“I remind them that God is still present, and God is a god of justice. He hears the cries of his people.” — The Rev. Chad McCabe, a chaplain in the Army National Guard.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Church responds to chaplain’s call to help soldiers
WASHINGTON (UM News) — United Methodists responded generously when an Episcopal priest put out word that National Guard soldiers deployed in Washington needed help occupying themselves during downtime. Wesley Theological Seminary and others came through with Bibles, games and 150 copies of a new book about courage. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
Assault on US Capitol dismays United Methodists
West Virginia Conference
Bishops initiate conversations on racism
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball joined three of her predecessor West Virginia bishops in “Front Porch Conversations,” a video series inviting individuals and congregations into a conversation to raise awareness regarding racism and the work needed to eliminate it. The videos were created in response to a request from West Virginia pastors for resources to begin such conversations with their own congregations. The series has downloadable questions that can be used for group or personal study and reflection. Audrey Stanton-Smith reports.
Read story
View resource
Missouri Conference
Dealing with a backlog of grief
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — The Rev. David Howlett and his wife, Elaine, are experts in grief ministry, operating The Mourning Center at Christ United Methodist Church. They predict a lot of grief will surface once the pandemic lifts and congregations regather, with notable absences of those lost to COVID-19. They’ve created a guide for how churches can meet the need. Fred Koenig reports.
Read story
Read guide
Western North Carolina Conference
Case studies sought on work with migrants
WASHINGTON — Since 2018, the United Methodist Council of Bishops has been working to strengthen the denomination’s concordat agreement with the Methodist Church of Britain. This year, the two denominations are working on exchanging information on migrant ministries. Churches that minister to migrants are invited to submit case studies by March 31.
To learn more
To submit case study
Denton Record-Chronicle
Texas church helps mosque after storms
DENTON, Texas — First United Methodist Church of Denton has raised funds to help a nearby mosque recover from major water damage caused by the winter storms in Texas. Lucinda Breeding reports.
Read 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.
Can a divided church serve a divided society?
WILSON, N.C. (UM News) — As The United Methodist Church heads toward possible separation, the Rev. Paul T. Stallsworth reflects on what history can teach us. Comparing the denomination’s current opposing stances on homosexuality to its division over slavery in the 1800s, he writes that the church could serve as a powerful witness by remaining united in a polarized society.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
General Conference postponed until 2022
Discipleship's top executive dies of cancer
EVENTS
Thursday, March 4
From Social Media to Social Ministry: A Guide to Digital Discipleship
NEWS AND FEATURES
Church responds to chaplain’s call to help soldiers
WASHINGTON (UM News) — United Methodists responded generously when an Episcopal priest put out word that National Guard soldiers deployed in Washington needed help occupying themselves during downtime. Wesley Theological Seminary and others came through with Bibles, games and 150 copies of a new book about courage. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
Assault on US Capitol dismays United Methodists
West Virginia Conference
Bishops initiate conversations on racism
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball joined three of her predecessor West Virginia bishops in “Front Porch Conversations,” a video series inviting individuals and congregations into a conversation to raise awareness regarding racism and the work needed to eliminate it. The videos were created in response to a request from West Virginia pastors for resources to begin such conversations with their own congregations. The series has downloadable questions that can be used for group or personal study and reflection. Audrey Stanton-Smith reports.
Read story
View resource
Missouri Conference
Dealing with a backlog of grief
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — The Rev. David Howlett and his wife, Elaine, are experts in grief ministry, operating The Mourning Center at Christ United Methodist Church. They predict a lot of grief will surface once the pandemic lifts and congregations regather, with notable absences of those lost to COVID-19. They’ve created a guide for how churches can meet the need. Fred Koenig reports.
Read story
Read guide
Western North Carolina Conference
Case studies sought on work with migrants
WASHINGTON — Since 2018, the United Methodist Council of Bishops has been working to strengthen the denomination’s concordat agreement with the Methodist Church of Britain. This year, the two denominations are working on exchanging information on migrant ministries. Churches that minister to migrants are invited to submit case studies by March 31.
To learn more
To submit case study
Denton Record-Chronicle
Texas church helps mosque after storms
DENTON, Texas — First United Methodist Church of Denton has raised funds to help a nearby mosque recover from major water damage caused by the winter storms in Texas. Lucinda Breeding reports.
Read 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.
Can a divided church serve a divided society?
WILSON, N.C. (UM News) — As The United Methodist Church heads toward possible separation, the Rev. Paul T. Stallsworth reflects on what history can teach us. Comparing the denomination’s current opposing stances on homosexuality to its division over slavery in the 1800s, he writes that the church could serve as a powerful witness by remaining united in a polarized society.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
General Conference postponed until 2022
Discipleship's top executive dies of cancer
EVENTS
Thursday, March 4
From Social Media to Social Ministry: A Guide to Digital Discipleship
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