|
UM News Digest - April 8, 2026
|
“When we eat with those who cannot repay us, we experience the kingdom of God on Earth.” — The Rev. Inhwa Son, Black River Falls United Methodist Church.
|
|
Members of Black River Falls United Methodist and community guests enjoy “Dinner Church” on March 18 at the rural Wisconsin church. Photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.
|
Church finds new life around dinner table
BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. (UM News) — A small-town United Methodist church in rural Wisconsin is embracing community outreach by serving meals, building relationships and redefining what it means to be church. Black River Falls United Methodist Church recently celebrated the second anniversary of its “Dinner Church” ministry, which serves more than 200 meals each week. The Rev. Thomas E. Kim has the story. |
|
Lufula Charlotte smiles as she receives her training certificate from United Methodist Bishop Antoine Kalema Tambwe during a ceremony in Kindu, Congo. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News.
|
Pastors’ wives help strengthen ministry
KINDU, Congo (UM News) — The East Congo Episcopal Area has provided training to help wives of United Methodist clergy become leaders and drive community development in rural areas. Bishop Antoine Kalema Tambwe said the women play an essential role in the life of Christian communities. Judith Osongo Yanga reports.
Read story |
|
|
|
Minnesota Conference
Spring brings outdoor worship
MINNEAPOLIS — As winter weather subsides, some churches take to the outdoors for worship. George Whitefield, a friend and colleague of Methodism founder John Wesley, started preaching outside when he found himself banned from many churches. After a visit, the initially skeptical Wesley took to outdoor preaching as well. Reid Baumann has more about the history of outdoor worship and how Minnesota churches are reaching new people outside church walls.
Read story
Dakotas Conference
25 years of Wonderful Wednesdays
MANDAN, N.D. — For more than 25 years, Mandan United Methodist Church has ministered to children from kindergarten to fifth grade with its Wonderful Wednesday program. Students from five Mandan elementary schools get together for snacks, games, crafts and learning. Rebecca G. Trefz has the story.
Read story |
|
|
|
Finance and Administration
New top executive commits to listen
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Caitlin Congdon, the new top executive of the General Council on Finance and Administration, offers a video introduction as she begins leading the denomination’s finance agency. “As I begin this new role, my first priority is not to make immediate changes for the sake of change,” she said. “My priority is to listen, to learn and to engage in meaningful conversations with the leaders, partners and communities we serve across the connection.”
Watch video
UM News: Kumar looks back at helming finance agency
South Georgia Conference, WGXA-TV
Woman charged with embezzling church funds
MACON, Ga. — The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Tiffany Watson, a former church administrator, on charges of fraudulently stealing over $500,000 from Riverside United Methodist Church. In October 2025, the South Georgia Conference made the difficult decision to close the church and childcare center. The conference said in a statement that the decision was made even more difficult by the fact that it could not share details with the congregation due to the pending investigation around multiple utility and mortgage payments that went unpaid. “May we join together in prayer for all who have been affected by this situation, and may we continue to seek God’s grace and wisdom as we move forward in faith,” the statement said.
Read conference statement (PDF)
Read WGXA story and watch video |
|
|
Scarritt Bennett Center
Retreat center unveils historical marker
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Scarritt Bennett Center invites the community to the unveiling of its new historical marker at 11 a.m. U.S. Central time April 10. The Centennial Marker, granted by the Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County, celebrates the move of Scarritt College for Christian Workers from Kansas City, Missouri, to Nashville in 1924. The college eventually became the Scarritt Bennett Center, which United Women in Faith established in 1988.
See invitation
See campus’ history
Watch video on Belle Harris Bennett, Scarritt Bennett’s co-founder |
|
|
|
|
|
Wespath
Info on clergy renewal leaves
GLENVIEW, Ill. — Clergy and ministry leaders can get information on the availability of clergy renewal leave during an online conversation at 1 p.m. U.S. Central time April 29. Kelly Wittich of Wespath Benefits and Investments and Greg Pimlott, author of “Pastoral Pause: A Practical Guide to Renewal Leave,” will be the presenters.
Learn more and register |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Photo courtesy of Solar Oven Partners
|
|
Solar oven ministry changes lives
|
|
|
Photo by John W. Coleman, UM News
|
|
Black caucus wrestles with immigration injustice
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United Methodist News is sent by United Methodist Communications
810 12th Ave. S. Nashville, TN 37203-4704
Email: newsdesk@umcom.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
