TODAY’S HEADLINES
Ask The UMC
Addressing anti-Asian racism
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Racism against Asian and Pacific Islander peoples is a long-standing and ongoing reality in the United States. United Methodists can address the issue by being aware of the ignorance, stereotypes and misconceptions about people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and working actively to minimize their effects on conversations, assumptions, behaviors and ministries, writes Ask The UMC.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Baltimore-Washington Conference, Kansas City Star
Church leaders call for tighter gun safety laws
WASHINGTON — United Methodist Bishop LaTrelle Easterling joined Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde at an event at the National Cathedral to call for elected officials “to find a balance between the constitutional right to bear arms and the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” On the same day, United Methodist pastors the Revs. Emanuel Cleaver III and Adam Hamilton joined other Kansas City area clergy in calling for universal background checks on gun sales. Melissa Lauber reports.
Read conference story
Read Kansas City Star story
WKYC-NBC, WEWS-ABC
Displays honor school shooting victims
BEREA, Ohio — Multiple churches across the Cleveland area are paying tribute to the 19 children and two adults killed in Uvalde, Texas, with displays of empty chairs on their lawns. Participating churches include United Methodist Church of Berea, Church of the Saviour United Methodist Church in Cleveland Heights and Macedonia United Methodist Church. WKYC interviewed the Rev. Carrie Antczak, associate pastor of the Berea congregation, credited with the idea. WEWS shows images of multiple displays.
Watch WKYC video
Read WEWS story
North Georgia Conference
Conference mourns pastor killed while trying to help
ATLANTA — North Georgia United Methodists mourn the death of the Rev. Marita Harrell, a beloved clergywoman whose life was tragically taken. “It is a blow to our clergy family, especially since it appears she died at the hand of one she was helping,” Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson wrote in an email to conference clergy. Sybil Davidson reports.
Read story
UM News: Police make arrest in pastor’s slaying
Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe
United Methodist aid for Ukrainians continues
ZURICH — United Methodist faith communities in Romania, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary continue to aid Ukrainian refugees and send supplies into Ukraine as the Russian invasion continues. Karel Nyerges, director of Diakonia United Methodist Church in the Czech Republic, said people there are safe but still struggling. “Even though they have a place to live, they are constantly dealing with internal insecurity, anxiety and fear,” he writes. Urs Schweizer has an update.
Read report (PDF)
Missouri Conference
Church addresses hate crime on property
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Earlier this month, someone defaced Pitts Chapel United Methodist Church with a black swastika. There is an open investigation into the hate crime. Leaders of Springfield’s oldest historically African American church in a collaboration with the Springfield chapter of the NAACP held a press conference May 27 to make people aware of this act of hate in their own backyard. Fred Koenig reports.
Read story
No Daily Digest May 30
There will be no UM News Daily Digest on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30. The digest will return on May 31. The staff at UM News wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday weekend.
PRESS RELEASES
Council of Bishops
Jurisdictional conferences set for November
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Council of Bishops has formally set the dates for jurisdictional conferences as Nov. 2-5. The Judicial Council, the denomination’s top court, ruled in Decision 1445 that jurisdictional conferences could elect and assign new bishops this year. The Council of Bishops also asked for clarification on two questions related to the ruling.
Read press release
UM News: Ruling opens door for bishop elections in 2022
EVENTS
Sunday, June 5-Wednesday, June 8
Holston Annual Conference
Monday, June 6-Wednesday, June 8
Kentucky Annual Conference
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Grieving, praying after attack on school
UVALDE, Texas (UM News) — United Methodists are stepping up to provide prayer and support after a shooting at an elementary school that took the lives of at least 19 children and two teachers. Council of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton is urging laity and clergy to “go on the offense” to stop mass shootings. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read Council of Bishops press release
Recent rulings shape annual conference season
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — As U.S. annual conference season gets underway, the church regional bodies are dealing with recent decisions by The United Methodist Church’s top court about disaffiliations. The Judicial Council has ruled that under current church law, individual churches can leave but whole conferences cannot. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Greater Nhiwatiwa shares faith journey in new book
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Despite being denied an education as a girl, Greater Taremeredzwa Nhiwatiwa went on to become a nurse and a leader in The United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe in her role as an African bishop’s spouse. She shares reflections on her life and faith journey in a new book. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.
Read story
Grants enrich outreach in East Africa
BUGEMBE, Uganda (UM News) — A United Methodist women’s training center, theological college and district motorcycle project have revved up their offerings thanks to a collaboration between UMC Ministries and Harper Hill Global. Together, they raised $13,000 to assist projects in the Uganda-South Sudan Conference. Gad Maiga has the story.
Read story
United Women in Faith
Women ‘Turn It Up’ at Assembly 2022
ORLANDO, Fla. — More than 3,000 gathered at the Orange County Convention Center and online for United Women in Faith’s Assembly 2022, held May 20-22. The event celebrating the work of the women’s organization included speakers, workshops, town halls, worship and the consecration of deaconesses and home missioners. Tara Barnes, Jessica Brodie and Mary Beth Coudal report.
Read story
See more photos
60 consecrated at women’s event
Workshops offer soul care, hope for future
Commentary: Pandemic not over
BOISE, Idaho (UM News) — The COVID-19 pandemic is fading from America’s attention, but the battle is far from over, says Dr. David Boan, a missions team leader at Cathedral of the Rockies. “Its consequences will continue for decades, especially among the most vulnerable children,” he writes. “The church can and must continue to engage in this struggle.”
