"What has occurred is simply a rejection by the leadership at Mt. Bethel of the rules and procedures for our church as outlined in the Book of Discipline and amount to an obstruction of the appointment process and polity of The United Methodist Church." — Statement from Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson of the North Georgia Conference.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Conference assumes management of megachurch
MARIETTA, Ga. (UM News) — The North Georgia Conference announced that conference trustees are assuming oversight of the assets of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, the largest-membership congregation in the conference. This move comes amid continued strife over a new pastor's appointment to the church. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Western Pennsylvania Conference
Boat ministry caters to special needs
ERIE, Pa. — At the Lake Ministries, part of the Western Pennsylvania Conference's camping and retreat ministry program, takes people with special needs and their families aboard a converted commercial fishing boat to fish or just cruise on Lake Erie. The Rev. Rob Wilson, the conference director of congregational development and revitalization, started the ministry. Gwen and Clay Kisker report in a video story.
Watch video
North Texas Conference
Churches collaborate on summer Vespers
ARCHER CITY, Texas — Four United Methodist churches in a rural part of the North Texas Conference are holding joint Vespers services this summer. The service moves from church to church, and the preacher is from one of the non-hosting churches. Care was taken to make sure the churches led by men get to hear a woman preacher, and vice versa.
Read story
Michigan Conference
Child hunger fundraising exceeds expectations
LANSING, Mich. — Donations to alleviate child hunger were closing in on $50,000 after the results of the 2021 Virtual 5K Days of Action were tallied. The event couldn't be in one place because of the coronavirus, so participants were encouraged to walk, run or ride wherever they wished. Kay DeMoss reports.
Read story
The Washington Post
United Methodist woman to join Bezos spaceflight
GRAPEVINE, Texas — Wally Funk, 82, who was part of the "Mercury 13" group of women trained by NASA as astronauts and later was the first female National Transportation Safety Board air safety inspector, will join Jeff Bezos aboard Blue Origin's first crewed spaceflight on July 20. She's a member of Fellowship United Methodist Church in Trophy Club, Texas, and also attends nearby White's Chapel United Methodist Church. Taylor Telford reports.
Read story
Read and listen to NPR report on Funk
The Natchez Democrat
Fire claims Louisiana church building
VIDALIA, La. — Vidalia United Methodist Church's building is a total loss from a fire early on July 11. The pastor, the Rev. Steve McDonald, had begun his appointment to the church just the week before. The fire's cause is under investigation. Sabrina Simms Robertson reports.
Read story
Listen to Louisiana Conference podcast with McDonald
RESOURCES
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission
Tips for re-entering the mission field
ATLANTA — United Methodist Volunteers in Mission has developed an instructional video for churches and mission teams that are preparing to re-enter the mission field beyond their local communities. Due to varying COVID-19 protocols in different countries, domestic missions are recommended, but opportunities for international trips are available.
Watch video
Explore United Methodist photos
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — UM News has thousands of images from around the world of The United Methodist Church in action. These images are free to use for United Methodist organizations that provide an identifying credit.
See photos
RECENT HEADLINES
US bishops take on expanded assignments
Bishop Yeakel, caring leader, dies at 93
EVENTS
Monday, Aug. 23-Friday, Sept. 10
Online course: Mentoring Young People in Their Faith
NEWS AND FEATURES
Conference assumes management of megachurch
MARIETTA, Ga. (UM News) — The North Georgia Conference announced that conference trustees are assuming oversight of the assets of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, the largest-membership congregation in the conference. This move comes amid continued strife over a new pastor's appointment to the church. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Western Pennsylvania Conference
Boat ministry caters to special needs
ERIE, Pa. — At the Lake Ministries, part of the Western Pennsylvania Conference's camping and retreat ministry program, takes people with special needs and their families aboard a converted commercial fishing boat to fish or just cruise on Lake Erie. The Rev. Rob Wilson, the conference director of congregational development and revitalization, started the ministry. Gwen and Clay Kisker report in a video story.
Watch video
North Texas Conference
Churches collaborate on summer Vespers
ARCHER CITY, Texas — Four United Methodist churches in a rural part of the North Texas Conference are holding joint Vespers services this summer. The service moves from church to church, and the preacher is from one of the non-hosting churches. Care was taken to make sure the churches led by men get to hear a woman preacher, and vice versa.
Read story
Michigan Conference
Child hunger fundraising exceeds expectations
LANSING, Mich. — Donations to alleviate child hunger were closing in on $50,000 after the results of the 2021 Virtual 5K Days of Action were tallied. The event couldn't be in one place because of the coronavirus, so participants were encouraged to walk, run or ride wherever they wished. Kay DeMoss reports.
Read story
The Washington Post
United Methodist woman to join Bezos spaceflight
GRAPEVINE, Texas — Wally Funk, 82, who was part of the "Mercury 13" group of women trained by NASA as astronauts and later was the first female National Transportation Safety Board air safety inspector, will join Jeff Bezos aboard Blue Origin's first crewed spaceflight on July 20. She's a member of Fellowship United Methodist Church in Trophy Club, Texas, and also attends nearby White's Chapel United Methodist Church. Taylor Telford reports.
Read story
Read and listen to NPR report on Funk
The Natchez Democrat
Fire claims Louisiana church building
VIDALIA, La. — Vidalia United Methodist Church's building is a total loss from a fire early on July 11. The pastor, the Rev. Steve McDonald, had begun his appointment to the church just the week before. The fire's cause is under investigation. Sabrina Simms Robertson reports.
Read story
Listen to Louisiana Conference podcast with McDonald
RESOURCES
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission
Tips for re-entering the mission field
ATLANTA — United Methodist Volunteers in Mission has developed an instructional video for churches and mission teams that are preparing to re-enter the mission field beyond their local communities. Due to varying COVID-19 protocols in different countries, domestic missions are recommended, but opportunities for international trips are available.
Watch video
Explore United Methodist photos
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — UM News has thousands of images from around the world of The United Methodist Church in action. These images are free to use for United Methodist organizations that provide an identifying credit.
See photos
RECENT HEADLINES
US bishops take on expanded assignments
Bishop Yeakel, caring leader, dies at 93
EVENTS
Monday, Aug. 23-Friday, Sept. 10
Online course: Mentoring Young People in Their Faith
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