“The idea that we welcome the stranger, the foreigner, is key to how we expand the reign of God.” — The Rev. Jack Amick of the United Methodist Committee on Relief, on the need to help with resettling Afghan refugees.
NEWS AND FEATURES
United Methodists pitch in with Afghan resettlement
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (UM News) — With the recent tumultuous end of the 20-year Afghan war, tens of thousands of Afghans are arriving in the U.S., and United Methodists are part of the massive effort to help them make a fresh start. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
COVID-19 vaccination named missional priority
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Connectional Table, which acts as a church council for the denomination, declared that addressing COVID-19 vaccine inequities is a United Methodist “missional priority.” The leadership body hopes the church will target the disease with the same organized zeal as it has malaria and Ebola. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Louisiana Conference
Messages of hope after the storm
BATON ROUGE, La. — The Rev. Todd Rossnagel, host of the Louisiana Conference’s Louisiana NOW podcast, is asking United Methodists around the world to share messages of hope in the wake of Hurricane Ida, which slammed the state earlier this week and left millions without power. “Just a brief word of hope from so many people would do so much to help restore hope,” Rossnagel said via email. He plans to collect the messages for a future podcast. Those who want to leave a message can call 504-507-1542.
Learn more about podcast
UM News: Hurricane Ida takes out church buildings
Eastern Pennsylvania, Greater New Jersey, New York conferences
Bishops respond after Ida pummels Northeast
NORRISTOWN, Pa. — After the remnants of Ida brought flooding and tornadoes to the U.S. Northeast, Bishop John Schol said the United Methodist Committee on Relief reached out to ask what was needed. For now, he said, church leaders are still assessing damage in the Greater New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania conferences. Bishop Thomas Bickerton said the New York Conference reported no significant damage to church structures, but the storm has displaced people from their homes.
Read story
Read Bishop Schol’s letter
Mississippi Conference, Gulfside Assembly
Ida spares Mississippi, retreat center
WAVELAND, Miss. — Even as Hurricane Ida did tremendous damage in Louisiana and the U.S. Northeast, Mississippi was largely spared the worst. The Mississippi Conference has 5,000 cleaning buckets ready for neighboring Louisiana when needed. Gulfside Assembly, a historic United Methodist retreat center that needed to be rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina, also made it through with minimal damage. Because of COVID-19, many of the assembly’s activities are currently online. A webinar on the history of African Americans and professional development is still scheduled for 11 a.m. U.S. Central time Sept. 11.
Read Mississippi Conference disaster update
Learn more about Gulfside Assembly
Register for webinar
United Methodist Men
Committee recommends delaying Scouting charters
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — At an Aug. 26 meeting of the Scouting Committee of the Commission on United Methodist Men, attendees were informed that bishops and conference chancellors are advising local churches not to renew their charters with Boy Scouts of America units beyond Dec. 31. There are concerns that local churches may still have a risk of liability for damages in the BSA settlements of charges of sexual misconduct, and this delay gives denominational leaders time to work out an agreement with the organization.
Read story
UM News: BSA bankruptcy concerns church leaders
New 2021 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2021 annual conference reports. New this week are the Arkansas, Indiana, New Mexico and Western North Carolina conferences.
Read reports
No Daily Digest Friday or Monday
There will be no UM News Daily Digest on Sept. 3 and Sept. 6, in observance of Labor Day. The staff at UM News wishes you a safe and enjoyable holiday. The digest will return on Sept. 7.
PRESS RELEASES
World Council of Churches
Urging US to reconsider North Korean sanctions
GENEVA — In a Sept. 1 letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, the World Council of Churches acting general secretary appealed for reconsideration on sanctions against North Korea. “While we share many of the concerns upon which these sanctions are based, they have failed to resolve those concerns,” writes the Rev. Ioan Sauca.
Read letter
RESOURCES
Hendrix College
‘Dismantling Racism’ event at Hendrix
CONWAY, Ark. — United Methodist-related Hendrix College is offering a program titled “Dismantling Racism: Embracing a New Tomorrow,” featuring alumnus, writer and filmmaker Douglas A. Blackmon. The free event will be Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. U.S. Central time and can be attended in person or remotely. Registration is required.
