“You just wanted to be around him because of his positivity, his intellect, commitment to quality, his warm smile and his love for God and the church.” — Bishop John Schol, talking about the Rev. Charles Yrigoyen Jr.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Charles Yrigoyen remembered as pastor and scholar
LANCASTER, Pa. (UM News) — The Rev. Charles Yrigoyen Jr., a leading United Methodist historian, oversaw the denomination’s Commission on Archives and History for nearly 24 years. Friends and fellow scholars remember him for making Methodism’s story accessible from the academy to the pews. He died May 9 at age 84. Heather Hahn reports.
Read obituary
Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe
Shift in relief efforts for Ukraine
ZURICH — A move from emergency aid to long-term support sums up the current phase of United Methodist efforts for Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced persons. But United Methodist faith communities in Romania, Poland and Hungary continue to send supplies into Ukraine as the Russian invasion continues. Urs Schweizer has an update.
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 UM News staff.
Where do Korean Americans stand?
LEXINGTON, Mass. (UM News) — Asian Americans often confront implicit bias in questions like, “Where are you really from?” Susan Sungsil Kim, a member of the Racial Justice Charter Support Team of United Women in Faith and co-chair of the Korean Ministry Plan Racial Justice Task Force, has crafted responses to such questions that stand up for her rights while also providing an educational opportunity to those who ask.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
World Council of Churches
Webinar explores racial justice landscape
OKLAHOMA CITY — A World Council of Churches webinar, which will be held on the two-year anniversary of the killing of George Floyd, will explore how the racial justice landscape has evolved, particularly in the United States and the United Nations. The webinar is set for 8:30 a.m. U.S. Central time May 25. The Rev. Chebon Kernell of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference is moderator. Bishop Elizabeth Eaton of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Rev. Leah Gunning Francis, a seminary dean and United Methodist, are among the speakers.
Learn more
To register
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Worship resources commemorate 1 million COVID deaths
WASHINGTON — As the U.S. marks a grim milestone in the pandemic, the Wellness and Missions Board of the Baltimore-Washington Conference is offering a resource for local churches looking to commemorate personal stories of loss and suffering in worship and other devotional settings. The resource page commemorating 1 million COVID-19 deaths includes litanies, prayers and photo reflections.
View resource
United Methodist Communications
5 ways to overcome anxiety
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Take a one-minute break for self-care and learn five ways to overcome anxiety when feeling fearful or stressed. United Methodist Communications offers a guided space to pause and find the road back to peace.
Watch video
EVENTS
Tuesday, May 24
Webinar: “Raise Up Your Voice Against Racism”
Friday, May 27
Webinar: "A Faithful Response to the War in Ukraine"
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
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
Read press release: Council of Bishops welcomes decision
Traditionalist group not going away
AVON, Ind. (UM News) — The Wesleyan Covenant Association took the lead in creating the new Global Methodist Church, but WCA leaders say their organization needs to stick around and advocate for congregations wanting to leave The United Methodist Church. Sam Hodges reports on the WCA’s Global Gathering.
Read story
Association of Korean Churches discerns its future
DALLAS (UM News) — In the first in-person annual gathering of the Association of Korean Churches in The United Methodist Church, several panelists questioned whether the church’s membership decline could be attributed to a lack of spiritual renewal and its long-standing conflict over homosexuality. The Rev. Thomas Kim reports.
Read story
Ask The UMC
Celebrating Rev. Zenro Hirota's life and legacy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Zenro Hirota was a pioneer among Japanese American Methodists, serving for 45 years in the California Conference in a variety of settings. He persevered in spreading the Gospel despite many obstacles, including the destruction of his church, discrimination and spending several years in a detention camp during World War II.
Read story
Read about other Pioneers in Methodism
Commentary: Let’s love our neighbors
DALLAS (UM News) — Growing up in a traditionalist church but now on staff at a reconciling congregation, Kendra Weddle feels there is room at the table for everyone. Weddle, scholar-in-residence at Northaven Church, writes, “As Christians, in the midst of this uncertainty and pain, we have the benefit of finding in the gospels witness to how Jesus lived in tumultuous times.”
Read commentary
Council of Bishops
Bishops seek clarification from church court
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Council of Bishops is requesting a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council on the meaning and application of Paragraph 2548.2 in the Book of Discipline. The paragraph deals with the deeding of church property to another denomination. Council of Bishops President Thomas Bickerton describes the paragraph as ambiguous.
