“I knew him to be a beloved pastor everywhere he served. And he was a winsome preacher. People enjoyed his preaching very much.” — Retired United Bishop Joel Martinez, on the Rev. Joel Mora Peña.
Mexican bishop became pastor in the U.S.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (UM News) — The Rev. Joel Mora Peña had a unique ministry trajectory, serving as a bishop in the Methodist Church of Mexico before immigrating to the U.S. and becoming a cherished pastor of Hispanic congregations in The United Methodist Church. He died Jan. 3 at age 88. Sam Hodges reports.
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NEWS AND FEATURES
Mississippi Conference
Mississippi plans special session for disaffiliations
JACKSON, Miss. — Bishop Sharma Lewis, who began her leadership of the Mississippi Conference on Jan. 1, announced that the conference will take up church disaffiliations during its regular session on June 28 and at a called special session on Dec. 9.
See Bishop Lewis' update
See special sessions scheduled in 2023
Michigan Conference
Jurisdiction discusses LGBTQ issues
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Delegates to the North Central Jurisdictional Conference took time to discuss the impact of homophobia, transphobia and heterosexism. The Nov. 5 event featured three United Methodists who have been affected by discrimination. James Deaton and Karla Hovde have the story.
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PRESS RELEASES
Discipleship Ministries
New adult discipleship director named
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Motoe Yamada Foor will begin work as director of adult discipleship for United Methodist Discipleship Ministries on March 1. Foor, who currently serves on the board of Discipleship Ministries, says she is passionate about moving churches toward a more missional and spiritual focus.
Read press release
Northern Illinois Conference
Webinar tackles racism
CHICAGO — A webinar on what the local church can do to combat racism is available for viewing. “Called: Doing God’s Work for the Beloved Community” happened on Dec. 1 and featured Andrew G.I. Hart, assistant professor of theology at Messiah University.
Read press release
Watch webinar
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.
A birthday letter to Martin Luther King Jr.
FLORENCE, S.C. (UM News) — In an annual letter to the civil rights icon, the Rev. Dr. Reggie Lee celebrates victories by Black candidates for both the U.S. Senate and the episcopacy of The United Methodist Church as signs of King’s dream coming to fruition.
Read letter
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