“Absent General Conference legislation, any vote and actions taken by an annual conference to separate are unconstitutional, null and void, and of no legal force or effect.” — Judicial Council’s Decision 1444.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Church court: Conferences can’t exit unilaterally
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Judicial Council, The United Methodist Church’s top court, ruled that current church law does not allow annual conferences in the U.S. to withdraw from the denomination. The ruling answers questions from the United Methodist bishops, who are dealing with the ramifications of a splintering denomination. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Press release: Council of Bishops welcomes decision
South Carolina Conference
University students lead eye clinic in Ecuador
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Students from the Methodist Student Network — the United Methodist campus ministry at the University of South Carolina — have served more than 10,000 people though their mobile optometry clinic run with a supporting optometrist. The group recently traveled to Ecuador to work with the Evangelical Methodist Church. The South Carolina United Methodist Advocate has the story.
Read story
Wiley College, CBS News
Anonymous donor pays tab for graduates
MARSHALL, Texas — Wiley College’s 2022 graduates received their degrees and a surprise with the announcement that an anonymous donor had paid off their student debt. Wiley is one of the 11 historically Black colleges and universities supported by The United Methodist Church’s Black College Fund. The gift will cover the estimated $300,000 owed to the college by the graduating class.
Read story
Read press release
United Methodist Communications
Holistic evangelism and salvation
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In the latest episode of the Compass Podcast, the Rev. Mark Teasdale discusses adopting a healthy understanding of the Christian ideas of evangelism and salvation, based on his latest book, “Participating in Abundant Life.”
Listen to podcast
Iowa Conference
Corner Store helps feed community
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Cultivate Hope Corner Store is open in a neighborhood that lacks other affordable, nutritious food sources. The store, which opened April 27, offers organics, meat, dairy, produce and dry goods, and it also has some free products. It is operated by Matthew 25, which is devoted to empowering people to rebuild and renew their neighborhoods.
Read story
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.
Holston Conference
Misplaced wallet leads to friendship, mourning
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — When Leigh Ann accidentally dropped her wallet in the parking lot, that was the beginning of a new friendship. Annette Spence recalls how her new friend became a volunteer preparing and serving free drive-thru meals at Norwood United Methodist Church. Spence also grieves her friend’s death from a brain tumor.
Read remembrance
Watch United Methodist Communications video on food ministry
Wespath
Pensions agency staying nimble
GLENVIEW, Ill. — Questions abound about the future of pensions in The United Methodist Church after the launch of the Global Methodist Church on May 1. Andy Hendren, top executive at Wespath Benefits and Investments, offers some answers in a new blog post.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Traditionalist group not going away
Ask The UMC: What should congregations know about disaffiliation?
EVENTS
Monday, May 23-Friday, May 27
2022 Carolinas Black Clergy Leadership Retreat
NEWS AND FEATURES
Church court: Conferences can’t exit unilaterally
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Judicial Council, The United Methodist Church’s top court, ruled that current church law does not allow annual conferences in the U.S. to withdraw from the denomination. The ruling answers questions from the United Methodist bishops, who are dealing with the ramifications of a splintering denomination. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Press release: Council of Bishops welcomes decision
South Carolina Conference
University students lead eye clinic in Ecuador
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Students from the Methodist Student Network — the United Methodist campus ministry at the University of South Carolina — have served more than 10,000 people though their mobile optometry clinic run with a supporting optometrist. The group recently traveled to Ecuador to work with the Evangelical Methodist Church. The South Carolina United Methodist Advocate has the story.
Read story
Wiley College, CBS News
Anonymous donor pays tab for graduates
MARSHALL, Texas — Wiley College’s 2022 graduates received their degrees and a surprise with the announcement that an anonymous donor had paid off their student debt. Wiley is one of the 11 historically Black colleges and universities supported by The United Methodist Church’s Black College Fund. The gift will cover the estimated $300,000 owed to the college by the graduating class.
Read story
Read press release
United Methodist Communications
Holistic evangelism and salvation
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In the latest episode of the Compass Podcast, the Rev. Mark Teasdale discusses adopting a healthy understanding of the Christian ideas of evangelism and salvation, based on his latest book, “Participating in Abundant Life.”
Listen to podcast
Iowa Conference
Corner Store helps feed community
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Cultivate Hope Corner Store is open in a neighborhood that lacks other affordable, nutritious food sources. The store, which opened April 27, offers organics, meat, dairy, produce and dry goods, and it also has some free products. It is operated by Matthew 25, which is devoted to empowering people to rebuild and renew their neighborhoods.
Read story
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.
Holston Conference
Misplaced wallet leads to friendship, mourning
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — When Leigh Ann accidentally dropped her wallet in the parking lot, that was the beginning of a new friendship. Annette Spence recalls how her new friend became a volunteer preparing and serving free drive-thru meals at Norwood United Methodist Church. Spence also grieves her friend’s death from a brain tumor.
Read remembrance
Watch United Methodist Communications video on food ministry
Wespath
Pensions agency staying nimble
GLENVIEW, Ill. — Questions abound about the future of pensions in The United Methodist Church after the launch of the Global Methodist Church on May 1. Andy Hendren, top executive at Wespath Benefits and Investments, offers some answers in a new blog post.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Traditionalist group not going away
Ask The UMC: What should congregations know about disaffiliation?
EVENTS
Monday, May 23-Friday, May 27
2022 Carolinas Black Clergy Leadership Retreat
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