Read commentary
Ask The UMC
Addressing anti-Asian racism
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Racism against Asian and Pacific Islander peoples is a long-standing and ongoing reality in the United States. United Methodists can address the issue by being aware of the ignorance, stereotypes and misconceptions about people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and working actively to minimize their effects on conversations, assumptions, behaviors and ministries, writes Ask The UMC.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Baltimore-Washington Conference, Kansas City Star
Church leaders call for tighter gun safety laws
WASHINGTON — United Methodist Bishop LaTrelle Easterling joined Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde at an event at the National Cathedral to call for elected officials “to find a balance between the constitutional right to bear arms and the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” On the same day, United Methodist pastors the Revs. Emanuel Cleaver III and Adam Hamilton joined other Kansas City area clergy in calling for universal background checks on gun sales. Melissa Lauber reports.
Read conference story
Read Kansas City Star story
WKYC-NBC, WEWS-ABC
Displays honor school shooting victims
BEREA, Ohio — Multiple churches across the Cleveland area are paying tribute to the 19 children and two adults killed in Uvalde, Texas, with displays of empty chairs on their lawns. Participating churches include United Methodist Church of Berea, Church of the Saviour United Methodist Church in Cleveland Heights and Macedonia United Methodist Church. WKYC interviewed the Rev. Carrie Antczak, associate pastor of the Berea congregation, credited with the idea. WEWS shows images of multiple displays.
Watch WKYC video
Read WEWS story
North Georgia Conference
Conference mourns pastor killed while trying to help
ATLANTA — North Georgia United Methodists mourn the death of the Rev. Marita Harrell, a beloved clergywoman whose life was tragically taken. “It is a blow to our clergy family, especially since it appears she died at the hand of one she was helping,” Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson wrote in an email to conference clergy. Sybil Davidson reports.
Read story
UM News: Police make arrest in pastor’s slaying
Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe
United Methodist aid for Ukrainians continues
ZURICH — United Methodist faith communities in Romania, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary continue to aid Ukrainian refugees and send supplies into Ukraine as the Russian invasion continues. Karel Nyerges, director of Diakonia United Methodist Church in the Czech Republic, said people there are safe but still struggling. “Even though they have a place to live, they are constantly dealing with internal insecurity, anxiety and fear,” he writes. Urs Schweizer has an update.
Read report (PDF)
Missouri Conference
Church addresses hate crime on property
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Earlier this month, someone defaced Pitts Chapel United Methodist Church with a black swastika. There is an open investigation into the hate crime. Leaders of Springfield’s oldest historically African American church in a collaboration with the Springfield chapter of the NAACP held a press conference May 27 to make people aware of this act of hate in their own backyard. Fred Koenig reports.
Read story
No Daily Digest May 30
There will be no UM News Daily Digest on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30. The digest will return on May 31. The staff at UM News wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday weekend.
PRESS RELEASES
Council of Bishops
Jurisdictional conferences set for November
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Council of Bishops has formally set the dates for jurisdictional conferences as Nov. 2-5. The Judicial Council, the denomination’s top court, ruled in Decision 1445 that jurisdictional conferences could elect and assign new bishops this year. The Council of Bishops also asked for clarification on two questions related to the ruling.
Read press release
UM News: Ruling opens door for bishop elections in 2022
EVENTS
Sunday, June 5-Wednesday, June 8
Holston Annual Conference
Monday, June 6-Wednesday, June 8
Kentucky Annual Conference
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Grieving, praying after attack on school
UVALDE, Texas (UM News) — United Methodists are stepping up to provide prayer and support after a shooting at an elementary school that took the lives of at least 19 children and two teachers. Council of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton is urging laity and clergy to “go on the offense” to stop mass shootings. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read Council of Bishops press release
Recent rulings shape annual conference season
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — As U.S. annual conference season gets underway, the church regional bodies are dealing with recent decisions by The United Methodist Church’s top court about disaffiliations. The Judicial Council has ruled that under current church law, individual churches can leave but whole conferences cannot. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Greater Nhiwatiwa shares faith journey in new book
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Despite being denied an education as a girl, Greater Taremeredzwa Nhiwatiwa went on to become a nurse and a leader in The United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe in her role as an African bishop’s spouse. She shares reflections on her life and faith journey in a new book. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.
Read story
Grants enrich outreach in East Africa
BUGEMBE, Uganda (UM News) — A United Methodist women’s training center, theological college and district motorcycle project have revved up their offerings thanks to a collaboration between UMC Ministries and Harper Hill Global. Together, they raised $13,000 to assist projects in the Uganda-South Sudan Conference. Gad Maiga has the story.
Read story
United Women in Faith
Women ‘Turn It Up’ at Assembly 2022
ORLANDO, Fla. — More than 3,000 gathered at the Orange County Convention Center and online for United Women in Faith’s Assembly 2022, held May 20-22. The event celebrating the work of the women’s organization included speakers, workshops, town halls, worship and the consecration of deaconesses and home missioners. Tara Barnes, Jessica Brodie and Mary Beth Coudal report.
Read story
See more photos
60 consecrated at women’s event
Workshops offer soul care, hope for future
Commentary: Pandemic not over
BOISE, Idaho (UM News) — The COVID-19 pandemic is fading from America’s attention, but the battle is far from over, says Dr. David Boan, a missions team leader at Cathedral of the Rockies. “Its consequences will continue for decades, especially among the most vulnerable children,” he writes. “The church can and must continue to engage in this struggle.”
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.