To register
RECENT HEADLINES
Circuit-to-circuit partnership enhances mobility for pastor
Funding for bishops improves but still shaky
EVENTS
Thursday, Sept. 30-Saturday, Oct. 2
Resilience: Healing Practices for Mind, Body and Spirit
NEWS AND FEATURES
United Methodists pitch in with Afghan resettlement
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (UM News) — With the recent tumultuous end of the 20-year Afghan war, tens of thousands of Afghans are arriving in the U.S., and United Methodists are part of the massive effort to help them make a fresh start. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
COVID-19 vaccination named missional priority
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Connectional Table, which acts as a church council for the denomination, declared that addressing COVID-19 vaccine inequities is a United Methodist “missional priority.” The leadership body hopes the church will target the disease with the same organized zeal as it has malaria and Ebola. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Louisiana Conference
Messages of hope after the storm
BATON ROUGE, La. — The Rev. Todd Rossnagel, host of the Louisiana Conference’s Louisiana NOW podcast, is asking United Methodists around the world to share messages of hope in the wake of Hurricane Ida, which slammed the state earlier this week and left millions without power. “Just a brief word of hope from so many people would do so much to help restore hope,” Rossnagel said via email. He plans to collect the messages for a future podcast. Those who want to leave a message can call 504-507-1542.
Learn more about podcast
UM News: Hurricane Ida takes out church buildings
Eastern Pennsylvania, Greater New Jersey, New York conferences
Bishops respond after Ida pummels Northeast
NORRISTOWN, Pa. — After the remnants of Ida brought flooding and tornadoes to the U.S. Northeast, Bishop John Schol said the United Methodist Committee on Relief reached out to ask what was needed. For now, he said, church leaders are still assessing damage in the Greater New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania conferences. Bishop Thomas Bickerton said the New York Conference reported no significant damage to church structures, but the storm has displaced people from their homes.
Read story
Read Bishop Schol’s letter
Mississippi Conference, Gulfside Assembly
Ida spares Mississippi, retreat center
WAVELAND, Miss. — Even as Hurricane Ida did tremendous damage in Louisiana and the U.S. Northeast, Mississippi was largely spared the worst. The Mississippi Conference has 5,000 cleaning buckets ready for neighboring Louisiana when needed. Gulfside Assembly, a historic United Methodist retreat center that needed to be rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina, also made it through with minimal damage. Because of COVID-19, many of the assembly’s activities are currently online. A webinar on the history of African Americans and professional development is still scheduled for 11 a.m. U.S. Central time Sept. 11.
Read Mississippi Conference disaster update
Learn more about Gulfside Assembly
Register for webinar
United Methodist Men
Committee recommends delaying Scouting charters
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — At an Aug. 26 meeting of the Scouting Committee of the Commission on United Methodist Men, attendees were informed that bishops and conference chancellors are advising local churches not to renew their charters with Boy Scouts of America units beyond Dec. 31. There are concerns that local churches may still have a risk of liability for damages in the BSA settlements of charges of sexual misconduct, and this delay gives denominational leaders time to work out an agreement with the organization.
Read story
UM News: BSA bankruptcy concerns church leaders
New 2021 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2021 annual conference reports. New this week are the Arkansas, Indiana, New Mexico and Western North Carolina conferences.
Read reports
No Daily Digest Friday or Monday
There will be no UM News Daily Digest on Sept. 3 and Sept. 6, in observance of Labor Day. The staff at UM News wishes you a safe and enjoyable holiday. The digest will return on Sept. 7.
PRESS RELEASES
World Council of Churches
Urging US to reconsider North Korean sanctions
GENEVA — In a Sept. 1 letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, the World Council of Churches acting general secretary appealed for reconsideration on sanctions against North Korea. “While we share many of the concerns upon which these sanctions are based, they have failed to resolve those concerns,” writes the Rev. Ioan Sauca.
Read letter
RESOURCES
Hendrix College
‘Dismantling Racism’ event at Hendrix
CONWAY, Ark. — United Methodist-related Hendrix College is offering a program titled “Dismantling Racism: Embracing a New Tomorrow,” featuring alumnus, writer and filmmaker Douglas A. Blackmon. The free event will be Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. U.S. Central time and can be attended in person or remotely. Registration is required.
To register
RECENT HEADLINES
Circuit-to-circuit partnership enhances mobility for pastor
Funding for bishops improves but still shaky
EVENTS
Thursday, Sept. 30-Saturday, Oct. 2
Resilience: Healing Practices for Mind, Body and Spirit
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.