UM News Digest - June 10, 2026

UM News Digest - June 10, 2026

African Methodists meet | Feeding neighbors | Ready to serve

“The Gospel requires speaking truth to power and defending the dignity of the poor and vulnerable.” — Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel

Church members from Ebenezer Temple of the Methodist Church of Togo greet Africa Methodist Council visitors after Sunday worship service on May 17 in Aného, Togo. Ebenezer, built in 1895, is the church’s oldest sanctuary. The council gathered leaders of Methodist denominations in Africa to discuss challenges on the continent and strengthen cooperation to help position the church as a prophetic voice for justice and peace. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

Church members from Ebenezer Temple of the Methodist Church of Togo greet Africa Methodist Council visitors after worship on May 17 in Aného, Togo. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

African Methodists pledge to speak out against injustice
LOME, Togo (UM News) — Leaders of Methodist denominations in Africa gathered to discuss challenges on the continent and strengthen cooperation. During the Africa Methodist Council heads of conferences meeting, the group pledged “to stand prophetically for justice, peace, truth and holistic human dignity.” Bishops Ande I. Emmanuel, Daniel Wandabula and Rosemarie Wenner represented The United Methodist Church at the meeting. Eveline Chikwanah reports.

Read story

Alabama-West Florida Conference
Conference awards food-ministry grants
PENSACOLA, Fla. — The Alabama-West Florida Conference announced June 8 the recipients of 37 Food Insecurity Ministry Grants. Each local church or ministry received $1,000 to support efforts to feed neighbors and strengthen their communities. Mary Catherine Phillips has the story.
Read story

South Carolina Conference
Church leaves the building for service effort
GREENWOOD, S.C. — A random weekday dog-walk epiphany prompted a new ministry effort at St. Mark United Methodist Church. Its impact is reverberating in big ways. Jessica Brodie reports.
Read story

Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
Sculpture installed at United Methodist cemetery
NEW HOPE, Pa. — A sculpture by artist Kate Brockman made its debut last month at New Hope Cemetery, a United Methodist property. “Boy: Portrait of a Word” reflects themes of identity and the inner journey of the human spirit. “At a time when many are forgetting the past and trying to change the narrative, this statue speaks boldly,” said the Rev. VK Macwana. Eastern Pennsylvania Conference staff have the story.
Read story

Mountain Sky Conference
Bishop brings witness at foreign-policy event
DENVER — Mountain Sky Conference Bishop Kristin G. Stoneking recently traveled to New York for the invite-only Religion and Foreign Policy Workshop organized by the Council on Foreign Relations, a nonpartisan think tank. “In this time, as the world order is shifting, The United Methodist Church needs to be even more involved with bringing a voice of faith into issues that affect the real lives of people,” Stoneking said. Kristian Young reports.
Read story

United Women in Faith
Join Catalysts for a New Democracy initiative
NEW YORK — The Catalysts for a New Democracy program, a collaborative effort between the Chisholm Legacy Project and United Women in Faith, is conducting orientation and training for volunteers on July 15. The initiative aims to empower rural communities by mobilizing volunteers to support projects like community-owned clean energy microgrids, local food systems and economic development projects. The training is from 3 to 5 p.m. U.S. Eastern time.
Learn more and register

Higher Education and Ministry
Exploration event set to discern God’s call
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Registration is now open for Exploration 2026, which is scheduled Nov. 6-8 in Orlando, Florida. The vocational discernment retreat organized by the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry is for adults 18 and older who are considering a call to serve in clergy or lay ministry.
Read press release
Learn more and register