“White privilege in America has meant the luxury of remaining silent about racism as it literally destroys Black lives. White voices must be lifted up, must learn to speak, must learn to crawl out of our holes and speak for liberty and justice for all.” — The Rev. Rob Spencer, senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in Paris, Texas, on a ceremony of remembrance and apology for a 1920 lynching.
NEWS AND FEATURES
North Texas Conference
Pastor helps tell town’s lynching history
PARIS, Texas — The Rev. Rob Spencer, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Paris, recently participated in a ceremony of remembrance and apology for the 1920 lynching of two Black men in Paris — Herman and Irving Arthur. Family members of the victims came from three states. Spencer has preached about and in other ways tried to raise local awareness of what happened. Matt Jacob reports.
Read story
California Nevada Conference
Bishop says ICE transfers could spread COVID-19
LOS ANGELES — Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño, episcopal leader of the United Methodist California-Nevada Conference, joined 600 other faith leaders in asking California Gov. Gavin Newsom to stop all transfers of people from prisons and jails to Immigration and Customs detention facilities. An interfaith group wrote Newsom expressing concern that funneling immigrants eligible to be released from local and state custody to ICE could spread COVID-19.
Read statement
Read letter
Louisiana Conference
Hurricane-damaged Florida church helps after Laura
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (UM News) — First United Methodist Church in Panama City, still making repairs to Hurricane Michael damage, stepped up in a big way to help United Methodists recovering from Hurricane Laura. Despite obstacles, including a tanker truck spill that closed Interstate 10, the church delivered a 20-foot truck filled with everything from tarps and work gloves to diapers and baby food.
Read story
Holston Conference
Clergy grapple with pause in ordination
ALCOA, Tenn. — When the COVID-19 pandemic closed Holston Conference churches for in-person worship, many of the nine clergy slated for ordination soon realized their much-anticipated ceremony would have to be postponed. Annette Spence writes about the impact of the delay.
Read story
No Daily Digest on Sept. 7
There will be no UM News Daily Digest on Monday, Sept. 7, in observance of Labor Day. The staff at UM News wishes you a safe and enjoyable holiday.
PRESS RELEASES
Council of Bishops
Livestream for Bishop Yambasu’s funeral
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UM News) — The funeral for Sierra Leone Conference Bishop John Yambasu will be livestreamed on Sept. 6. The bishop died in a car accident. The service will be at King Memorial United Methodist Church in Sierra Leone at 10 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time (6 a.m. Eastern Time). A prayer vigil on Sept. 5 at 7 a.m. GMT (3 p.m. Eastern) will also be livestreamed.
Read press release
Watch funeral
Watch prayer vigil
United Methodist Publishing House
Online worship permissions extended to Dec. 31
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Publishing House is extending full permission to all churches for use of its copyrighted worship materials through December 2020. The Publishing House recognizes the need for easy access to key worship aids as the COVID-19 crisis persists and local churches strive to serve their communities.
Read press release
Arkansas Conference
ʽDollars for Scholars’ grants announced
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas has contributed $48,000 in 2020 Dollars for Scholars grants to 48 students attending United Methodist colleges or seminaries. Other sources combine to bring the assistance per student to $4,000.
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.
Dakotas Conference, Higher Education and Ministry
Pandemic is not punishment
MITCHELL, S.D. — The Rev. Randy Maddox, a United Methodist elder and a professor at Duke Divinity School, wants people to know that they shouldn’t view the coronavirus pandemic as a punishment from God for sins. He commented during a recent video webinar on the pandemic held by the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
Watch video
RECENT HEADLINES
Church leads storm recovery in Iowa
Pandemic leads more girls to early marriages
EVENTS
Tuesday, Sept. 8-Friday, Sept. 25
Online class: The 3 Biblical Views of Hell
NEWS AND FEATURES
North Texas Conference
Pastor helps tell town’s lynching history
PARIS, Texas — The Rev. Rob Spencer, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Paris, recently participated in a ceremony of remembrance and apology for the 1920 lynching of two Black men in Paris — Herman and Irving Arthur. Family members of the victims came from three states. Spencer has preached about and in other ways tried to raise local awareness of what happened. Matt Jacob reports.
Read story
California Nevada Conference
Bishop says ICE transfers could spread COVID-19
LOS ANGELES — Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño, episcopal leader of the United Methodist California-Nevada Conference, joined 600 other faith leaders in asking California Gov. Gavin Newsom to stop all transfers of people from prisons and jails to Immigration and Customs detention facilities. An interfaith group wrote Newsom expressing concern that funneling immigrants eligible to be released from local and state custody to ICE could spread COVID-19.
Read statement
Read letter
Louisiana Conference
Hurricane-damaged Florida church helps after Laura
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (UM News) — First United Methodist Church in Panama City, still making repairs to Hurricane Michael damage, stepped up in a big way to help United Methodists recovering from Hurricane Laura. Despite obstacles, including a tanker truck spill that closed Interstate 10, the church delivered a 20-foot truck filled with everything from tarps and work gloves to diapers and baby food.
Read story
Holston Conference
Clergy grapple with pause in ordination
ALCOA, Tenn. — When the COVID-19 pandemic closed Holston Conference churches for in-person worship, many of the nine clergy slated for ordination soon realized their much-anticipated ceremony would have to be postponed. Annette Spence writes about the impact of the delay.
Read story
No Daily Digest on Sept. 7
There will be no UM News Daily Digest on Monday, Sept. 7, in observance of Labor Day. The staff at UM News wishes you a safe and enjoyable holiday.
PRESS RELEASES
Council of Bishops
Livestream for Bishop Yambasu’s funeral
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UM News) — The funeral for Sierra Leone Conference Bishop John Yambasu will be livestreamed on Sept. 6. The bishop died in a car accident. The service will be at King Memorial United Methodist Church in Sierra Leone at 10 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time (6 a.m. Eastern Time). A prayer vigil on Sept. 5 at 7 a.m. GMT (3 p.m. Eastern) will also be livestreamed.
Read press release
Watch funeral
Watch prayer vigil
United Methodist Publishing House
Online worship permissions extended to Dec. 31
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Publishing House is extending full permission to all churches for use of its copyrighted worship materials through December 2020. The Publishing House recognizes the need for easy access to key worship aids as the COVID-19 crisis persists and local churches strive to serve their communities.
Read press release
Arkansas Conference
ʽDollars for Scholars’ grants announced
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas has contributed $48,000 in 2020 Dollars for Scholars grants to 48 students attending United Methodist colleges or seminaries. Other sources combine to bring the assistance per student to $4,000.
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.
Dakotas Conference, Higher Education and Ministry
Pandemic is not punishment
MITCHELL, S.D. — The Rev. Randy Maddox, a United Methodist elder and a professor at Duke Divinity School, wants people to know that they shouldn’t view the coronavirus pandemic as a punishment from God for sins. He commented during a recent video webinar on the pandemic held by the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
Watch video
RECENT HEADLINES
Church leads storm recovery in Iowa
Pandemic leads more girls to early marriages
EVENTS
Tuesday, Sept. 8-Friday, Sept. 25
Online class: The 3 Biblical Views of Hell
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.