Read press release
Read Paragraph 2548.2
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Charles Yrigoyen remembered as pastor and scholar
LANCASTER, Pa. (UM News) — The Rev. Charles Yrigoyen Jr., a leading United Methodist historian, oversaw the denomination’s Commission on Archives and History for nearly 24 years. Friends and fellow scholars remember him for making Methodism’s story accessible from the academy to the pews. He died May 9 at age 84. Heather Hahn reports.
Read obituary
Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe
Shift in relief efforts for Ukraine
ZURICH — A move from emergency aid to long-term support sums up the current phase of United Methodist efforts for Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced persons. But United Methodist faith communities in Romania, Poland and Hungary continue to send supplies into Ukraine as the Russian invasion continues. Urs Schweizer has an update.
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 UM News staff.
Where do Korean Americans stand?
LEXINGTON, Mass. (UM News) — Asian Americans often confront implicit bias in questions like, “Where are you really from?” Susan Sungsil Kim, a member of the Racial Justice Charter Support Team of United Women in Faith and co-chair of the Korean Ministry Plan Racial Justice Task Force, has crafted responses to such questions that stand up for her rights while also providing an educational opportunity to those who ask.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
World Council of Churches
Webinar explores racial justice landscape
OKLAHOMA CITY — A World Council of Churches webinar, which will be held on the two-year anniversary of the killing of George Floyd, will explore how the racial justice landscape has evolved, particularly in the United States and the United Nations. The webinar is set for 8:30 a.m. U.S. Central time May 25. The Rev. Chebon Kernell of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference is moderator. Bishop Elizabeth Eaton of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Rev. Leah Gunning Francis, a seminary dean and United Methodist, are among the speakers.
Learn more
To register
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Worship resources commemorate 1 million COVID deaths
WASHINGTON — As the U.S. marks a grim milestone in the pandemic, the Wellness and Missions Board of the Baltimore-Washington Conference is offering a resource for local churches looking to commemorate personal stories of loss and suffering in worship and other devotional settings. The resource page commemorating 1 million COVID-19 deaths includes litanies, prayers and photo reflections.
View resource
United Methodist Communications
5 ways to overcome anxiety
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Take a one-minute break for self-care and learn five ways to overcome anxiety when feeling fearful or stressed. United Methodist Communications offers a guided space to pause and find the road back to peace.
Watch video
EVENTS
Tuesday, May 24
Webinar: “Raise Up Your Voice Against Racism”
Friday, May 27
Webinar: "A Faithful Response to the War in Ukraine"
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
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
Read press release: Council of Bishops welcomes decision
Traditionalist group not going away
AVON, Ind. (UM News) — The Wesleyan Covenant Association took the lead in creating the new Global Methodist Church, but WCA leaders say their organization needs to stick around and advocate for congregations wanting to leave The United Methodist Church. Sam Hodges reports on the WCA’s Global Gathering.
Read story
Association of Korean Churches discerns its future
DALLAS (UM News) — In the first in-person annual gathering of the Association of Korean Churches in The United Methodist Church, several panelists questioned whether the church’s membership decline could be attributed to a lack of spiritual renewal and its long-standing conflict over homosexuality. The Rev. Thomas Kim reports.
Read story
Ask The UMC
Celebrating Rev. Zenro Hirota's life and legacy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Zenro Hirota was a pioneer among Japanese American Methodists, serving for 45 years in the California Conference in a variety of settings. He persevered in spreading the Gospel despite many obstacles, including the destruction of his church, discrimination and spending several years in a detention camp during World War II.
Read story
Read about other Pioneers in Methodism
Commentary: Let’s love our neighbors
DALLAS (UM News) — Growing up in a traditionalist church but now on staff at a reconciling congregation, Kendra Weddle feels there is room at the table for everyone. Weddle, scholar-in-residence at Northaven Church, writes, “As Christians, in the midst of this uncertainty and pain, we have the benefit of finding in the gospels witness to how Jesus lived in tumultuous times.”
Read commentary
Council of Bishops
Bishops seek clarification from church court
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Council of Bishops is requesting a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council on the meaning and application of Paragraph 2548.2 in the Book of Discipline. The paragraph deals with the deeding of church property to another denomination. Council of Bishops President Thomas Bickerton describes the paragraph as ambiguous.
Read press release
Read Paragraph 2548.2
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