“Our greatest responsibility is to create space for God's people to participate and contribute and own this ministry as theirs.” — Tumi Mogodi, operations manager for Africa Upper Room Ministries, on devotional-writing workshops.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
African churchgoers train to write devotionals
NAIROBI, Kenya (UM News) — United Methodists were among interfaith leaders trained to write daily devotions during a two-day writers’ workshop and listening pilgrimage hosted by Africa Upper Room Ministries. The goal is to expand resources and encourage disciple making across the continent. Gad Maiga has the story.
Read story
Global Ministries
Hurricane Dorian recovery continues in Bahamas
ATLANTA — Grant money from the church continues to help Bahamas residents recover from Hurricane Dorian, which struck in 2019. The home of Rochelle Floyd, who lives on Grand Bahama Island, had extensive damage. “In parts of my house, you could look up and see the clouds,” she said. Floyd is getting help through the Methodist Church of the Caribbean and the Americas, a Methodist community in the Bahamas that was in direct contact with the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Christie R. House reports.
Read story
South Carolina Conference
New love for old church
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. — Nancy Platt fell in love with Eccles United Methodist Church the first time she saw it. Now she and other church members are working with preservationists to restore the church’s original structure, built in the early 1880s. Jessica Brodie has the story.
Read story
West Virginia Conference
Student launches healthy meal program
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — When she started volunteering at the Upshur Parish House three years ago, Caroline Fulks, a West Virginia Wesleyan College senior and member of Bridgeport United Methodist Church, saw a need for healthy meal options in the food pantry. Thanks to a grant from the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, Fulks helped start a pilot project that will provide recipes with all ingredients needed, including herbs and spices. West Virginia Conference staff have the story.
Read story
5 NBCDFW
Texas church vandalized again
McKINNEY, Texas — Ethnic slurs and swastikas were recently spray-painted on the exterior of Stonebridge United Methodist Church, about an hour north of Dallas. It’s the second incident of vandalism against the church this summer. McKinney Mayor George Fuller met with the church’s pastor, the Rev. Jeff Lust, and denounced the vandalism. McKinney police are investigating. Meredith Yeomans reports.
Read story and watch video
No Daily Digest Monday
There will be no UM News Daily Digest on Sept. 5 in observance of the U.S. Labor Day holiday. The digest will return on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
PRESS RELEASES
North Alabama Conference
Historic church gets $1 million for preservation
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The National Park Service has awarded $1 million in grants for the preservation of historic St. Paul United Methodist Church. St. Paul was a scene of important civil rights movement meetings in the 1950s and ’60s, and among its pastors was the Rev. Joseph Lowery, one of the movement’s key leaders. The church is part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.
Read press release
Read about Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
Status and Role of Women
Deacon to lead training, resource development
CHICAGO — The Rev. Meg Lassiat has joined the United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women as the director of resource development and training. Lassiat previously collaborated with the agency on the creation of the Do No More Harm resource for United Methodists in responding to sexual misconduct. An ordained deacon and member of the Indiana Conference, Lassiat most recently served as the assistant general secretary for ordained ministry at the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
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 UM News staff.
Kedging our way toward a hopeful future
OCALA, Fla. (UM News) — New followers of Jesus, and those who describe being previously harmed by the church, are finding a spiritual home in Methodist “fresh expressions of church.” The Rev. Dr. Michael Adam Beck shares stories of these innovative ministries and encourages other faith communities to consider them the future of the church.
Read commentary
UM News: Ministry on the river celebrates 15 years
EVENTS
Sunday, Oct. 2
World Communion Sunday
Saturday, Oct. 22-Monday, Oct. 24
All People Conference
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
Bishops call for rejecting ‘idolatry of guns’
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — To address the crisis of gun violence in the U.S. and around the world, bishops are urging United Methodists to raise their prayers and contact their elected leaders. The Council of Bishops released a letter to the wider church Sept. 1. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read Council of Bishops letter (PDF)
Read press release
Ask The UMC
Tackling disaffiliation questions
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In the third installment of the “Is The United Methodist Church Really…?” series, Ask The UMC addresses questions related to the future of the church and disaffiliation, including the recent Judicial Council ruling on what the Book of Discipline allows. These include recurring questions that reflect misperceptions or misinformation that some congregations are receiving as they discern their next steps.
