“I have a relative who is a pastor and asked him to pray for us and send us somewhere that would be according to God’s will. With the help of his prayers and help of God, we arrived here.” — Anna, a Ukrainian refugee staying at Veselka United Methodist retreat center in the Czech Republic.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Czech United Methodists help house Ukrainian refugees
BECHYNĚ, Czech Republic (UM News) — The Poušť United Methodist church camp near Bechyně would normally have hosted children at camp this summer, but instead, it is serving as a home away from home for Ukrainian mothers and their children. It is one of five properties of The United Methodist Church in the Czech Republic serving as a shelter for Ukrainian refugees. Joey Butler reports, with photos by Mike DuBose and video by Francisco Litardo.
Read story
Watch video
UM News: United Methodist ministry with Ukraine
Bishop dedicates reconciling church in Kenya
MOHETO, Kenya (UM News) — The dedication and consecration of a new church sanctuary in Kenya brought together United Methodists of varied perspectives on LGBTQ inclusion. East Africa Area Bishop Daniel Wandabula joined hundreds of congregants in celebrating the new sanctuary for First United Methodist Church Moheto. In 2019, the church voted to become the first congregation in Africa to identify as reconciling. Gad Maiga has the story.
Read story
Arkansas Conference
Church music camp a hit with kids, seniors
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — St. Paul United Methodist Church recently held its first summer music camp for children. All the kids were sixth-graders or younger, and all the volunteers were 70 or older. Caroline Loftin reports that the age gap proved no problem and that the camp led to reciprocal blessings.
Read story
Northern Illinois Conference
Church gets grant to open Freedom School
CHICAGO — St. Mark United Methodist Church on Chicago’s South Side has received a $350,000 renewable yearly grant for three years from the Illinois State Board of Education to start a Freedom School. The schools date back to the 1960s, when volunteers traveled to Mississippi to teach Black students, and they still provide educational support. Anne Marie Gerhardt has the story.
Read story
New 2022 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2022 annual conference reports. New this week is the East Congo Annual Conference.
Read reports
PRESS RELEASES
Louisiana Conference
15th special session called for church exits
BATON ROUGE, La. — Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey has called a special session of the Louisiana Annual Conference to be held online Nov. 12. The conference is the 15th to schedule a special session to vote on recommended church disaffiliations. Harvey also has a video in which she seeks to dispel some of the misconceptions about the future of the denomination.
Read announcement
Watch video
See schedule of special sessions
Missouri Conference
Conference hopeful about mediation efforts
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Missouri Conference says that recent mediation efforts with five churches seeking to leave The United Methodist Church have seen “substantial progress.” A conference update says it’s likely the churches can conclude disaffiliation under Paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline by the conference’s annual session in June 2023.
Read conference update
RESOURCES
Discipleship Ministries
How churches can assist parents
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A new course of instruction is being launched to help church leaders guide parents. “It Takes a Church to Raise a Parent: Helping the Church Community Empower Families” will help church leaders journey alongside parents to nurture, equip, empower and effectively communicate with them.
Learn more
Register
RECENT HEADLINES
Faith leaders hear of ‘lost ground’ on HIV
Church court clarifies property-transfer rules
EVENTS
Monday, Sept. 12-Sunday, Oct. 9
Online course: Helping Others Grow Through Their Grieving
Monday, Sept. 12-Monday, Sept. 26
Online course: Developing a Dynamic Praise and Worship Experience
NEWS AND FEATURES
Czech United Methodists help house Ukrainian refugees
BECHYNĚ, Czech Republic (UM News) — The Poušť United Methodist church camp near Bechyně would normally have hosted children at camp this summer, but instead, it is serving as a home away from home for Ukrainian mothers and their children. It is one of five properties of The United Methodist Church in the Czech Republic serving as a shelter for Ukrainian refugees. Joey Butler reports, with photos by Mike DuBose and video by Francisco Litardo.
Read story
Watch video
UM News: United Methodist ministry with Ukraine
Bishop dedicates reconciling church in Kenya
MOHETO, Kenya (UM News) — The dedication and consecration of a new church sanctuary in Kenya brought together United Methodists of varied perspectives on LGBTQ inclusion. East Africa Area Bishop Daniel Wandabula joined hundreds of congregants in celebrating the new sanctuary for First United Methodist Church Moheto. In 2019, the church voted to become the first congregation in Africa to identify as reconciling. Gad Maiga has the story.
Read story
Arkansas Conference
Church music camp a hit with kids, seniors
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — St. Paul United Methodist Church recently held its first summer music camp for children. All the kids were sixth-graders or younger, and all the volunteers were 70 or older. Caroline Loftin reports that the age gap proved no problem and that the camp led to reciprocal blessings.
Read story
Northern Illinois Conference
Church gets grant to open Freedom School
CHICAGO — St. Mark United Methodist Church on Chicago’s South Side has received a $350,000 renewable yearly grant for three years from the Illinois State Board of Education to start a Freedom School. The schools date back to the 1960s, when volunteers traveled to Mississippi to teach Black students, and they still provide educational support. Anne Marie Gerhardt has the story.
Read story
New 2022 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2022 annual conference reports. New this week is the East Congo Annual Conference.
Read reports
PRESS RELEASES
Louisiana Conference
15th special session called for church exits
BATON ROUGE, La. — Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey has called a special session of the Louisiana Annual Conference to be held online Nov. 12. The conference is the 15th to schedule a special session to vote on recommended church disaffiliations. Harvey also has a video in which she seeks to dispel some of the misconceptions about the future of the denomination.
Read announcement
Watch video
See schedule of special sessions
Missouri Conference
Conference hopeful about mediation efforts
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Missouri Conference says that recent mediation efforts with five churches seeking to leave The United Methodist Church have seen “substantial progress.” A conference update says it’s likely the churches can conclude disaffiliation under Paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline by the conference’s annual session in June 2023.
Read conference update
RESOURCES
Discipleship Ministries
How churches can assist parents
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A new course of instruction is being launched to help church leaders guide parents. “It Takes a Church to Raise a Parent: Helping the Church Community Empower Families” will help church leaders journey alongside parents to nurture, equip, empower and effectively communicate with them.
Learn more
Register
RECENT HEADLINES
Faith leaders hear of ‘lost ground’ on HIV
Church court clarifies property-transfer rules
EVENTS
Monday, Sept. 12-Sunday, Oct. 9
Online course: Helping Others Grow Through Their Grieving
Monday, Sept. 12-Monday, Sept. 26
Online course: Developing a Dynamic Praise and Worship Experience
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