Welcome to the new UM News Friday Digest, combining the latest daily news with highlights from the past week. The regular UM News Daily Digest will return Monday. Let us know what you think at [email protected].
“This ruling simply adds to the feeling that the denomination is ‘stuck’ and to the sense that our well-regimented institutions are unable and unwilling to address the very big challenges facing The United Methodist Church.” — Randall Miller, a member of the team that negotiated the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation.
TODAY'S HEADLINES
Lack of ruling adds to protocol concerns
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — With The United Methodist Church’s top court declining to rule in advance on the proposed protocol for separation, some of the plan’s architects worry about the effect on General Conference’s deliberations. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read Council of Bishops press release
PRESS RELEASES
Northern Illinois Conference
Lamenting violence against Asian Americans
CHICAGO — The General and Jurisdictional Conference delegation of the Northern Illinois Conference issued a statement of lament about continuing violence and bigotry directed toward our Asian and Pacific Islander siblings. Three of the Northern Illinois delegates are Asian American.
Read statement
COMMENTARIES
UM News features various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of perspectives and are the views of the writers, not the UM News staff.
An urgent call for leadership
DALLAS (UM News) — Citing a need for new church leadership to help make decisions on the denomination’s future, a group of conference delegates is advocating for special called sessions of jurisdictional conferences so elections may be held.
Read commentary
EVENTS
Tuesday, April 27
Webinar: The Challenges and Importance of Cross-Cultural Conversations
Tuesday, May 11
Webinar: Adaptive Stewardship in the Post-Pandemic Church
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
United Methodists react to Chauvin verdict
MINNEAPOLIS (UM News) — United Methodists across the connection joined the national response to the guilty verdict handed down April 20 in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. While expressing the sense that the verdict was just, church leaders urged United Methodists to keep working toward dismantling widespread racism and systemic injustice against people of color. UM News staff reports.
Read story
Agencies set greenhouse gas emissions goal
ATLANTA (UM News) — Eleven general agencies of The United Methodist Church are pledging to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 across ministries, facilities, operations and investments. The initiative was announced on Earth Day. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
Read press release
Leadership body invites church to vision work
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Connectional Table, the denomination’s equivalent of a church council, is urging United Methodists around the globe to join in conversations about the denomination’s identity, vision and mission. With General Conference now delayed to 2022, the leadership body hopes to bring more people to its table. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read press release
Church partners with Mexican Consulate
HOUSTON (UM News) — Kingwood United Methodist, a predominantly Anglo megachurch, recently hosted a team from the Mexican Consulate in Houston. For two weeks, the consular officers set up shop at the church to process Mexican passports, ID cards and birth certificates for Mexican citizens living in the area. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Churches across theological spectrum exiting
PORTLAND, Maine (UM News) — With a potential denominational split still up in the air, some congregations aren’t waiting to head for the exits. Churches in Maine, Texas and Illinois are among those in the process of severing ties with The United Methodist Church. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Commentary: Shattered windshield, shattered worldview
SNOQUALMIE, Wash. (UM News) — As a white teacher at a historically Black college, Carol Morrison thought of herself as a minority. A dramatic incident taught her how mistaken she was. She writes about her experience for UM News’ “Personal Encounters with Racism” feature.
Read commentary
Read more essays on racism
Commentary: Never too late to do the right thing
DELAND, Fla. (UM News) — Anita Campbell witnessed racism in college in the 1960s South but stayed mostly quiet about it. The national anti-racism movement of the past year spurred her to speak out and get involved.
Read commentary
Global Ministries
African farm gets solar power
ATLANTA — A missionary and Africa University graduate helped bring solar power to Kamisamba Farm in Congo. Lorraine Charinda, an agriculturist and rural economic development specialist from Zimbabwe, was the driving force behind developing a fully functioning farm at Kamisamba. When she arrived in 2018, it had some dilapidated buildings, four pigs and half an acre of vegetable plants. Christie R. House reports.
