“We kind of knew that this girl was specifically calling us to her and her to us.” — John McGuire, on adopting his daughter, Lucy, at age 4 from China.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
United Methodist Communications
Young violinist inspires with more than music
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Lucy McGuire, a 9-year-old, has not let being born without a right hand stop her from playing the violin. She and her family also have the support of their congregation at West End United Methodist Church. Laura Buchanan has the story.
Read story and watch video
Central and Southern Europe Central Conference
Churches welcome Ukrainian refugees
ZURICH — United Methodists in countries bordering Ukraine continue to offer aid and encouragement to Ukrainian refugees. Some of those displaced also are joining in local church activities. The Rev. László Khaled, a United Methodist district superintendent from Hungary, told the story of one Ukrainian family who had just arrived. “The people of the congregation asked them what they could provide their guests with — food, clothes, shoes and so on. But the response of these Ukrainian people was: ‘We don’t need anything. We just need a worship service.’” Urs Schweizer reports.
Read story (PDF)
UMCOR collaborating to relieve suffering of Ukrainians
Global Ministries
New EarthKeepers focus on island communities
ATLANTA — As the world celebrates Earth Day, participants in the most recent Global Ministries EarthKeepers training consider ways to conserve and protect the Atlantic Ocean’s barrier islands. Christie R. House has the story.
Read story
Find creation care resources
Upper New York Conference
Upper New York delays annual conference
LIVERPOOL, N.Y. — Facing an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the region, organizers of the Upper New York Annual Conference have decided to postpone the annual gathering to Oct. 6-8 and hold it online again. Upper New York previously had planned to hold its first in-person annual conference since 2019. The conference reports.
Read story
National Public Radio
Congolese refugee’s death jars community
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The death of Patrick Lyoya has shaken the community and members of Restoration Community Church, a small United Methodist congregation. The immigrant from Congo was shot by a police officer after being pulled over for allegedly driving with an unregistered license plate. His death has spawned protests. Jason Breslow reports.
Read story
New 2022 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2022 annual conference reports. New this week are the Hungary Provisional, Kenya-Ethiopia, Liberia and Rwanda Provisional conferences.
Read reports
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.
Postponing General Conference may be a good thing
WASHINGTON (UM News) — While many see the postponement of General Conference to 2024 as a bad thing, chances are just as great that it will be a good thing, writes the Rev. Dr. Lovett H. Weems Jr. Time can help when we seek to discern God’s will on difficult issues, he says, and a review of Methodism’s history underscores that.
Read commentary
Wespath
Ways Wespath is investing in our planet
GLENVIEW, Ill. — The theme for this year’s Earth Day celebration is “Invest in Our Planet,” which is fitting for The United Methodist Church’s pension agency, writes Ryan McQueeney, sustainable investment stewardship analyst for Wespath Benefits and Investments. He shares highlights from the denomination’s interagency climate commitment report, as well as some other new environment-related ideas from the Wespath investment team.
Read commentary
EVENTS
Sunday, May 1
Native American Ministries Sunday
Monday, May 9-Friday-May 13
Communications Learning Week: Taking the Next Step
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Report released on church's net-zero efforts
ATLANTA (UM News) — There’s a delicate balance between meeting the goal of cutting greenhouse-gas emissions and running effective ministries that use energy. A one-year progress report issued by the United Methodist Interagency Just and Equitable Net-Zero Coalition shows progress in measuring emissions, but the search continues for ways to judge how cutting emissions may inadvertently cause damage to people already struggling. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
Read press release
Learn more
Church court faces resolutions on LGBTQ inclusion
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Judicial Council, The United Methodist Church’s top court, released four rulings. Two stem from annual conference resolutions about LGBTQ inclusion. The other two dealt with procedural matters. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Zimbabwe United Methodists share bounty
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — On the first Sunday in February, the Rev. Daniel Mutidzawanda hauled a giant pumpkin into the sanctuary of Chisipiti United Methodist Church as part of a celebration lifting up the first harvest of the season to God. “What started as a small seed … has now blossomed into a big act of worship in the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area,” said Joseph Mushambi, who initiated the first fruit offering in 2010. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.
Read story
The church in Europe stands together
EISENACH, Germany (UM News) — At its most recent meeting, the German United Methodist Church executive committee discussed ways that European United Methodist congregations can help in the face of the Ukrainian war. The committee decided to hold a special session of the Germany Central Conference Nov. 24-26. Klaus Ulrich Ruof reports.
Read story
Ask The UMC
Understanding the Easter season
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For Christians, Easter is not just one day; it’s a season of 50 days. Its length is derived from the 50 days between Passover and Pentecost in Judaism. The Easter season is more than an extended celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. It’s a time for focusing on the core doctrines and mysteries of the faith and preparing for the ministries the Spirit has empowered Christians to undertake in Jesus’ name, writes Ask The UMC.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Council of Bishops
Bishops gather to chart future of denomination
WASHINGTON — In the wake of disruptions and postponements due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the more than 100 bishops of The United Methodist Church will meet virtually April 25-29 to discuss the future course of the denomination. The spring meeting of the Council of Bishops will also welcome a new slate of leaders, including the new council president, Bishop Thomas Bickerton of the New York Area. The April 25 and 29 meetings will be livestreamed to the public on the bishops’ Facebook page beginning at 9 a.m. U.S. Eastern time.
