TODAY’S HEADLINES
Ask The UMC
How are United Methodists present in Ukraine?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodists have congregations and mission partners on the ground in Ukraine, offering hope, support and aid in every way they can. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, has more on the history and state of Methodism in Ukraine and Russia.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Texas Conference
Pastor speaks from experience about Ukraine
PEARLAND, Texas — The Rev. David Goran and his wife, Shannon, spent five years as United Methodist missionaries in western Ukraine, near the border with Poland. The Texas pastor shares his thoughts about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and ways United Methodists can show support for Ukrainians. Lindsay Peyton reports.
Read story
UMC.org
Commitment to ethnic grants continues
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Despite less-than-anticipated donations last year during World Communion Sunday, church officials are bullish on the future of Ethnic-in-Service Training grants. The grants for ethnic leadership development had to be cut last year to $6,000, but even the reduced awards are welcome and useful, recipients say. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
Learn more about World Communion Sunday
The Bitter Southerner
The pastor of Little Mexico
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Carlos Uroza draws on his experience as a Mexican immigrant as he leads churches and does community development in a part of Nashville some call “Little Mexico.” Mikeie Honda Reiland profiles the United Methodist pastor, with photos by Tamara Reynolds.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Wespath Benefits and Investments
Invasion's effect on Wespath funds minimal
GLENVIEW, Ill. — The invasion of Ukraine by Russia will have very little impact on retirement funds managed by Wespath, said Dave Zellner, chief investment officer. "The Wespath funds' exposure to Russia and Ukraine is low, with less than one half of one percent exposure across all of our funds,” Zellner said. Wespath administers benefit plans for United Methodist local churches, annual conferences and other affiliates.
Read press release
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 UM News staff.
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
How to lead when the way is uncertain
BARRIE, Ontario — How do pastors get people to follow in a time of chaos, confusion, division and uncertainty? The Rev. Carey Nieuwhof suggests five practices that can help leaders maintain focus and influence.
Read commentary
EVENTS
Sunday, March 27
UMCOR Sunday
Wednesday, March 30-Thursday, March 31
United Methodist Association of Communicators annual meeting
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
United Methodists in and near Ukraine help refugees
LVIV, Ukraine (UM News) — As Russia’s assault on Ukraine intensifies, United Methodists in and near the besieged country are finding ways to help with the flood of more than 1 million refugees. Urs Schweizer and Sam Hodges report.
Read story
General Conference postponed until 2024
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Citing long waits for visas, organizers have rescheduled General Conference from August this year until 2024. With the United Methodist lawmaking assembly on hold, groups are moving up a planned launch date for a breakaway conservative denomination. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read General Conference commission press release
Read Council of Bishops press release
What preachers can learn from Lean Cuisine
DALLAS (UM News) — Preachers would do well to become students of advertising. That’s the case made by the Rev. O. Wesley Allen Jr. and Carrie La Ferle, faculty members at Southern Methodist University, in their book “Preaching and the Thirty-Second Commercial: Lessons from Advertising for the Pulpit.” Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Pioneers in Methodism: Elizabeth Upham Yates
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Ask The UMC) — Elizabeth Upham Yates was one of the earliest women in the Methodist Episcopal Church to receive a license to preach. She became the first woman to run for high state office following the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. In honor of Women’s History Month, Ask The UMC has more on this “pioneer suffrage worker” who lived to see her dreams come true.
Read story
Addressing COVID-19 misinformation in rural Congo
HAUT-LOMAMI PROVINCE, Congo (UM News) — Nearly 500 North Katanga Conference clergy and lay members met to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ministry and to address misinformation in rural areas. The participants were encouraged to follow safety protocols and share information in their communities. The Rev. Betty Kazadi Musau reports.
Read story
Commentary: Confronting racism as a Lenten focus
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — As a season for atonement and holiness, Lent is a perfect time for addressing the sin of racism. A new small-group study from the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race guides participants in this season’s sacred journey through the lens of confronting racism. “Truth-telling, repentance, confession, recompense and renewal are central to our Christian faith,” writes M. Garlinda Burton.
