“It’s really cool to see an 85-year-old walk out all but hooting and hollering because they got their vaccine.” — Jim Davis, director of outreach at Asbury United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
NEWS AND FEATURES
United Methodist Communications
Volunteers help make vaccinations happen
TULSA, Okla. — Congregations are stepping up to connect people in their communities — especially the elderly and those who struggle with language barriers and computer skills — with the assistance they need to get vaccinated. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
Missouri Conference
Bishop shares concerns over gun bill
ST. LOUIS — United Methodist Bishop Robert Farr joined Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski of the Catholic Church and other faith leaders April 28 to express opposition to Missouri House Bill 944. The bill would allow people to bring weapons into a church without the permission of the congregation’s leader. “I worry for our children. I worry for my colleagues in ministry, the laity in United Methodist churches and our brothers and sisters in Christ all across this country,” said Farr, who leads the denomination’s Missouri Conference. Fred Koenig reports.
Read story
Watch press conference
North Texas Conference
Historic Dallas-area church closes
FARMERS BRANCH, Texas — The oldest United Methodist church in Dallas County, Texas, held its final worship service on April 24. Webb Chapel United Methodist decided to close after 177 years because of dwindling resources and the challenges of the pandemic. Monica Frazier reports.
Read story
Oklahoma Conference
Methodists in Oklahoma, Chile collaborate
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Conference and Methodist Church of Chile have been covenant partners since 2018, and this year they collaborated on Holy Week video devotionals. Tabitha Beckman reports on the effort.
Read story
Presbyterian News Service
United Methodist treasurer moves to big role
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Ian J. Hall, the Indiana Conference’s finance director, has been named the chief financial officer and chief operating officer of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He will start his new role in June. Mike Ferguson reports.
Read story
Read Indiana Conference announcement
PRESS RELEASES
Greater New Jersey Conference
Native caucus calls out ‘damaging’ comments
NEPTUNE, N.J. — The Native American International Caucus has issued a statement in response to former Sen. Rick Santorum’s comments about Native American culture, calling his remarks “yet another inaccurate and divisive comment that reinforces how Native people are made invisible and blatantly attempts to erase our history.”
Read statement (PDF)
Read USA Today story
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 the UM News staff.
Enduring racism, badgering, as a pastor
SYLVANIA, Ohio (UM News) — Dr. Josephine Whitely-Fields, a retired pastor who has led churches in Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, writes about how she persevered through encounters with racism at local church appointments.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Korean, Native faithful join to fight virus
Megachurch seeks exit over appointment strife
EVENTS
Tuesday, May 11
Webinar: Adaptive Stewardship in the Post-Pandemic Church
NEWS AND FEATURES
United Methodist Communications
Volunteers help make vaccinations happen
TULSA, Okla. — Congregations are stepping up to connect people in their communities — especially the elderly and those who struggle with language barriers and computer skills — with the assistance they need to get vaccinated. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
Missouri Conference
Bishop shares concerns over gun bill
ST. LOUIS — United Methodist Bishop Robert Farr joined Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski of the Catholic Church and other faith leaders April 28 to express opposition to Missouri House Bill 944. The bill would allow people to bring weapons into a church without the permission of the congregation’s leader. “I worry for our children. I worry for my colleagues in ministry, the laity in United Methodist churches and our brothers and sisters in Christ all across this country,” said Farr, who leads the denomination’s Missouri Conference. Fred Koenig reports.
Read story
Watch press conference
North Texas Conference
Historic Dallas-area church closes
FARMERS BRANCH, Texas — The oldest United Methodist church in Dallas County, Texas, held its final worship service on April 24. Webb Chapel United Methodist decided to close after 177 years because of dwindling resources and the challenges of the pandemic. Monica Frazier reports.
Read story
Oklahoma Conference
Methodists in Oklahoma, Chile collaborate
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Conference and Methodist Church of Chile have been covenant partners since 2018, and this year they collaborated on Holy Week video devotionals. Tabitha Beckman reports on the effort.
Read story
Presbyterian News Service
United Methodist treasurer moves to big role
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Ian J. Hall, the Indiana Conference’s finance director, has been named the chief financial officer and chief operating officer of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He will start his new role in June. Mike Ferguson reports.
Read story
Read Indiana Conference announcement
PRESS RELEASES
Greater New Jersey Conference
Native caucus calls out ‘damaging’ comments
NEPTUNE, N.J. — The Native American International Caucus has issued a statement in response to former Sen. Rick Santorum’s comments about Native American culture, calling his remarks “yet another inaccurate and divisive comment that reinforces how Native people are made invisible and blatantly attempts to erase our history.”
Read statement (PDF)
Read USA Today story
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 the UM News staff.
Enduring racism, badgering, as a pastor
SYLVANIA, Ohio (UM News) — Dr. Josephine Whitely-Fields, a retired pastor who has led churches in Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, writes about how she persevered through encounters with racism at local church appointments.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Korean, Native faithful join to fight virus
Megachurch seeks exit over appointment strife
EVENTS
Tuesday, May 11
Webinar: Adaptive Stewardship in the Post-Pandemic Church
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.