Read press release
Watch livestream
TODAY’S HEADLINES
United Methodist Communications
Young violinist inspires with more than music
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Lucy McGuire, a 9-year-old, has not let being born without a right hand stop her from playing the violin. She and her family also have the support of their congregation at West End United Methodist Church. Laura Buchanan has the story.
Read story and watch video
Central and Southern Europe Central Conference
Churches welcome Ukrainian refugees
ZURICH — United Methodists in countries bordering Ukraine continue to offer aid and encouragement to Ukrainian refugees. Some of those displaced also are joining in local church activities. The Rev. László Khaled, a United Methodist district superintendent from Hungary, told the story of one Ukrainian family who had just arrived. “The people of the congregation asked them what they could provide their guests with — food, clothes, shoes and so on. But the response of these Ukrainian people was: ‘We don’t need anything. We just need a worship service.’” Urs Schweizer reports.
Read story (PDF)
UMCOR collaborating to relieve suffering of Ukrainians
Global Ministries
New EarthKeepers focus on island communities
ATLANTA — As the world celebrates Earth Day, participants in the most recent Global Ministries EarthKeepers training consider ways to conserve and protect the Atlantic Ocean’s barrier islands. Christie R. House has the story.
Read story
Find creation care resources
Upper New York Conference
Upper New York delays annual conference
LIVERPOOL, N.Y. — Facing an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the region, organizers of the Upper New York Annual Conference have decided to postpone the annual gathering to Oct. 6-8 and hold it online again. Upper New York previously had planned to hold its first in-person annual conference since 2019. The conference reports.
Read story
National Public Radio
Congolese refugee’s death jars community
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The death of Patrick Lyoya has shaken the community and members of Restoration Community Church, a small United Methodist congregation. The immigrant from Congo was shot by a police officer after being pulled over for allegedly driving with an unregistered license plate. His death has spawned protests. Jason Breslow reports.
Read story
New 2022 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2022 annual conference reports. New this week are the Hungary Provisional, Kenya-Ethiopia, Liberia and Rwanda Provisional conferences.
Read reports
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.
Postponing General Conference may be a good thing
WASHINGTON (UM News) — While many see the postponement of General Conference to 2024 as a bad thing, chances are just as great that it will be a good thing, writes the Rev. Dr. Lovett H. Weems Jr. Time can help when we seek to discern God’s will on difficult issues, he says, and a review of Methodism’s history underscores that.
Read commentary
Wespath
Ways Wespath is investing in our planet
GLENVIEW, Ill. — The theme for this year’s Earth Day celebration is “Invest in Our Planet,” which is fitting for The United Methodist Church’s pension agency, writes Ryan McQueeney, sustainable investment stewardship analyst for Wespath Benefits and Investments. He shares highlights from the denomination’s interagency climate commitment report, as well as some other new environment-related ideas from the Wespath investment team.
Read commentary
EVENTS
Sunday, May 1
Native American Ministries Sunday
Monday, May 9-Friday-May 13
Communications Learning Week: Taking the Next Step
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Report released on church's net-zero efforts
ATLANTA (UM News) — There’s a delicate balance between meeting the goal of cutting greenhouse-gas emissions and running effective ministries that use energy. A one-year progress report issued by the United Methodist Interagency Just and Equitable Net-Zero Coalition shows progress in measuring emissions, but the search continues for ways to judge how cutting emissions may inadvertently cause damage to people already struggling. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
Read press release
Learn more
Church court faces resolutions on LGBTQ inclusion
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Judicial Council, The United Methodist Church’s top court, released four rulings. Two stem from annual conference resolutions about LGBTQ inclusion. The other two dealt with procedural matters. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Zimbabwe United Methodists share bounty
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — On the first Sunday in February, the Rev. Daniel Mutidzawanda hauled a giant pumpkin into the sanctuary of Chisipiti United Methodist Church as part of a celebration lifting up the first harvest of the season to God. “What started as a small seed … has now blossomed into a big act of worship in the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area,” said Joseph Mushambi, who initiated the first fruit offering in 2010. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.
Read story
The church in Europe stands together
EISENACH, Germany (UM News) — At its most recent meeting, the German United Methodist Church executive committee discussed ways that European United Methodist congregations can help in the face of the Ukrainian war. The committee decided to hold a special session of the Germany Central Conference Nov. 24-26. Klaus Ulrich Ruof reports.
Read story
Ask The UMC
Understanding the Easter season
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For Christians, Easter is not just one day; it’s a season of 50 days. Its length is derived from the 50 days between Passover and Pentecost in Judaism. The Easter season is more than an extended celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. It’s a time for focusing on the core doctrines and mysteries of the faith and preparing for the ministries the Spirit has empowered Christians to undertake in Jesus’ name, writes Ask The UMC.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Council of Bishops
Bishops gather to chart future of denomination
WASHINGTON — In the wake of disruptions and postponements due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the more than 100 bishops of The United Methodist Church will meet virtually April 25-29 to discuss the future course of the denomination. The spring meeting of the Council of Bishops will also welcome a new slate of leaders, including the new council president, Bishop Thomas Bickerton of the New York Area. The April 25 and 29 meetings will be livestreamed to the public on the bishops’ Facebook page beginning at 9 a.m. U.S. Eastern time.
Read press release
Watch livestream
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