"I think we're entering into a world of hurt coming up over the next several years." — The Rev. Anthony Tang, General Council on Finance and Administration board member.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Potential split leads to deep budget cuts
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist finance agency's board narrowly approved reductions to an already slashed denominational budget. The result would be the smallest budget since 1988. Heather Hahn reports.
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Houston megachurch pastor pleads guilty
HOUSTON (UM News) — The longtime pastor of The United Methodist Church’s largest congregation has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in what authorities called a multimillion-dollar investment scheme. The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, of Houston's 18,000-member Windsor Village United Methodist Church, entered his plea March 11 in federal court in Shreveport, Louisiana. Sam Hodges reports.
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Preaching the Gospel in busy marketplace
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Within the hustle and bustle of the Tichagarika Shopping Center, lives are being transformed through midday prayer meetings. "Lunch-hour ministry for market traders is a game changer for our connectional ministries," said the Rev. Vienna Mutezo. The Rev. Taurai Emmanuel Maforo has the story.
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United Methodist Men
UM Men mull future
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The upcoming 2020 General Conference was on the mind of participants at United Methodist Men's March 5-8 National Association of Conference Presidents meeting. With looming budget cuts and a potential denominational split, the group discussed plans on how to weather the financial impact to its ministry, as well as how to continue to minister to any new expression of Methodism that may arise. The Rev. Richard Peck reports.
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PRESS RELEASES
Council of Bishops
Top court asked to look at protocol legislation
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Council of Bishops has asked the denomination's highest court, the Judicial Council, to decide whether the legislation implementing the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation is constitutional.
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UM News: Sierra Leone Conference approves protocol
Arkansas Conference
Conference cancels all events due to coronavirus
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.— The Arkansas Conference announced March 11 that all upcoming events are cancelled until further notice because of the coronavirus. The conference said the action was prompt by the World Health Organization designating COVID-19 as a global pandemic and the confirmation of a coronavirus case in Arkansas.
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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.
Michigan Conference
Church, land returned to Saginaw Chippewa Tribe
STANDISH, Mich. — The two acres of the now-closed Saganing Indian Mission United Methodist Church along with its buildings were returned to the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe in a "Gratification Exchange" ceremony last month. The Rev. Benton Heisler, director of connectional ministry, attended and shares his impressions of the event.
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Discipleship Ministries
A prayer for the denomination
DALLAS — The Rev. Mark W. Stamm, professor of Christian worship at Perkins School of Theology, has written a prayer for The United Methodist Church as it faces troubling questions about its future, including the possible departure of many traditionalist congregations. Stamm, a third-generation Methodist elder, shared with Discipleship Ministries how he came to write the prayer and background on the form he chose.
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RECENT HEADLINES
Adjusting to coronavirus threat
In a time of crisis, reassurance without fear
EVENTS
Monday, March 16-Friday, May 1
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