"God wants me to do this, God's going to provide me the strength." — The Rev. Jerry Neff, on leading the new United Methodist Church of the Pines in Jasper, Texas.
NEWS AND FEATURES
With new lungs, he leads a new church
JASPER, Texas (UM News) — The Rev. Jerry Neff, 68, is officially retired and had a double lung transplant less than a year ago. But he and his wife are driving three hours every weekend so he can lead the new United Methodist Church of the Pines. It consists of East Texans who are staying United Methodist after their churches disaffiliated. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
World Council of Churches
Churches reach out after earthquake
GENEVA — As communities in Turkey and Syria are left reeling in the wake of an earthquake that has killed more than 2,400 people — and that figure is rapidly growing — churches are reaching out to check on those affected and praying for the safety of those missing. Aftershocks measuring as high as 7.5-magnitude have been felt across the region since the 7.8-magnitude quake initially struck on Feb. 6. "In the midst of death and trauma caused by this terrible event, let us bring our intercessions together," said the top executive of the World Council of Churches.
Read story
South Carolina Conference
Cooperative parish pools churches' gifts
HARTSVILLE, S.C. — Imagine a church with multiple sites, sharing talents, gifts, financial resources and building space. That's the grand vision behind the Hartsville Cooperative Parish, which brings together four churches. Two years in, the ministry experiment is thriving. Jessica Brodie has the story.
Read story
North Georgia Conference
Responding to Georgia tornadoes
ATLANTA — As many as 10 confirmed tornadoes pummeled Georgia as devastating storms moved across the southeast U.S. in January. Trained United Methodist emergency response teams are already making a difference in communities across the state. First United Methodist Church in Griffin also has served as a Red Cross shelter. Sybil Davidson has an update.
Read story
The Daytona Beach News-Journal
Bethune-Cookman pledges campus improvements
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Bethune-Cookman University's interim president has pledged $10 million to upgrade campus buildings, some of which were damaged during tropical storms Ian and Nicole last fall. The move at the historically Black United Methodist-related university follows student protests. The interim president also said the school was moving rapidly in its search for a head football coach. Mark Harper and Chris Vinel report.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Centenary University
University names first Black president
HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. — United Methodist-related Centenary University has named the Rev. Dale G. Caldwell as its 15th president. Caldwell, who is scheduled to begin his tenure on July 1, will be the university’s first African American president. He is a veteran educator and a licensed local pastor in the Greater New Jersey Conference.
Read press release
COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Daily 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.
Disobedience didn't start with sexuality debate
WASHINGTON (UM News) — Defiance of rules passed by General Conference goes back to the earliest days of the first Methodist denomination in the U.S. The Rev. Dr. Lovett H. Weems Jr. writes about why the current debate over homosexuality is driving a church separation.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Eventful 20 years added to Methodist history
Church leaders mourn Tyre Nichols, seek change
EVENTS
Thursday, Feb. 9
Webinar: A Lenten Journey Through the Psalms
Wednesday, Feb. 22-Monday, April 3
Online course: Biblical Storytelling Weekly for Lent