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UM News Digest - Dec. 12, 2025
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“When I saw the first opportunity to get involved with special-needs ministries, I did not imagine what God would do with it. And now it’s blossomed into, ‘This is who we are.’ We are the church that is including all people.” — The Rev. Cori Conran on Faith Community Church, a United Methodist congregation in Coopersville, Michigan.
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Volunteer Kalvin Davis helps a family select a tree from the artificial “tree farm” at Faith Community Church of Coopersville, Michigan, a United Methodist congregation. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.
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Artificial tree farm welcomes kids with special needs
COOPERSVILLE, Mich. (UM News) — Having a child with sensory issues, allergies or a physical disability can limit a family’s activities during the Christmas season. But Faith Community Church is making sure no child is left out through its inclusive holiday experiences. The United Methodist congregation’s sensory- and ability-friendly artificial tree farm brings joy to families with special needs. Lilla Marigza has the story. |
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Edward L. Massaquoi broadcasts on ELUM, The United Methodist Church's radio station in Monrovia, Liberia, in 2017. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.
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Broadcast network marks decade of amplifying Gospel
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — The United Methodist Broadcast Network is celebrating a decade of sharing the denomination’s messages and reaching thousands of people in Africa and the Philippines. More than 40 communicators gathered last month to mark the network’s 10th anniversary and share new developments and hopes for the future. Eveline Chikwanah reports.
Read story
Watch video on network’s history and impact |
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Alabama-West Florida Conference
Church celebrates record-breaking generosity
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — First United Methodist Church Montgomery is celebrating an extraordinary response to its annual Gift Hope event, a Christmas-time initiative that invites people to give meaningful gifts supporting local nonprofits. This year’s celebration drew the largest crowd in Gift Hope history. Shoppers contributed more than $20,700 to partner nonprofits, an unprecedented start to the 2025 season of giving. Mary Catherine Phillips has the story.
Read story
Virginia Conference
Church delighted to be on ‘Tacky Light Tour’
CHESTERFIELD, Va. — Woodlake United Methodist Church celebrates its inclusion on the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s Tacky Light Tour. To be included, a display must have a minimum of 40,000 lights. The Virginia Conference has a video explaining why the church wanted to make the “tacky” list.
Watch video
Kentucky Conference
Bishop urges prayer after university shooting
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Bishop David Graves invites United Methodists to join him in prayer after a shooting at Kentucky State University left a student dead and another critically injured. He also commended the KSU Wesley Foundation and campus ministries across the state for providing prayers, comfort and hope to students, staff and faculty. Graves leads the Kentucky, Tennessee-Kentucky and Central Appalachian Missionary conferences.
Read bishop’s statement |
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Boston University
With grant, seminary starts church network
BOSTON — A new Boston University School of Theology initiative seeks to help churches across New England share resources and feel more connected. The New Wineskins Network, funded with a $1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow initiative, will create small groups of church leaders, with support from students, staff and faculty, to address contemporary challenges facing congregations and their local communities. Steve Holt has a Q&A with leaders of the United Methodist seminary about the new effort.
Read Q&A |
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United Women in Faith
Calling for action after disasters
NEW YORK — United Women in Faith is mourning the devastating impacts of Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka and a preventable fire in Hong Kong. Ilka Vega, the organization’s executive for Economic and Environmental Justice, said the disasters are reminders that frontline communities, and particularly women and children, are disproportionately affected by climate change. “As these communities mourn and move toward recovery, we urge world leaders to take action,” Vega said in a statement.
Read statement
Higher Education Foundation
Foundation names new president
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation’s board has named the Rev. Cara Stultz Costello as its new president and chief executive officer, effective Jan. 1. She will assume the permanent role following an interim tenure that began in September.
Read press release |
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| UM News includes in the 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. |
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
Connect with people through Christmas cookies
WASHINGTON — Laura Heikes shares a Christmas outreach idea that can involve an entire congregation and extend an invitation to worship that is warm, inviting and yummy. Best of all, she writes, the cookie outreach can help a congregation get to know its community and bring a little sweetness to the season.
Read commentary |
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Church addresses historic injustice to Indigenous neighbors
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Photo by Kristine Helliesen
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Øyvind Helliesen mourned as ‘sage’ amid tumult
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United Methodist News is sent by United Methodist Communications
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