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UM News Digest - Feb. 21, 2025
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“I am convinced that many here are ready to accept Jesus Christ and that the Gospel must be preached in every corner of this island.” — The Rev. Éric Kalumba, a United Methodist missionary serving in Madagascar.
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The Rev. Éric Kalumba greets a church member after worship at Ambodifasika United Methodist Church in Ambodifasika, Madagascar. Photo by Esdras Rakotoarivony, UM News.
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Missionary strives to grow church in Madagascar
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (UM News) — The Rev. Éric Kalumba set foot in Madagascar last year, accompanied by his wife and four of their children. The United Methodist missionary’s assignment? Spread the Gospel and establish new United Methodist churches across the island nation. Esdras Rakotoarivony has the story. |
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Property dispute spurs incident at church seminary
BAMBUR, Nigeria — The property dispute between The United Methodist Church in Nigeria and the breakaway Global Methodist Church has escalated with an incident at United Methodist Banyam Theological Seminary. In separate statements, United Methodist Bishop Ande Emmanuel and the Assembly of Bishops of the Global Methodist Church shared conflicting accounts of the incident, which both sides say included violence and vandalism. The United Methodist Church has filed a lawsuit seeking to recover its certificate to operate as a denomination in the country as well as properties and assets that were taken by former leaders who have joined the Global Methodist Church. The matter has been assigned a judge in the high court and the first reading of the case is set for March 3. UM News continues to monitor this developing story.
Read statement from Bishop Emmanuel
Read Global Methodist Church statement
Read previous UM News story
Council of Bishops
Bishops call for prayer, support for Ukraine
WASHINGTON — On the third anniversary of Russia invading Ukraine, the United Methodist Council of Bishops urges all United Methodists around the world to continue to pray for and support The United Methodist Church of Ukraine and the people of Ukraine. “We pray for God’s intervention to end the violence and lead the nations’ leaders toward justice, so that peace may prevail, communities be restored, and families reunited,” said Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone on behalf of the council.
Read statement
Minnesota Conference
Pastor connects Renaissance festivals, church
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — The Rev. Luke Nelson is a Renaissance festival enthusiast, and some of his friends from that world have adopted him as their unofficial pastor. Nelson has attended the festivals since his parents took him when he was young. Now Nelson has baptized the babies of two of his festival friends, with about 40 people in full Renaissance garb participating. Christa Meland reports.
Read story
Kentucky Conference
Conference responds to deadly floods
CRESTWOOD, Ky. — United Methodists across Kentucky are praying for all affected by storms on Feb. 15. At least 14 people died in the floods. Kentucky Conference Bishop David Graves, Disaster Response Coordinator Jim Savage and conference leadership are beginning the United Methodist response. The conference has an update and a list of how people can help.
Read update
To assemble UMCOR cleaning kits
California-Pacific Conference
Bishop shares thanks for fire response
LOS ANGELES — California-Pacific Conference Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank shares her gratitude with United Methodists around the world for their response to the people affected by the Los Angeles area fires. “I’m thankful,” she said in a video, “thanking God for all the ways that you have been helping during this time, for the ways your presence has made a difference.”
Watch video
Donate to California-Pacific Conference fire recovery
Donate to UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response
South Georgia Conference
Billboard campaign shares messages of love
STATESBORO, Ga. — Commuters are being greeted with uplifting messages of love, community and openness thanks to a new digital billboard campaign. Throughout February, these billboards will invite passersby to connect with a local United Methodist church. South Georgia Conference staff have the story.
Read story |
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United Women in Faith
Women’s group ‘troubled’ by Trump policies
NEW YORK — United Women in Faith said it is “deeply troubled” by the early policy actions of the Trump administration. In a Feb. 19 statement, the women’s agency mentioned specifically the rollback of civil rights protections, the expulsion of immigrants, withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and proposals to dismantle organizations like USAID, which provide essential humanitarian aid to vulnerable populations globally. “We believe that government has a sacred responsibility to protect its people and those most vulnerable in society,” the statement says.
Read statement
Higher Education and Ministry
2 executive directors hired at agency
ATLANTA — The Rev. Margaret Lassiat and Philip Wingeier-Rayo have signed on at the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry to head its ministry and education efforts, respectively. “I am excited to see how their expertise will help shape the future of the agency’s ministry and education work through innovative programming across our global United Methodist connection,” said Roland Fernandes, top executive at Higher Education and Ministry.
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. |
In the Wesleys’ footsteps: Reflecting on justice, faith
SPRINGVILLE, Ill. (UM News) — A group of Hispanic/Latino United Methodists made a pilgrimage to key sites in the lives of John and Charles Wesley, visiting Bristol, Epworth, Oxford and London. Members of the group connected with their Wesleyan roots and came away renewed in their commitment to embody love, grace and action, writes the Rev. Dr. Tércio B. Junker, pastor of Poplar Grove United Methodist Church.
Read commentary |
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United Methodist Communications
Recording available of regionalization webinar
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A recording of the webinar on worldwide regionalization amendments is now available. United Methodist leaders assembled the webinar on the implications of regionalization for the U.S. church. Annual conferences around the globe will be voting this year on regionalization and other amendments to the denomination’s constitution.
Watch webinar
Learn more about regionalization |
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File photo by the Rev. Heewon Kim
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Program strengthens cross-racial ministry
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Korean American pastors serving cross-racial/cross-cultural appointments have an opportunity to strengthen their ministry through a program that starts in May. The CRCC Madang retreat has been updated this year with fresh input and design ideas from alumni. More than half of The United Methodist Church’s Korean American pastors serve in cross-racial/cross-cultural appointments. The Rev. Thomas Kim has the story.
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Photo by the Rev. Fiston Okito, UM News
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Church provides aid for Congo flood survivors
KINSHASA, Congo (UM News) — The United Methodist Church has provided assistance to flood survivors in central Congo. With financial support from the United Methodist Committee on Relief and the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, the church distributed food, medicine and other supplies to thousands of people who lost their homes to severe flooding last year. The Rev. Fiston Okito reports.
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Photo courtesy of Larry Kies
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Missionaries leave mark on agriculture, education
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — A recollection of The United Methodist Church’s development of agriculture and education in Zimbabwe over the past 30 years would be incomplete without mentioning Larry and Jane Kies. The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries missionaries, who retired last year, played a pivotal role at the church’s Nyadire Mission and Africa University. Eveline Chikwanah has their story.
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Photo courtesy United Methodist Communications
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Liberians march for United Methodist Church
GBARNGA, Liberia (United Methodist Communications) — At the opening of the 192nd session of the Liberia Annual Conference, more than a thousand pastors and lay people marched in the streets of Gbarnga to reaffirm their membership in The United Methodist Church and to let everyone know that The United Methodist Church is alive and well in Liberia. Many wore T-shirts that proclaim “Love UMC.” Priscilla Muzerengwa has this video.
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