story.
Read story
Alabama-West Florida Conference
Conference needs help with Michael recovery
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama-West Florida Conference is inviting volunteer emergency response teams to help with Hurricane Michael recovery. Bishop David Graves and the Rev. Ashley Davis, director of connectional ministries, are featured in a new video updating the conference’s efforts (which have been helped by the United Methodist Committee on Relief) and its needs.
Watch video
United Methodist Women
Wendy’s asked to sign worker agreement
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A delegation of United Methodist Women joined forces with the Methodist Theological School in Ohio and farm workers organizations to call on Wendy’s to sign the Fair Food Agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. Wendy’s is the only one of the five major fast-food companies that has not signed the agreement. Lenny C. Lepola reports.
Read story
Michigan Conference
Liberia covenant focuses on respect
MONROVIA, Liberia — Volunteers from the Michigan Conference painted classrooms, installed a playground, helped put air conditioning in a maternity ward and even fixed a pigpen during their latest mission trip to Liberia. The Michigan and Liberia conferences have been covenant partners since 1999. Kay DeMoss has the story and Jackie Euper has photos from Africa.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Washington Theological Consortium
Countering violence in houses of worship
WASHINGTON — The recent killings at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh “signal a growing moral and spiritual crisis for all communities of faith” that must be countered with public condemnation, interfaith solidarity and ongoing education, says a group of 10 theological schools, including United Methodist-related Wesley Theological Seminary.
Read press release
Higher Education and Ministry
Early Methodist subject of new book
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — An important early figure in Methodism is the subject of Jared Maddox’s new book “Nathan Bangs and the Methodist Episcopal Church: The Spread of Scriptural Holiness in Nineteenth-Century America.” It’s the latest release from the publishing office of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
Read press release
RECENT HEADLINES
How are bishops chosen?
Struggling families find temporary shelter in small tents
EVENTS
Monday, Nov. 26-Friday, Dec. 7
Online class: The history, theology and practice of prayer beads
NEWS AND FEATURES
Members of migrant caravan ‘seeking better lives’
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) —Thousands of migrants from Central America have been labeled criminals or opportunists by some, but United Methodist leaders say many people of faith see the members of the migrant caravan as children of God escaping desperate situations in their home countries. Kathy L. Gilbert reports.
Read more
Finance board moves ahead with budget cuts
MOUNT JULIET, Tenn. (UMNS) — Despite a request to reconsider, the board of The United Methodist Church’s finance agency is moving full speed ahead with planned cuts to the denominational budget. Nevertheless, the board spent some time discussing a letter raising concerns about those cuts. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Worshipping without walls in rural Zimbabwe
MUZARABANI, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — John Wesley’s “The world is my parish” is being relived in the Muzarabani Circuit as congregants worship under grass-thatched homesteads and pole sheds. Having no walls around the worshippers is no obstacle to the celebrations. The Rev. Taurai Emmanuel Maforo has the story.
Read story
Alabama-West Florida Conference
Conference needs help with Michael recovery
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama-West Florida Conference is inviting volunteer emergency response teams to help with Hurricane Michael recovery. Bishop David Graves and the Rev. Ashley Davis, director of connectional ministries, are featured in a new video updating the conference’s efforts (which have been helped by the United Methodist Committee on Relief) and its needs.
Watch video
United Methodist Women
Wendy’s asked to sign worker agreement
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A delegation of United Methodist Women joined forces with the Methodist Theological School in Ohio and farm workers organizations to call on Wendy’s to sign the Fair Food Agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. Wendy’s is the only one of the five major fast-food companies that has not signed the agreement. Lenny C. Lepola reports.
Read story
Michigan Conference
Liberia covenant focuses on respect
MONROVIA, Liberia — Volunteers from the Michigan Conference painted classrooms, installed a playground, helped put air conditioning in a maternity ward and even fixed a pigpen during their latest mission trip to Liberia. The Michigan and Liberia conferences have been covenant partners since 1999. Kay DeMoss has the story and Jackie Euper has photos from Africa.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Washington Theological Consortium
Countering violence in houses of worship
WASHINGTON — The recent killings at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh “signal a growing moral and spiritual crisis for all communities of faith” that must be countered with public condemnation, interfaith solidarity and ongoing education, says a group of 10 theological schools, including United Methodist-related Wesley Theological Seminary.
Read press release
Higher Education and Ministry
Early Methodist subject of new book
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — An important early figure in Methodism is the subject of Jared Maddox’s new book “Nathan Bangs and the Methodist Episcopal Church: The Spread of Scriptural Holiness in Nineteenth-Century America.” It’s the latest release from the publishing office of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
Read press release
RECENT HEADLINES
How are bishops chosen?
Struggling families find temporary shelter in small tents
EVENTS
Monday, Nov. 26-Friday, Dec. 7
Online class: The history, theology and practice of prayer beads