“It seemed to me, a lot of the church response to climate change has been sort of sentimental piety about, ‘Each of us needs to recycle.’” — Retired Bishop Will Willimon on preaching about the environment.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Preaching can highlight climate crisis
St. PAUL, Minn. (UM News) — The Festival of Homiletics featured several United Methodists speaking on this year’s theme, “Preaching a New Earth: Climate and Creation.” Former Georgia state legislator Stacey Abrams said that environmental activism is part of “the eternal human struggle to do right by others.” Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
Festival of Homiletics website
National Council of Churches
NCC calls Floyd death ‘an outrage’
WASHINGTON — The National Council of Churches USA expressed outrage at the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died when a Minneapolis police officer pinned him down with a knee on Floyd’s neck. “This incident adds to a string of occurrences in the last few weeks and too many incidents to count in the U.S. over hundreds of years, where racism and bias coupled with policing are a lethal combination for black people,” the council said. The United Methodist Church is a member of the National Council of Churches.
Read statement
Michigan Conference
Great Lakes Bay area getting help after flood
LANSING, Mich. — On May 30, Michigan Conference disaster response teams will deploy volunteers to join flood relief efforts in the Great Lakes Bay area. Faith United Methodist Church will serve as the home base for these volunteers. Kay DeMoss has the story.
Read story
Discipleship Ministries
Redefining church life amid COVID-19
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — While churches in Africa, Europe and the Philippines have been connecting with church members through technology during the global pandemic, challenges remain for people living in rural areas. Several United Methodist leaders from the central conferences talk about ways they are reaching out during the COVID-19 crisis. Mighty Rasing has the story.
Read story and watch videos
PRESS RELEASES
Status and Role of Women
Women’s leadership summit postponed
CHICAGO — The 2020 Women’s Leadership Summit, originally scheduled for Aug. 13-15 at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, has been rescheduled for October as a virtual summit, the United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women announced. The commission is working with the seminary to determine new dates.
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 the UM News staff.
From children’s song to church anthem
SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas (UM News) — “We Are the Church” is a song for Pentecost, yet the popular hymn almost didn’t make it into the latest version of The United Methodist Hymnal. Mary Brooke Casad writes about the debate over the hymn.
Read commentary
United Methodist Communications
Experiencing Pentecost alone together
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The 2020 Pentecost will be different because of the coronavirus. The Rev. Joe Iovino of United Methodist Communications reflects on how the Book of Acts sheds light on celebrating Pentecost on Zoom, Facebook and other online mediums.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Churches practice caution before reopening
COVID-19 fund grants help fill the gaps
EVENTS
Monday, June 1-Friday, June 12
Online class: Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition
NEWS AND FEATURES
Preaching can highlight climate crisis
St. PAUL, Minn. (UM News) — The Festival of Homiletics featured several United Methodists speaking on this year’s theme, “Preaching a New Earth: Climate and Creation.” Former Georgia state legislator Stacey Abrams said that environmental activism is part of “the eternal human struggle to do right by others.” Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
Festival of Homiletics website
National Council of Churches
NCC calls Floyd death ‘an outrage’
WASHINGTON — The National Council of Churches USA expressed outrage at the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died when a Minneapolis police officer pinned him down with a knee on Floyd’s neck. “This incident adds to a string of occurrences in the last few weeks and too many incidents to count in the U.S. over hundreds of years, where racism and bias coupled with policing are a lethal combination for black people,” the council said. The United Methodist Church is a member of the National Council of Churches.
Read statement
Michigan Conference
Great Lakes Bay area getting help after flood
LANSING, Mich. — On May 30, Michigan Conference disaster response teams will deploy volunteers to join flood relief efforts in the Great Lakes Bay area. Faith United Methodist Church will serve as the home base for these volunteers. Kay DeMoss has the story.
Read story
Discipleship Ministries
Redefining church life amid COVID-19
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — While churches in Africa, Europe and the Philippines have been connecting with church members through technology during the global pandemic, challenges remain for people living in rural areas. Several United Methodist leaders from the central conferences talk about ways they are reaching out during the COVID-19 crisis. Mighty Rasing has the story.
Read story and watch videos
PRESS RELEASES
Status and Role of Women
Women’s leadership summit postponed
CHICAGO — The 2020 Women’s Leadership Summit, originally scheduled for Aug. 13-15 at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, has been rescheduled for October as a virtual summit, the United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women announced. The commission is working with the seminary to determine new dates.
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 the UM News staff.
From children’s song to church anthem
SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas (UM News) — “We Are the Church” is a song for Pentecost, yet the popular hymn almost didn’t make it into the latest version of The United Methodist Hymnal. Mary Brooke Casad writes about the debate over the hymn.
Read commentary
United Methodist Communications
Experiencing Pentecost alone together
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The 2020 Pentecost will be different because of the coronavirus. The Rev. Joe Iovino of United Methodist Communications reflects on how the Book of Acts sheds light on celebrating Pentecost on Zoom, Facebook and other online mediums.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Churches practice caution before reopening
COVID-19 fund grants help fill the gaps
EVENTS
Monday, June 1-Friday, June 12
Online class: Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition
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.