UM News Digest - May 19, 2025

UM News Digest - May 19, 2025

Churchgoers respond to deadly US twisters
Celebrating Lighthouse movement’s legacy
Commentary: Addiction and clergy wellness

“It seems like we’re being stretched way too thin, trying to meet all the needs of all the people in all the places. … We ask for prayers for strength and for guidance from God on how best we can serve.” — The Rev. Jim Savage, Kentucky Conference disaster-response coordinator.

An uprooted tree lies across a crushed car in the neighborhood of Grace United Methodist Church’s parsonage in St. Louis. United Methodists are responding in Missouri, Kentucky and other states after violent storms tore across the central U.S., leaving at least 28 people dead. Photo by the Rev. Katie Nix, Grace United Methodist Church, courtesy of the Missouri Conference.

An uprooted tree lies across a crushed car in the neighborhood of Grace United Methodist Church’s parsonage in St. Louis. Photo by the Rev. Katie Nix, Grace United Methodist Church, courtesy of the Missouri Conference.

Churchgoers respond to deadly US twisters
ST. LOUIS (UM News) — United Methodists are responding to a storm system that spawned deadly tornadoes and floods across the U.S. A church near St. Louis is providing shelter and pastoral support after an EF3 tornado struck. United Methodist conferences also have suggestions on how people can help. Heather Hahn reports.

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North Georgia Conference
Celebrating Lighthouse movement’s legacy
ATLANTA — Over the past several months, North Georgia Conference leaders have celebrated the stories of Lighthouse congregations. These are United Methodist churches that took part in training and committed themselves to welcome and care for people displaced from their church home by disruption, disaffiliation or closure. As the North Georgia Conference retires the “Lighthouse” label, its office of connectional ministries plans to carry on the values of the Lighthouse movement. Sybil Davidson reports.
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Desert Southwest Conference
Church property to promote arts
PHOENIX — The Desert Southwest Conference is negotiating a 99-year lease for the property of the now-closed Central United Methodist Church that should ensure its preservation. The agreement also will allow the nearby Phoenix Art Museum and Phoenix Theatre Company to expand and add parking. The deal will keep the sanctuary in good condition and open to the public. Desert Southwest Conference staff have the story.
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UMC TV Studios
Youth workshop fosters critical thinking
ANTIPOLO CITY, Philippines — The United Methodist Youth Fellowship in the Philippines recently conducted a “Pananaw” (the Filipino term for “perspectives”) workshop. The three-day program centered on media literacy with a focus on social media. Janina Quitlong and Kathy Pimentel report.
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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.

When the shepherd strays: Addiction and clergy wellness
DENVER (UM News) — Clergy struggling with addiction often face isolation, silence and lack of institutional support, writes Caralyn Ware, a clinical research professional and certified candidate for elder in the Mountain Sky Conference. “Creating space for clergy wellness is not peripheral to our mission. It is central to it.”
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United Methodist Men
Agency opens search for new head
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The General Commission on United Methodist Men has announced a search for the agency’s next top executive and invites inquiries and applications. The person in that position serves as the chief executive officer and primary spokesperson for United Methodist Men and the top denominational officer of The United Methodist Church’s men’s ministry.
Learn more and apply

World Methodist Evangelism
Resources for World Evangelism Sunday
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — World Methodist Evangelism, an affiliate of the ecumenical World Methodist Council, is providing resources to churches that sign up to join in World Evangelism Sunday on June 8. Resources include a sermon outline, children’s ministry lesson and activity, video on World Methodist Evangelism and guide for receiving a special offering.
Sign up