Read story
Read Part 1 on theology and pensions
Read Part 2 on human sexuality
Bishops plan for the election of new colleagues
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist Council of Bishops concluded its meeting preparing to welcome new episcopal leaders early next year. The new bishops will be coming aboard as the denomination deals with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and undergoes a fracturing unseen in any current United Methodist’s lifetime. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Commentary: Church must address property issues
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (UM News) — For the environment, underused United Methodist Church buildings are “a growing disaster,” and churches and conferences should be assessing their impacts. The Rev. Dr. Thomas Edward Frank and Rick Reinhard write that the most significant step The United Methodist Church could take to reduce its carbon footprint would be to reuse or redevelop its underused real estate.
Read commentary
Ask The UMC
Does the church support workers' rights?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — From the beginning, the Methodist movement has focused particular attention on the concerns of workers. Justice, dignity and equality for workers are an integral part of The United Methodist Church’s social teachings and heritage. Ahead of Labor Day in the U.S., Ask The UMC explores the church’s stance on workers’ rights.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Mississippi Conference
United Methodists reach out amid water crisis
JACKSON, Miss. — About 180,000 residents of Mississippi’s capital city are struggling to have clean drinking water, and some do not have water at all. United Methodists of Mississippi are rallying around their neighbors, and the United Methodist Committee on Relief has approved a $10,000 grant. The Rev. Vickie White writes about what the church is doing and how others can help.
Read story
United Methodist Communications
Resource aims to help church conversations
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A new resource from United Methodist Communications aims to help congregations learn more about the shared beliefs, history, mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church. “We are the church. Together” is a slide presentation that aids leaders in answering members’ questions and walking their church through what it means to be United Methodist.
Read press release
Download ‘We are the church. Together’
Young people needed for church study
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Communications Research Team is still looking for 15- to 22-year-olds to participate in a three-day online discussion board. United Methodist youth from the U.S. will be asked about their spiritual journey, values, goals, desires and more. The study offers a $150 incentive.
To register
TODAY’S HEADLINES
African churchgoers train to write devotionals
NAIROBI, Kenya (UM News) — United Methodists were among interfaith leaders trained to write daily devotions during a two-day writers’ workshop and listening pilgrimage hosted by Africa Upper Room Ministries. The goal is to expand resources and encourage disciple making across the continent. Gad Maiga has the story.
Read story
Global Ministries
Hurricane Dorian recovery continues in Bahamas
ATLANTA — Grant money from the church continues to help Bahamas residents recover from Hurricane Dorian, which struck in 2019. The home of Rochelle Floyd, who lives on Grand Bahama Island, had extensive damage. “In parts of my house, you could look up and see the clouds,” she said. Floyd is getting help through the Methodist Church of the Caribbean and the Americas, a Methodist community in the Bahamas that was in direct contact with the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Christie R. House reports.
Read story
South Carolina Conference
New love for old church
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. — Nancy Platt fell in love with Eccles United Methodist Church the first time she saw it. Now she and other church members are working with preservationists to restore the church’s original structure, built in the early 1880s. Jessica Brodie has the story.
Read story
West Virginia Conference
Student launches healthy meal program
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — When she started volunteering at the Upshur Parish House three years ago, Caroline Fulks, a West Virginia Wesleyan College senior and member of Bridgeport United Methodist Church, saw a need for healthy meal options in the food pantry. Thanks to a grant from the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, Fulks helped start a pilot project that will provide recipes with all ingredients needed, including herbs and spices. West Virginia Conference staff have the story.
Read story
5 NBCDFW
Texas church vandalized again
McKINNEY, Texas — Ethnic slurs and swastikas were recently spray-painted on the exterior of Stonebridge United Methodist Church, about an hour north of Dallas. It’s the second incident of vandalism against the church this summer. McKinney Mayor George Fuller met with the church’s pastor, the Rev. Jeff Lust, and denounced the vandalism. McKinney police are investigating. Meredith Yeomans reports.