Read story
Council of Bishops
Press release: Bishops plan virtual meeting
WASHINGTON — The Council of Bishops will meet virtually April 26-30 to discuss the changing role of the episcopacy and new ways to lead the church. They also will hear reports on anti-racism efforts, ecumenical relations, immigration and disaster relief. The first and last days of the meeting will be livestreamed on the bishops’ Facebook page beginning at 9 a.m. U.S. Eastern time.
Read press release
Watch livestream
Missouri Conference
Major League Methodists
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Major League Baseball recently decided to elevate the historic Negro Leagues to major league status, highlighting the legacy of thousands of Black players from the era of segregation. Among them: Henry “Bo” Mason and John Wesley Donaldson, who played for the Kansas City Monarchs and had Methodist roots in Missouri. The Rev. Kim Jenne reports.
Read story
Holston Conference
Church-basement staple boosts meal ministry
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Strawberry fluff salad won’t win any prizes for originality, but Annette Spence reports how the staple of church basements has become a staple of her church’s drive-thru meal ministry. She also has a recipe for the salad that sweetens the first fruits of spring.
Read story
UM & Global
Commentary: ‘Our silence is literally killing us’
ATLANTA — The Rev. John Oda, program manager of the Asian American Language Ministry Plan, describes a propensity in Asian American culture to stay silent on tough issues such as racism. But as national movements to confront racism grow, he says Asian Americans should raise their voices. In the wake of rising violence against the Asian community since the coronavirus pandemic began, “our silence is literally killing us,” Oda writes.
Read commentary
United Methodist Communications
Press release: World Press Freedom Day
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In honor of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, United Methodist Communications is spotlighting the work of United Methodist News and its correspondents around the world. This year’s theme, “Information as a Public Good,” is a call to affirm the importance of providing information for the benefit and well-being of the public and to advance openness and transparency.
Read press release
Florida Conference
Camp plans for post-pandemic outreach
FRUITLAND PARK, Fla. — When the COVID-19 pandemic struck last year, the ministry at the Warren Willis Camp and Conference Center was hit particularly hard. Now, the United Methodist camp is back in business. Joe Henderson has the story.
Read story
Church’s history receives state recognition
“This ruling simply adds to the feeling that the denomination is ‘stuck’ and to the sense that our well-regimented institutions are unable and unwilling to address the very big challenges facing The United Methodist Church.” — Randall Miller, a member of the team that negotiated the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation.
TODAY'S HEADLINES
Lack of ruling adds to protocol concerns
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — With The United Methodist Church’s top court declining to rule in advance on the proposed protocol for separation, some of the plan’s architects worry about the effect on General Conference’s deliberations. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read Council of Bishops press release
PRESS RELEASES
Northern Illinois Conference
Lamenting violence against Asian Americans
CHICAGO — The General and Jurisdictional Conference delegation of the Northern Illinois Conference issued a statement of lament about continuing violence and bigotry directed toward our Asian and Pacific Islander siblings. Three of the Northern Illinois delegates are Asian American.
Read statement
COMMENTARIES
UM News features various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of perspectives and are the views of the writers, not the UM News staff.
An urgent call for leadership
DALLAS (UM News) — Citing a need for new church leadership to help make decisions on the denomination’s future, a group of conference delegates is advocating for special called sessions of jurisdictional conferences so elections may be held.
Read commentary
EVENTS
Tuesday, April 27
Webinar: The Challenges and Importance of Cross-Cultural Conversations
Tuesday, May 11
Webinar: Adaptive Stewardship in the Post-Pandemic Church
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
United Methodists react to Chauvin verdict
MINNEAPOLIS (UM News) — United Methodists across the connection joined the national response to the guilty verdict handed down April 20 in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. While expressing the sense that the verdict was just, church leaders urged United Methodists to keep working toward dismantling widespread racism and systemic injustice against people of color. UM News staff reports.
