|
UM News Digest - May 30, 2025
|
“My hope is that we will feel inspired by the reclaiming of who and whose we are in Christ Jesus, being empowered by the Holy Spirit.” — Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone, on the “Pentecost People” resource for churches.
|
|
Image by Holger Schué, courtesy of Pixabay
|
Bishops offer Pentecost gift to the church
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist bishops have found a new way to say “Happy Pentecost!” this year with an eight-week Bible study titled “Pentecost People.” The resource, with materials available in multiple languages, aims to help the international and multilingual denomination experience the renewal of the Holy Spirit. Heather Hahn has the story. |
|
|
|
North Georgia Conference
Historic church offers new vision for housing
ATLANTA — Trinity United Methodist Church has entered into a long-term partnership with government and community groups to imagine a new future for its building and community. The partnership aims to bring the area much-needed affordable housing for seniors while preserving much of this historic landmark. The congregation will continue to gather for worship every Sunday at a neighboring church during construction. Sybil Davidson has a Q&A with the Rev. Deborah Williams, the church’s pastor.
Read story
United Methodist Communications
Church welcomes Deaf community in Congo
KINDU, Congo — The United Methodist Church in Congo has taken steps forward in its commitment to the inclusion of Deaf and hard-of-hearing people. Thanks to funding from the United Methodist Committee on Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Ministries, a new program is welcoming, supporting and sharing the Gospel with the Deaf community. Chadrack Tambwe Londe has the story.
Read story
Related: Kivu Conference provides sign-language training
Florida Conference
Church perseveres after pastor’s death
TAMPA, Fla. — For the past year, Hillsborough United Methodist Church has been grieving the sudden passing of its pastor, the Rev. Tanner White. He died two days after his ordination as an elder. The Rev. Beth Bostrom has served as interim pastor and can attest to the congregation’s resilience. Joe Henderson has the story.
Read story
Faith and Leadership
Book explores Mother Emanuel in larger context
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Nine Black members of Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church were killed by a white supremacist during a Bible study a decade ago. A new book by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Kevin Sack explores Mother Emanuel’s history within the larger racial history of America. Sacks spoke about the book with Stephanie Hunt of Duke Divinity School’s Faith and Leadership.
Read Q&A
Church and Society
Board president discusses wildfire response
WASHINGTON — The Rev. Allison Mark, president of the Church and Society board and a United Methodist pastor, joins the agency’s “Justice Takes Courage” podcast to discuss the board’s current priorities and how people of faith can help communities recover from the Southern California wildfires. Mark is the pastor of Faith United Methodist Church in Torrance, California.
Listen to podcast
New 2025 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2025 annual conference reports. New this week are the Central Appalachian Missionary and Poland conferences.
Read reports |
|
|
|
|
|
| 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. |
An appeal to hold General Conference outside US
LUANSHYA, Zambia (UM News) — The decision to hold the 2028 General Conference in Minneapolis undermines the spirit of unity with members in the central conferences, says the Rev. Gabriel Banga Mususwa, a clergy member in the Zambia Conference. He says Africa has the facilities and is ready to host. “It’s time to do the new thing. It’s time to test the efficacy of regionalization. Then we shall indeed know we’re one,” he writes.
Read commentary |
|
|
|
|
|
Archives and History
Commission to hunker down for inventory
MADISON, N.J. — The United Methodist Commission on Archives and History will not conduct tours or accept collections through the end of the year, to make time for taking inventory, processing collections and implementing best practices for digitization. The commission is based at Drew University. During the office closure, staff will continue to respond on a case-by-case basis to queries.
Read press release |
|
|
|
|
|
United Methodist Communications, Finance and Administration
United in Impact: How church giving works
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United in Impact tells the story of how United Methodists come together to support ministries that share God’s love around the world. Through real-life examples and videos, the campaign shows how connectional giving fuels disaster response, global mission, education and more — making a lasting difference in lives and communities everywhere.
See resource |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, June 4 -
Saturday, June 7
|
|
|
Thursday, June 5 -
Saturday, June 7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Photo by Jim Patterson, UM News
|
Joy of singing aids people with Parkinson’s
REHOBOTH BEACH. Del. (UM News) — At Epworth United Methodist Church, there’s a new choir in town. It offers people with Parkinson’s disease tools to cope, including community, music and a fun rendition of the “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.” Jim Patterson has the story.
|
|
|
Photo by Rev. Seungsoo “RJ” Jun
|
|
Asian American clergy affirm roles at gathering
MCLEAN, Va. (UM News) — The inaugural Southeastern Jurisdiction Asian American Ministers Gathering drew 111 participants from eight annual conferences and nine ethnic groups. It aimed to celebrate the spiritual heritage of Asian American clergy and foster deeper connections. The Rev. Thomas E. Kim reports.
|
|
|
|
|
Photo by Oakland Tribune, Public Domain, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
|
|
Celebrating a Pioneer in Methodism
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, Ask The UMC shines a spotlight on Clara Elizabeth Chan Lee, a Chinese-American suffragist, women’s rights activist and community leader. The daughter of a Methodist pastor was the first Chinese American woman to register to vote in the U.S. Learn more about her in the Pioneers in Methodism series.
|
|
|
Photo by Matt Gerdeman, Holston Conference
|
|
HIV/AIDS ministry draws people from 5 states
PITTMAN CENTER, Tenn. — Ed O’Bryan, diagnosed as HIV-positive about 15 years ago, credits his first Strength for the Journey retreat with helping him to get sober. Strength for the Journey retreats for people living with HIV/AIDS began in the California-Pacific Conference. They are also going strong in the Holston Conference. The Rev. Buzz Trexler has the story for the Holston Conference.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United Methodist News is sent by United Methodist Communications
810 12th Ave. S. Nashville, TN 37203-4704
Email: newsdesk@umcom.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