Read story and watch video
No Daily Digest Monday
There will be no UM News Daily Digest on Sept. 5 in observance of the U.S. Labor Day holiday. The digest will return on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
PRESS RELEASES
North Alabama Conference
Historic church gets $1 million for preservation
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The National Park Service has awarded $1 million in grants for the preservation of historic St. Paul United Methodist Church. St. Paul was a scene of important civil rights movement meetings in the 1950s and ’60s, and among its pastors was the Rev. Joseph Lowery, one of the movement’s key leaders. The church is part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.
Read press release
Read about Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
Status and Role of Women
Deacon to lead training, resource development
CHICAGO — The Rev. Meg Lassiat has joined the United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women as the director of resource development and training. Lassiat previously collaborated with the agency on the creation of the Do No More Harm resource for United Methodists in responding to sexual misconduct. An ordained deacon and member of the Indiana Conference, Lassiat most recently served as the assistant general secretary for ordained ministry at the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
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 UM News staff.
Kedging our way toward a hopeful future
OCALA, Fla. (UM News) — New followers of Jesus, and those who describe being previously harmed by the church, are finding a spiritual home in Methodist “fresh expressions of church.” The Rev. Dr. Michael Adam Beck shares stories of these innovative ministries and encourages other faith communities to consider them the future of the church.
Read commentary
UM News: Ministry on the river celebrates 15 years
EVENTS
Sunday, Oct. 2
World Communion Sunday
Saturday, Oct. 22-Monday, Oct. 24
All People Conference
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
Bishops call for rejecting ‘idolatry of guns’
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — To address the crisis of gun violence in the U.S. and around the world, bishops are urging United Methodists to raise their prayers and contact their elected leaders. The Council of Bishops released a letter to the wider church Sept. 1. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read Council of Bishops letter (PDF)
Read press release
Ask The UMC
Tackling disaffiliation questions
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In the third installment of the “Is The United Methodist Church Really…?” series, Ask The UMC addresses questions related to the future of the church and disaffiliation, including the recent Judicial Council ruling on what the Book of Discipline allows. These include recurring questions that reflect misperceptions or misinformation that some congregations are receiving as they discern their next steps.
Read story
Read Part 1 on theology and pensions
Read Part 2 on human sexuality
Bishops plan for the election of new colleagues
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist Council of Bishops concluded its meeting preparing to welcome new episcopal leaders early next year. The new bishops will be coming aboard as the denomination deals with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and undergoes a fracturing unseen in any current United Methodist’s lifetime. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Commentary: Church must address property issues
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (UM News) — For the environment, underused United Methodist Church buildings are “a growing disaster,” and churches and conferences should be assessing their impacts. The Rev. Dr. Thomas Edward Frank and Rick Reinhard write that the most significant step The United Methodist Church could take to reduce its carbon footprint would be to reuse or redevelop its underused real estate.
Read commentary
Ask The UMC
Does the church support workers' rights?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — From the beginning, the Methodist movement has focused particular attention on the concerns of workers. Justice, dignity and equality for workers are an integral part of The United Methodist Church’s social teachings and heritage. Ahead of Labor Day in the U.S., Ask The UMC explores the church’s stance on workers’ rights.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Mississippi Conference
United Methodists reach out amid water crisis
JACKSON, Miss. — About 180,000 residents of Mississippi’s capital city are struggling to have clean drinking water, and some do not have water at all. United Methodists of Mississippi are rallying around their neighbors, and the United Methodist Committee on Relief has approved a $10,000 grant. The Rev. Vickie White writes about what the church is doing and how others can help.
Read story
United Methodist Communications
Resource aims to help church conversations
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A new resource from United Methodist Communications aims to help congregations learn more about the shared beliefs, history, mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church. “We are the church. Together” is a slide presentation that aids leaders in answering members’ questions and walking their church through what it means to be United Methodist.
Read press release
Download ‘We are the church. Together’
Young people needed for church study
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Communications Research Team is still looking for 15- to 22-year-olds to participate in a three-day online discussion board. United Methodist youth from the U.S. will be asked about their spiritual journey, values, goals, desires and more. The study offers a $150 incentive.
To register
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