Read story
Agencies set greenhouse gas emissions goal
ATLANTA (UM News) — Eleven general agencies of The United Methodist Church are pledging to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 across ministries, facilities, operations and investments. The initiative was announced on Earth Day. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
Read press release
Leadership body invites church to vision work
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Connectional Table, the denomination’s equivalent of a church council, is urging United Methodists around the globe to join in conversations about the denomination’s identity, vision and mission. With General Conference now delayed to 2022, the leadership body hopes to bring more people to its table. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read press release
Church partners with Mexican Consulate
HOUSTON (UM News) — Kingwood United Methodist, a predominantly Anglo megachurch, recently hosted a team from the Mexican Consulate in Houston. For two weeks, the consular officers set up shop at the church to process Mexican passports, ID cards and birth certificates for Mexican citizens living in the area. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Churches across theological spectrum exiting
PORTLAND, Maine (UM News) — With a potential denominational split still up in the air, some congregations aren’t waiting to head for the exits. Churches in Maine, Texas and Illinois are among those in the process of severing ties with The United Methodist Church. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Commentary: Shattered windshield, shattered worldview
SNOQUALMIE, Wash. (UM News) — As a white teacher at a historically Black college, Carol Morrison thought of herself as a minority. A dramatic incident taught her how mistaken she was. She writes about her experience for UM News’ “Personal Encounters with Racism” feature.
Read commentary
Read more essays on racism
Commentary: Never too late to do the right thing
DELAND, Fla. (UM News) — Anita Campbell witnessed racism in college in the 1960s South but stayed mostly quiet about it. The national anti-racism movement of the past year spurred her to speak out and get involved.
Read commentary
Global Ministries
African farm gets solar power
ATLANTA — A missionary and Africa University graduate helped bring solar power to Kamisamba Farm in Congo. Lorraine Charinda, an agriculturist and rural economic development specialist from Zimbabwe, was the driving force behind developing a fully functioning farm at Kamisamba. When she arrived in 2018, it had some dilapidated buildings, four pigs and half an acre of vegetable plants. Christie R. House reports.
Read story
Council of Bishops
Press release: Bishops plan virtual meeting
WASHINGTON — The Council of Bishops will meet virtually April 26-30 to discuss the changing role of the episcopacy and new ways to lead the church. They also will hear reports on anti-racism efforts, ecumenical relations, immigration and disaster relief. The first and last days of the meeting will be livestreamed on the bishops’ Facebook page beginning at 9 a.m. U.S. Eastern time.
Read press release
Watch livestream
Missouri Conference
Major League Methodists
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Major League Baseball recently decided to elevate the historic Negro Leagues to major league status, highlighting the legacy of thousands of Black players from the era of segregation. Among them: Henry “Bo” Mason and John Wesley Donaldson, who played for the Kansas City Monarchs and had Methodist roots in Missouri. The Rev. Kim Jenne reports.
Read story
Holston Conference
Church-basement staple boosts meal ministry
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Strawberry fluff salad won’t win any prizes for originality, but Annette Spence reports how the staple of church basements has become a staple of her church’s drive-thru meal ministry. She also has a recipe for the salad that sweetens the first fruits of spring.
Read story
UM & Global
Commentary: ‘Our silence is literally killing us’
ATLANTA — The Rev. John Oda, program manager of the Asian American Language Ministry Plan, describes a propensity in Asian American culture to stay silent on tough issues such as racism. But as national movements to confront racism grow, he says Asian Americans should raise their voices. In the wake of rising violence against the Asian community since the coronavirus pandemic began, “our silence is literally killing us,” Oda writes.
Read commentary
United Methodist Communications
Press release: World Press Freedom Day
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In honor of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, United Methodist Communications is spotlighting the work of United Methodist News and its correspondents around the world. This year’s theme, “Information as a Public Good,” is a call to affirm the importance of providing information for the benefit and well-being of the public and to advance openness and transparency.
Read press release
Florida Conference
Camp plans for post-pandemic outreach
FRUITLAND PARK, Fla. — When the COVID-19 pandemic struck last year, the ministry at the Warren Willis Camp and Conference Center was hit particularly hard. Now, the United Methodist camp is back in business. Joe Henderson has the story.
Read story
Church’s history receives state recognition
Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.