“(The Charisma Revival) will be a place where pastors — those who are heartbroken in the reality of a weakening church and a divisive denomination — gather, repent and pray together.” — The Rev. Min Seok Yang, pastor of Korean United Methodist Church of New York.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Korean pastors call for repentance, unity
FLUSHING, N.Y. (UM News) — Ahead of Lent, more than 100 Korean United Methodist pastors released a statement urging repentance and unity amid challenging times. The “Confession and Covenant” statement was published before the church leaders gathered for the Charisma Revival at First United Methodist Church. The Rev. Thomas E. Kim reports.
Read story
Read story in Korean
Holston Conference
Pastor aims to help Sudanese join denomination
MARYVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Botrous Tutu, a Holston Conference pastor, just returned from training leaders of some 40 churches in Sudan. Now he is ready to help the Sudanese church leaders achieve something he says they desperately want: to become official members of The United Methodist Church. Annette Spence has the story.
Read story
The Wilson Post
Congregation gives $217,000 to help center
MT. JULIET, Tenn. — Providence United Methodist Church gifted Mt. Juliet Help Center $217,000 during its Feb. 6 Sunday service. The donation will help the food pantry add space to its facility to serve an ever-increasing need for food in this city near Nashville. Laurie Everett reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
World Council of Churches
Statement, resources on Ukraine crisis
GENEVA — The World Council of Churches, of which The United Methodist Church is part, has endorsed a statement by the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt the military invasion of Ukraine. Also, David W. Scott of the UM & Global website has collected resources on the history and role of United Methodists in Ukraine.
Read WCC press release
Read about Ukranian United Methodists
General Council on Finance and Administration
Board, Connectional Table approve budget allocations
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The General Council on Finance and Administration board and Connectional Table each approved proposed new budget allocations for most general agencies, Africa University and other denomination-wide ministries. The 2023-24 allocations are part of the budget heading to the next General Conference. The two leadership bodies plan to revisit allocations again in May.
Read press release
UM News: Church exits, COVID lead to steep budget cuts
RESOURCES
Church World Service
Conference offers tools for welcoming the stranger
NEW YORK — The upcoming Together We Welcome conference, a virtual national faith gathering to strengthen support for refugees, immigrants and migrants, will focus on advocacy, asylum, resettlement and climate change, among other topics. The United Methodist Committee on Relief is one of the sponsors of the March 4-6 event organized by Church World Service.
Learn more
To register
EVENTS
Saturday, Feb. 26
Online prayer vigil for the people of Ukraine
Register for event
Tuesday, March 22
Handling the Church's Money in a New Day
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Updated: United Methodists respond to Ukraine invasion
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Russia’s invasion of Ukraine brought calls for prayer and statements of deep concern from United Methodists, as well as a first-hand account from a United Methodist in harm’s way. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
General Conference organizers plan announcement
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Commission on the General Conference has been weighing whether General Conference can move forward as scheduled this year on Aug. 29-Sept. 6 in Minneapolis. The group met online Feb. 24, and after 3½ hours of closed session, the commission said it would announce the result of its deliberations within a week.
Groups offer conflicting calls on General Conference
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — A letter signed by 170 General Conference delegates urges organizers to postpone the legislative assembly to 2024. The letter also asks for an investigation of a vaccine initiative launched by the Wesleyan Covenant Association. Meanwhile, an African advocacy group urges that General Conference go forward this year. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Church court says GC2020 delay resets deadlines
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s top court addressed the question of whether General Conference’s postponement affects deadlines for proposed legislation. The ruling comes as General Conference organizers consider whether the international assembly can go forward as scheduled this year. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Denominational giving drops for third year
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Overall giving to denomination-wide ministries dropped in 2021 for the third consecutive year. At the same time, collections surged for the fund that supports United Methodist bishops. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Editorial: Make the call on General Conference
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — General Conference planners need the church’s support during this challenging time. And the church needs a clear decision from planners about whether General Conference will meet this year.
Read editorial
Commentary: Junius Dotson's marvelous legacy lives on
HOUSTON (UM News) — This month marks a year since the Rev. Junius B. Dotson died after a short battle with cancer. He was a pioneer who revitalized United Methodist Discipleship Ministries and had an impact as a pastor, author and denominational leader, writes longtime colleague Toska Medlock Lee. She encourages United Methodists to close out Black History Month by reflecting on Dotson’s contributions.
Read commentary
Commentary: When studying Black history, do not begin with slavery
ATLANTA (UM News) — The historical legacy of African Christianity pre-dates most of European Christianity. North African theologians made significant contributions to Christianity, and John Wesley was known to have read their works. Odell Horne Jr. describes a missionary experience that led him to this realization.