Read commentary
Ask The UMC
How are United Methodists present in Ukraine?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodists have congregations and mission partners on the ground in Ukraine, offering hope, support and aid in every way they can. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, has more on the history and state of Methodism in Ukraine and Russia.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Texas Conference
Pastor speaks from experience about Ukraine
PEARLAND, Texas — The Rev. David Goran and his wife, Shannon, spent five years as United Methodist missionaries in western Ukraine, near the border with Poland. The Texas pastor shares his thoughts about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and ways United Methodists can show support for Ukrainians. Lindsay Peyton reports.
Read story
UMC.org
Commitment to ethnic grants continues
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Despite less-than-anticipated donations last year during World Communion Sunday, church officials are bullish on the future of Ethnic-in-Service Training grants. The grants for ethnic leadership development had to be cut last year to $6,000, but even the reduced awards are welcome and useful, recipients say. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
Learn more about World Communion Sunday
The Bitter Southerner
The pastor of Little Mexico
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Carlos Uroza draws on his experience as a Mexican immigrant as he leads churches and does community development in a part of Nashville some call “Little Mexico.” Mikeie Honda Reiland profiles the United Methodist pastor, with photos by Tamara Reynolds.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Wespath Benefits and Investments
Invasion's effect on Wespath funds minimal
GLENVIEW, Ill. — The invasion of Ukraine by Russia will have very little impact on retirement funds managed by Wespath, said Dave Zellner, chief investment officer. "The Wespath funds' exposure to Russia and Ukraine is low, with less than one half of one percent exposure across all of our funds,” Zellner said. Wespath administers benefit plans for United Methodist local churches, annual conferences and other affiliates.
Read press release
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 UM News staff.
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
How to lead when the way is uncertain
BARRIE, Ontario — How do pastors get people to follow in a time of chaos, confusion, division and uncertainty? The Rev. Carey Nieuwhof suggests five practices that can help leaders maintain focus and influence.
Read commentary
EVENTS
Sunday, March 27
UMCOR Sunday
Wednesday, March 30-Thursday, March 31
United Methodist Association of Communicators annual meeting
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
United Methodists in and near Ukraine help refugees
LVIV, Ukraine (UM News) — As Russia’s assault on Ukraine intensifies, United Methodists in and near the besieged country are finding ways to help with the flood of more than 1 million refugees. Urs Schweizer and Sam Hodges report.
Read story
General Conference postponed until 2024
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Citing long waits for visas, organizers have rescheduled General Conference from August this year until 2024. With the United Methodist lawmaking assembly on hold, groups are moving up a planned launch date for a breakaway conservative denomination. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read General Conference commission press release
Read Council of Bishops press release
What preachers can learn from Lean Cuisine
DALLAS (UM News) — Preachers would do well to become students of advertising. That’s the case made by the Rev. O. Wesley Allen Jr. and Carrie La Ferle, faculty members at Southern Methodist University, in their book “Preaching and the Thirty-Second Commercial: Lessons from Advertising for the Pulpit.” Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Pioneers in Methodism: Elizabeth Upham Yates
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Ask The UMC) — Elizabeth Upham Yates was one of the earliest women in the Methodist Episcopal Church to receive a license to preach. She became the first woman to run for high state office following the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. In honor of Women’s History Month, Ask The UMC has more on this “pioneer suffrage worker” who lived to see her dreams come true.
Read story
Addressing COVID-19 misinformation in rural Congo
HAUT-LOMAMI PROVINCE, Congo (UM News) — Nearly 500 North Katanga Conference clergy and lay members met to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ministry and to address misinformation in rural areas. The participants were encouraged to follow safety protocols and share information in their communities. The Rev. Betty Kazadi Musau reports.
Read story
Commentary: Confronting racism as a Lenten focus
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — As a season for atonement and holiness, Lent is a perfect time for addressing the sin of racism. A new small-group study from the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race guides participants in this season’s sacred journey through the lens of confronting racism. “Truth-telling, repentance, confession, recompense and renewal are central to our Christian faith,” writes M. Garlinda Burton.
Read commentary
Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.