“It’s a very painful process. It feels like the death of a loved one in a lot of ways.” — Missouri Conference Bishop Bob Farr on restarting churches.
NEWS AND FEATURES
The difficult process of church restarts
WINTER PARK, Fla. (UM News) — A church that is fast losing attendance has two choices, according to a church restart expert. It can become a “hospice church” until there are no members left, or take dramatic steps to recruit new, younger members. Aloma United Methodist Church is taking the latter approach, putting its property on the market and doing services starting March 15 in the Geek Easy, a bar. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
United Methodist caregivers reflect on Ebola
BUKAVU, Congo (UM News) — Doctors and nurses at United Methodist hospitals gathered to reflect on the Ebola epidemic and look for ways to make prevention efforts more effective. The meeting came as the 18-month outbreak showed signs of slowing and fears about coronavirus mounted. Philippe Kituka Lolonga reports.
Read story
Michigan Conference
Watch special session on protocol petition
ALBION, Mich. — The Michigan Conference plans to vote March 7 on whether to forward to the 2020 General Conference legislation for the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation, a proposal for separating The United Methodist Church. The session will be livestreamed on the conference’s Facebook page.
Learn more
Watch livestream
North Texas Conference
Finding common ground with refugee kids
DALLAS — Each year, Lori Cousino has her fourth-grade class at Wesley Prep do a “common ground experiment,” where they get to know people outside their community. This year, the students befriended refugee children and collaborated on making an inspirational book. And the Wesley students, whose school is part of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, wrote the Texas governor, protesting his decision to keep the st ate out of the refugee resettlement program.
Read story
Arkansas Conference
Church to host garden for veterans
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Thanks to a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, Amboy United Methodist Church will be home to a new community garden specifically developed for the betterment of veterans who live in the area. “Because this project involved both food and veterans, I jumped on it,” said the Rev. Candace Barron, pastor at Amboy and an Army veteran. Caleb Hennington has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Wesley Theological Seminary
$1 million grant aims to help local churches
WASHINGTON — Wesley Theological Seminary has received $1 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. for its Thriving Congregations Initiative. Wesley will use the funds to empower United Methodist congregations who are “ready and eager to take the next faithful step towards vitality,” said the Rev. Beth Ludlum, project leader.
Read press release
Commission on General Conference
Public health awareness at GC2020
MINNEAPOLIS — The Commission on the General Conference’s executive committee is monitoring developments in the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and will collaborate with public health authorities regarding any recommended health and safety precautions to reduce exposure to or transmission of the virus when the 2020 General Conference meets May 5-15.
Read press release
RECENT HEADLINES
Tennessee tornadoes take lives, damage churches
Pre-GC2020 briefing videos and presentations
EVENTS
Sunday, March 22
UMCOR Sunday
NEWS AND FEATURES
The difficult process of church restarts
WINTER PARK, Fla. (UM News) — A church that is fast losing attendance has two choices, according to a church restart expert. It can become a “hospice church” until there are no members left, or take dramatic steps to recruit new, younger members. Aloma United Methodist Church is taking the latter approach, putting its property on the market and doing services starting March 15 in the Geek Easy, a bar. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
United Methodist caregivers reflect on Ebola
BUKAVU, Congo (UM News) — Doctors and nurses at United Methodist hospitals gathered to reflect on the Ebola epidemic and look for ways to make prevention efforts more effective. The meeting came as the 18-month outbreak showed signs of slowing and fears about coronavirus mounted. Philippe Kituka Lolonga reports.
Read story
Michigan Conference
Watch special session on protocol petition
ALBION, Mich. — The Michigan Conference plans to vote March 7 on whether to forward to the 2020 General Conference legislation for the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation, a proposal for separating The United Methodist Church. The session will be livestreamed on the conference’s Facebook page.
Learn more
Watch livestream
North Texas Conference
Finding common ground with refugee kids
DALLAS — Each year, Lori Cousino has her fourth-grade class at Wesley Prep do a “common ground experiment,” where they get to know people outside their community. This year, the students befriended refugee children and collaborated on making an inspirational book. And the Wesley students, whose school is part of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, wrote the Texas governor, protesting his decision to keep the st ate out of the refugee resettlement program.
Read story
Arkansas Conference
Church to host garden for veterans
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Thanks to a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, Amboy United Methodist Church will be home to a new community garden specifically developed for the betterment of veterans who live in the area. “Because this project involved both food and veterans, I jumped on it,” said the Rev. Candace Barron, pastor at Amboy and an Army veteran. Caleb Hennington has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Wesley Theological Seminary
$1 million grant aims to help local churches
WASHINGTON — Wesley Theological Seminary has received $1 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. for its Thriving Congregations Initiative. Wesley will use the funds to empower United Methodist congregations who are “ready and eager to take the next faithful step towards vitality,” said the Rev. Beth Ludlum, project leader.
Read press release
Commission on General Conference
Public health awareness at GC2020
MINNEAPOLIS — The Commission on the General Conference’s executive committee is monitoring developments in the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and will collaborate with public health authorities regarding any recommended health and safety precautions to reduce exposure to or transmission of the virus when the 2020 General Conference meets May 5-15.
Read press release
RECENT HEADLINES
Tennessee tornadoes take lives, damage churches
Pre-GC2020 briefing videos and presentations
EVENTS
Sunday, March 22
UMCOR Sunday
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