Read commentary
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Korean pastors call for repentance, unity
FLUSHING, N.Y. (UM News) — Ahead of Lent, more than 100 Korean United Methodist pastors released a statement urging repentance and unity amid challenging times. The “Confession and Covenant” statement was published before the church leaders gathered for the Charisma Revival at First United Methodist Church. The Rev. Thomas E. Kim reports.
Read story
Read story in Korean
Holston Conference
Pastor aims to help Sudanese join denomination
MARYVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Botrous Tutu, a Holston Conference pastor, just returned from training leaders of some 40 churches in Sudan. Now he is ready to help the Sudanese church leaders achieve something he says they desperately want: to become official members of The United Methodist Church. Annette Spence has the story.
Read story
The Wilson Post
Congregation gives $217,000 to help center
MT. JULIET, Tenn. — Providence United Methodist Church gifted Mt. Juliet Help Center $217,000 during its Feb. 6 Sunday service. The donation will help the food pantry add space to its facility to serve an ever-increasing need for food in this city near Nashville. Laurie Everett reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
World Council of Churches
Statement, resources on Ukraine crisis
GENEVA — The World Council of Churches, of which The United Methodist Church is part, has endorsed a statement by the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt the military invasion of Ukraine. Also, David W. Scott of the UM & Global website has collected resources on the history and role of United Methodists in Ukraine.
Read WCC press release
Read about Ukranian United Methodists
General Council on Finance and Administration
Board, Connectional Table approve budget allocations
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The General Council on Finance and Administration board and Connectional Table each approved proposed new budget allocations for most general agencies, Africa University and other denomination-wide ministries. The 2023-24 allocations are part of the budget heading to the next General Conference. The two leadership bodies plan to revisit allocations again in May.
Read press release
UM News: Church exits, COVID lead to steep budget cuts
RESOURCES
Church World Service
Conference offers tools for welcoming the stranger
NEW YORK — The upcoming Together We Welcome conference, a virtual national faith gathering to strengthen support for refugees, immigrants and migrants, will focus on advocacy, asylum, resettlement and climate change, among other topics. The United Methodist Committee on Relief is one of the sponsors of the March 4-6 event organized by Church World Service.
Learn more
To register
EVENTS
Saturday, Feb. 26
Online prayer vigil for the people of Ukraine
Register for event
Tuesday, March 22
Handling the Church's Money in a New Day
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Updated: United Methodists respond to Ukraine invasion
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Russia’s invasion of Ukraine brought calls for prayer and statements of deep concern from United Methodists, as well as a first-hand account from a United Methodist in harm’s way. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
General Conference organizers plan announcement
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Commission on the General Conference has been weighing whether General Conference can move forward as scheduled this year on Aug. 29-Sept. 6 in Minneapolis. The group met online Feb. 24, and after 3½ hours of closed session, the commission said it would announce the result of its deliberations within a week.
Groups offer conflicting calls on General Conference
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — A letter signed by 170 General Conference delegates urges organizers to postpone the legislative assembly to 2024. The letter also asks for an investigation of a vaccine initiative launched by the Wesleyan Covenant Association. Meanwhile, an African advocacy group urges that General Conference go forward this year. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Church court says GC2020 delay resets deadlines
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s top court addressed the question of whether General Conference’s postponement affects deadlines for proposed legislation. The ruling comes as General Conference organizers consider whether the international assembly can go forward as scheduled this year. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Denominational giving drops for third year
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Overall giving to denomination-wide ministries dropped in 2021 for the third consecutive year. At the same time, collections surged for the fund that supports United Methodist bishops. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Editorial: Make the call on General Conference
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — General Conference planners need the church’s support during this challenging time. And the church needs a clear decision from planners about whether General Conference will meet this year.
Read editorial
Commentary: Junius Dotson's marvelous legacy lives on
HOUSTON (UM News) — This month marks a year since the Rev. Junius B. Dotson died after a short battle with cancer. He was a pioneer who revitalized United Methodist Discipleship Ministries and had an impact as a pastor, author and denominational leader, writes longtime colleague Toska Medlock Lee. She encourages United Methodists to close out Black History Month by reflecting on Dotson’s contributions.
Read commentary
Commentary: When studying Black history, do not begin with slavery
ATLANTA (UM News) — The historical legacy of African Christianity pre-dates most of European Christianity. North African theologians made significant contributions to Christianity, and John Wesley was known to have read their works. Odell Horne Jr. describes a missionary experience that led him to this realization.
Read commentary
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.