UM News Digest - Jan. 29, 2025

Church constitutional amendments head to vote
United Methodists in Nigeria move forward
Longtime camp director enters a new stage

“I believe that the worldwide regionalization in the UMC empowers both the U.S. church and central conferences.” — Benedita Penicela Nhambiu, who helped draft the regionalization amendments heading to annual conferences for a vote.

Bishop Tracy S. Malone surveys the results of General Conference delegates’ vote in favor of constitutional amendments to carry out the worldwide regionalization plan, April 25, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. File photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

Church constitutional amendments head to vote

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — When United Methodist annual conferences meet this year, lay and clergy voters will determine whether amendments approved by General Conference become part of the denomination’s constitution. The amendments deal with regionalization, church membership, racism and clergy-delegate elections. Heather Hahn has an overview.

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United Methodists cheer at a service recognizing newly elected Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel at the Christian Association of Nigeria Secretariat in Jalingo, Taraba State. Photo by Ibrahim Babangida, UM News.

United Methodists in Nigeria move forward

JALINGO, Nigeria (UM News) — The United Methodist Church in Nigeria has taken steps toward uniting members, while awaiting recourse from the courts regarding properties and other legal matters involving former leaders who have joined the Global Methodist Church. Newly elected Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel has held listening sessions across the country, and a group that left the church more than 10 years ago has rejoined, bringing the number of annual conferences to five. Eveline Chikwanah reports.

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Holston Conference
Longtime camp director enters a new stage
RISING FAWN, Ga. — After 26 years as the director of a camp that has shared Jesus with thousands of people, Don Washburn is frequently recognized around town. Camp Lookout fans might have been shocked, though, when Washburn showed up on the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival stage holding a guitar last summer. Annette Spence has the story.
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Committee on Faith and Order
Group stands with Episcopal bishop
ATLANTA — The United Methodist Church’s Committee on Faith and Order has written a letter of support to Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, whose Jan. 21 sermon at Washington National Cathedral has drawn attention worldwide. The sermon has prompted both vitriol and praise after she urged President Trump to show mercy to vulnerable people. “You inspired and encouraged us. As a committee we found your sermon profoundly rooted in the prophetic tradition of our shared Christian faith, while being delivered with gentleness and respect,” said the committee’s letter.
Read letter (PDF)
Watch Bishop Budde’s sermon

North Georgia, South Georgia conferences
Leaders offer update on unification effort
MACON, Ga. — Kelly Roberson from the South Georgia Conference and the Rev. Rodrigo Cruz, assistant to the bishop in the North and South Georgia conferences, share in a video the reasons behind the effort to unify the two conferences and where that effort stands.
Watch video
Read transcript (PDF)

NPR
Did minister’s murder trial inspire classic novel?
FALL RIVER, Mass. — Though Fall River is known for its most famous resident, Lizzie Borden, another murder trial in that town decades prior captured the attention of New Englanders — that of Methodist minister Ephraim Avery. In 1833, he was tried and acquitted of killing 30-year-old Sarah Maria Cornell, possibly to cover up that she was pregnant with his illegitimate child. A new book casts doubt on Avery’s innocence and suggests the case may have inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlett Letter.” Melissa Gray reports.
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Discipleship Ministries
Registration open for Fresh Expressions event
ATLANTA — Fresh Expressions UM represents a distinctly Wesleyan movement that focuses on cultivating new Christian communities that resonate with today’s world. The movement plans to have its 2025 Gathering on Feb. 27-March 1 in Atlanta. The event aims to provide an opportunity to connect as United Methodists explore how to cultivate Spirit-led communities that serve the present age.
Learn more and register

Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference
Candler speaker series comes to Tennessee
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — West End United Methodist Church, in collaboration with Emory’s Candler School of Theology, is bringing the speaker series TheoEd to Nashville’s historic Woolworth Theater. TheoEd seeks to do for the Bible, theology and spirituality what the popular TED series has done for technology, entertainment and design. The event is scheduled at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 23.
Learn more