“Sharing soup as a means of encountering God’s grace and experiencing collective belonging has become my ministry.” — The Rev. Cristin Cooper
NEWS AND FEATURES
Faith & Leadership
Pastor stirs things up with soup
OLNEY, Md. — The Rev. Cristin Cooper founded Coop’s Soups as a Fresh Expressions ministry of The United Methodist Church. She had the goal of selling Mason jars of homemade soup at the local farmers market to help Soup Church, a dinner church she and her husband started in their apartment. But her soup-making business has, on its own, proved effective in building community and sparking spiritual conversations. Cooper tells her story in a piece for Faith & Leadership, a Duke Divinity School website.
Read story
California-Pacific Conference
Church helps Ukrainian family find new home
NORTH REDONDO BEACH, Calif. — The people of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church have ensured that a family who recently arrived from Ukraine now has a home, furnishings, jobs and a place of worship. The California-Pacific Conference has the story of how the Nikitienko family is already joining in church ministries.
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Easy Reader News: Ukraine family settles in South Bay
United Methodist Communications
Divine inspiration meets Wesleyan wisdom
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Methodism founder John Wesley encouraged 18th-century clergy to care for their parishioners’ physical needs as much as their spiritual ones. In a new episode of the “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast, Lorry Mpindu, a Global Health leader with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, discusses the vital reasons the church needs to talk about all areas of health to fulfill John 10:10, where Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Listen to podcast
Greater New Jersey Conference
7 churches sue conference to leave
NEPTUNE, N.J. — Bishop John Schol announced that seven churches have sued the Greater New Jersey Conference, seeking to leave The United Methodist Church with property without following disaffiliation procedures. “Our commitment remains steadfast to uphold both church and civil statutes as we navigate these proceedings, ensuring respect and fairness in our dealings with every congregation,” Schol wrote in a message to the conference.
Read bishop’s message
UM News: High court orders church-exit suits be dismissed
Alaska Conference
Alaska seeks to rescind petition on its status
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — During a special session Jan. 29, the Alaska Conference voted to rescind its petition to General Conference to become a mission district of the Pacific Northwest Conference. Now, the Alaska Conference’s request to rescind will go before the Committee on Reference, which handles the assignment of petitions at General Conference.
Watch online meeting
PRESS RELEASES
Western North Carolina and North Carolina conferences
Conferences unveil General Conference welcome site
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Western North Carolina and North Carolina conferences have launched an informational website dedicated to enhancing the General Conference experience for those attending the April 23-May 3 gathering. WelcomeToGC.org shares opportunities to serve at the legislative assembly, ways to connect with local churches and tips for navigating Charlotte.
Read press release
Visit site
Wesleyan Impact Partners
United Methodist elder among innovation award winners
AUSTIN, Texas — Wesleyan Impact Partners has announced its five 2024 Locke Innovative Leader Award honorees. This year the organization introduced the Distinguished Locke Innovative Leader Award, recognizing someone who has worked for both local and systemic change. The honoree is the Rev. Kenda Creasy Dean, a United Methodist elder and Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary. Her most recent book is “Innovating for Love: Joining God's Expedition Through Christian Social Innovation.”
Read about Dean and other honorees
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