“The thing that struck me was diversity. There were Africans, Pacific Islanders, just about every ethnicity you could imagine and it just occurred to me, this must be what the kingdom of God is like in heaven.” — Joe Scheller, member of First United Methodist Church in Salt Lake City.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Small Utah church welcomes homeless, loves diversity
SALT LAKE CITY (UMNS) — First United Methodist Church hands out grace each Sunday with cups of coffee and plates of eggs for homeless men and women. The small church with a big heart also supports global missions and is home to a diverse congregation. Kathy L. Gilbert has the story and Kathleen Barry has photos.
Read story
Historic organ sets tone for Utah church
SALT LAKE CITY (UMNS) — First United Methodist Church almost seems like a tale of two churches. One is full of history and music centered on a restored pipe organ. The other is about the diversity and hospitality a downtown church can offer a large city. Kathy L. Gilbert reports and Kathleen Barry has photos.
Read story
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Churches respond during government shutdown
WASHINGTON — As the partial U.S. government shutdown continues into its third week, the impact is being felt in people’s pocketbooks. Churches throughout the Baltimore-Washington Conference are responding to federal employees and other people hurting because of the shutdown. Erik Alsgaard reports.
Read story
Texas Conference
Avoiding clergy burnout
HOUSTON — At age 40, the Rev. Steve Wende hit a wall in his ministry, experiencing out-of-control stress that was harming him physically. In retirement, he advises pastors on how to avoid burnout. Sherri Gragg has the story.
Read story
Florida Conference
Florida church helps teens become leaders
LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. — Teens learn to be leaders at Developing Youth Leaders, a program sponsored by Harvest United Methodist Church in Bradenton, Florida. The faith-based program won a $2,500 Alice W. Lockmiller Christian education grant administered by the Florida United Methodist Foundation. Michelle Bearden has the story.
Read story
Greater New Jersey Conference
Church’s modest shoe project surpasses expectations
COKESBURY, N.J. — More than 3,600 pairs of shoes will go to Haiti, Honduras, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and elsewhere after being collected at Cokesbury United Methodist Church. Soles4Souls, a nonprofit enterprise that has distributed more than 30 million pairs of shoes, collaborated with the church on the project. Paul Kiltsch reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Higher Education and Ministry
Academic exchange set between U.S., Japan
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Students and faculty at United Methodist colleges and universities in the United States and Japan will soon have new opportunities for shared research and cultural exchange. Those opportunities are thanks to a formal agreement between the National Association of Schools and Colleges of The United Methodist Church and Aoyama Gakuin University, a Methodist-related institution in Tokyo.
Read press release
COMMENTARIES
‘Cooperation without compromise’ in a conflicted church
ELSAH, Ill. (UMNS) — Even though the One Church Plan doesn’t require clergy to officiate at a same-sex marriage, many clergy may find they cannot be part of a denomination that blesses behaviors "incompatible with Christian teaching," writes a retired Navy chaplain. Just as chaplains must know their ethical boundaries, clergy may resign their membership in a church they no longer ethically can serve, even at great emotional and financial cost, said the Rev. Bob Phillips.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Hospital reaches out to Sierra Leone's poorest
Delegation chairs look toward General Conference
EVENTS
Friday, Jan. 18
Indigenous Peoples March
NEWS AND FEATURES
Small Utah church welcomes homeless, loves diversity
SALT LAKE CITY (UMNS) — First United Methodist Church hands out grace each Sunday with cups of coffee and plates of eggs for homeless men and women. The small church with a big heart also supports global missions and is home to a diverse congregation. Kathy L. Gilbert has the story and Kathleen Barry has photos.
Read story
Historic organ sets tone for Utah church
SALT LAKE CITY (UMNS) — First United Methodist Church almost seems like a tale of two churches. One is full of history and music centered on a restored pipe organ. The other is about the diversity and hospitality a downtown church can offer a large city. Kathy L. Gilbert reports and Kathleen Barry has photos.
Read story
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Churches respond during government shutdown
WASHINGTON — As the partial U.S. government shutdown continues into its third week, the impact is being felt in people’s pocketbooks. Churches throughout the Baltimore-Washington Conference are responding to federal employees and other people hurting because of the shutdown. Erik Alsgaard reports.
Read story
Texas Conference
Avoiding clergy burnout
HOUSTON — At age 40, the Rev. Steve Wende hit a wall in his ministry, experiencing out-of-control stress that was harming him physically. In retirement, he advises pastors on how to avoid burnout. Sherri Gragg has the story.
Read story
Florida Conference
Florida church helps teens become leaders
LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. — Teens learn to be leaders at Developing Youth Leaders, a program sponsored by Harvest United Methodist Church in Bradenton, Florida. The faith-based program won a $2,500 Alice W. Lockmiller Christian education grant administered by the Florida United Methodist Foundation. Michelle Bearden has the story.
Read story
Greater New Jersey Conference
Church’s modest shoe project surpasses expectations
COKESBURY, N.J. — More than 3,600 pairs of shoes will go to Haiti, Honduras, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and elsewhere after being collected at Cokesbury United Methodist Church. Soles4Souls, a nonprofit enterprise that has distributed more than 30 million pairs of shoes, collaborated with the church on the project. Paul Kiltsch reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Higher Education and Ministry
Academic exchange set between U.S., Japan
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Students and faculty at United Methodist colleges and universities in the United States and Japan will soon have new opportunities for shared research and cultural exchange. Those opportunities are thanks to a formal agreement between the National Association of Schools and Colleges of The United Methodist Church and Aoyama Gakuin University, a Methodist-related institution in Tokyo.
Read press release
COMMENTARIES
‘Cooperation without compromise’ in a conflicted church
ELSAH, Ill. (UMNS) — Even though the One Church Plan doesn’t require clergy to officiate at a same-sex marriage, many clergy may find they cannot be part of a denomination that blesses behaviors "incompatible with Christian teaching," writes a retired Navy chaplain. Just as chaplains must know their ethical boundaries, clergy may resign their membership in a church they no longer ethically can serve, even at great emotional and financial cost, said the Rev. Bob Phillips.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Hospital reaches out to Sierra Leone's poorest
Delegation chairs look toward General Conference
EVENTS
Friday, Jan. 18
Indigenous Peoples March
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