UM News Digest - April 23, 2025

UM News Digest - April 23, 2025

Songs spark spiritual conversations at brew pub
What’s new in the Book of Resolutions?
Church leaders reflect on pope’s life, ministry

“I love live music and I love dialogue, and I felt like coming out of (COVID), it was really a good time for people to reconnect and share with one another at a spiritual level.” — The Rev. Dale Cohen, United Methodist pastor, amateur musician and leader of Crafted Conversations.

The Rev. Dale Cohen (right) leads a discussion with singer-songwriter Bay Simpson during Crafted Conversations at the Singin’ River Brewing Co. in Florence, Ala. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Songs spark spiritual conversations at brew pub
FLORENCE, Ala. (UM News) — Once a month, a United Methodist pastor hires a songwriter for an evening of music and contemplation at Singin’ River Brewing Co. The theme of one or more of the songs performed during Crafted Conversations is used to get an audience discussion going. A ministry of First United Methodist Church in Florence, the Fresh Expression is promoted as an informal gathering where people who may be “spiritual but not religious” can feel comfortable. Jim Patterson has the story.

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Musician Bay Simpson performs one of his songs during Crafted Conversations at the Singin’ River Brewing Co. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Ask The UMC
What’s new in the Book of Resolutions?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In a new series, Ask The UMC’s the Rev. Taylor W Burton Edwards explores the new and significantly revised resolutions within the 2020/2024 Book of Resolutions. Part 3 tackles “The Social Community” section, which includes 22 new resolutions. These represent the expansion of the church’s social witness and a deepening awareness of its diversity and, in some cases, its worldwide nature.
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Read more in series

Council of Bishops, Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome
Methodist leaders reflect on late pope’s life, ministry
WASHINGTON — Tributes to Pope Francis continued to pour in following his death on Easter Monday at age 88. The United Methodist Council of Bishops sent a letter to Catholics offering sympathy and remembering the pope’s witness. “His leadership style, marked by a Christ-like sensitivity toward others and a willingness to address controversial issues, is a powerful example for us all,” said Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone and the council’s ecumenical officers, Bishops Rosemarie Wenner and Hope Morgan Ward, in the letter. The Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome also has collected tributes from Methodists worldwide.
Read Council of Bishops letter
Read Methodist Ecumenical Office tribute
Read UM News story: United Methodists remember Pope Francis

California-Pacific Conference
Church’s Knit Wits share 3,000th prayer shawl
MISSION VIEJO, Calif. — From the aftermath of the Sandy Hook mass shooting to missions abroad, the Knit Wits have covered 3,000 people with a prayer-filled presence, literally. The group, born from a pastor’s challenge to “consider what you can do,” has sent over 3,000 prayer shawls since its start in 2011. The Rev. Jennifer Burns has the story.
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World Council of Churches
Notre Dame packed for shared Easter service
PARIS — Christians from all of France’s main church traditions packed the newly restored Notre Dame cathedral in Paris to celebrate Easter Sunday together, which in a rare occurrence was marked in 2025 on the same day by Eastern and Western churches. People around the globe contributed to the cathedral’s restoration after a fire in 2019. The World Council of Churches has the story.
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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.

Photo courtesy of the author

Why our church is in trouble

LEESBURG, Va. (UM News) — United Methodist leaders should stop pursuing ideological goals and instead focus on making disciples of Jesus Christ, writes longtime church member Cliff White. He says many of the materials and resources provided by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society and other church entities reflect a “progressive” political viewpoint.

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Photo by Tessa Tillett, Indiana Conference

Love demands compassionate response, prophetic witness
WASHINGTON (UM News) — The United Methodist Church has a long history of concern for social justice, beginning with Methodism founder John Wesley, says Bishop Julius C. Trimble, top staff executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. He says the church’s Social Principles provide a guide for faithfully addressing today’s issues.

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Council of Bishops
Council to welcome new bishops, discuss future
WASHINGTON — The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church will convene in person from April 27 to May 2 in Chicago. The gathering will bring together about 100 active and retired bishops, including eight newly elected episcopal leaders. The meeting will include a memorial service, worship and training. The council also will announce the dates and share updates on the 2026 Leadership Gathering. The meeting will be livestreamed daily via the council’s Facebook page.
Read press release