“This is an attempt for us to change the whole body, the whole mind and the whole soul of persons to lead us into a new day.” — The Rev. Domini Henry, co-chair of the Mississippi Conference’s “End Racism for Good” initiative.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Mississippi Conference
Taking on mission to end racism for good
JACKSON, Miss. — The Mississippi Conference is taking on what it sees as a mission possible: ending racism for good. Sixty-five lay and clergy have been trained to lead racial healing circles. The goal is for at least 1,000 United Methodists to experience the circles by the end of the year. Jasmine Haynes reports.
Read story
Coming this week: As the denomination’s Dismantling Racism campaign marks one year, UM News’ Jim Patterson talks with bishops and others about what’s ahead.
California-Nevada Conference
Planting a Hispanic church in Fresno
FRESNO, Calif. — The Rev. Vicky Flores is planting the seeds of a new Hispanic/Latino ministry inside Grace United Methodist Church. “Do I feel that The United Methodist Church is a wonderful place for Hispanic people? I do think so. It has been a great place for me,” she says. JB Brayfindley, who spent part of her childhood at Grace, has the story and two videos.
Read story
Watch interview with Flores
Watch interview on origins of the church plant
Religion News Service
Survey: Mainline Protestants outnumber evangelicals
WASHINGTON — White Christian decline in the U.S. has slowed, and white mainline Protestants now outnumber white evangelicals. That’s according to a sweeping survey of the U.S. religious landscape by the Public Religion Research Institute. Jack Jenkins has the story.
Read story
RNS: What is a mainline Christian, anyway?
KMOV4
Downtown church’s steeple collapses in strong winds
ST. LOUIS — The steeple of Centenary United Methodist Church collapsed as thunderstorms and strong winds hit downtown St. Louis during the early morning of July 10. Debris scattered along the street and a nearby parking lot, but the church was able to hold a worship service on July 11. Nicole Sanders reports.
Read story and watch video
Global Ministries
Fresh water for Ecuador, Bolivia
ATLANTA — Methodists in Bolivia and Ecuador are supporting the work of Engineers in Action to bring fresh water and sanitation facilities to rural communities. United Methodist Global Ministries has granted more than $300,000 toward construction and community training. Christie R. House has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
World Council of Churches
Ecumenical group honored as Bridge Builder
OSLO, Norway — The World Council of Churches, which includes The United Methodist Church, will receive the Bridge Builder Award for building bridges of understanding between people at the national and international levels. The award is presented by the jury of the 14th August Committee Norway together with The Oslo Center.
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 the UM News staff.
Greater Northwest Area
A spirituality too small
TACOMA, Wash. — Andy Lang, a United Methodist high school teacher, shares a short reflection on the limitations of the progressive Jesus of his childhood. While this faith helped him to have a strong sense of right and wrong, it also left him with “a spirituality too small for the complexities of life.”
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Religion and Race
New podcast episode explores anti-Asian racism
WASHINGTON — In the second episode of “Expanding the Table,” a new podcast series on practicing anti-racism by the Commission on Religion and Race, three Asian American Christian theologians examine the history and current realities of anti-Asian racism in the U.S. and what every Christian should know and do.
Listen to podcast
RECENT HEADLINES
Churches urged to relaunch, not just reopen
Free education policy affects church schools
EVENTS
Tuesday, July 13
Webinar: The Generosity Audit — Ready for a Stewardship Reset?
NEWS AND FEATURES
Mississippi Conference
Taking on mission to end racism for good
JACKSON, Miss. — The Mississippi Conference is taking on what it sees as a mission possible: ending racism for good. Sixty-five lay and clergy have been trained to lead racial healing circles. The goal is for at least 1,000 United Methodists to experience the circles by the end of the year. Jasmine Haynes reports.
Read story
Coming this week: As the denomination’s Dismantling Racism campaign marks one year, UM News’ Jim Patterson talks with bishops and others about what’s ahead.
California-Nevada Conference
Planting a Hispanic church in Fresno
FRESNO, Calif. — The Rev. Vicky Flores is planting the seeds of a new Hispanic/Latino ministry inside Grace United Methodist Church. “Do I feel that The United Methodist Church is a wonderful place for Hispanic people? I do think so. It has been a great place for me,” she says. JB Brayfindley, who spent part of her childhood at Grace, has the story and two videos.
Read story
Watch interview with Flores
Watch interview on origins of the church plant
Religion News Service
Survey: Mainline Protestants outnumber evangelicals
WASHINGTON — White Christian decline in the U.S. has slowed, and white mainline Protestants now outnumber white evangelicals. That’s according to a sweeping survey of the U.S. religious landscape by the Public Religion Research Institute. Jack Jenkins has the story.
Read story
RNS: What is a mainline Christian, anyway?
KMOV4
Downtown church’s steeple collapses in strong winds
ST. LOUIS — The steeple of Centenary United Methodist Church collapsed as thunderstorms and strong winds hit downtown St. Louis during the early morning of July 10. Debris scattered along the street and a nearby parking lot, but the church was able to hold a worship service on July 11. Nicole Sanders reports.
Read story and watch video
Global Ministries
Fresh water for Ecuador, Bolivia
ATLANTA — Methodists in Bolivia and Ecuador are supporting the work of Engineers in Action to bring fresh water and sanitation facilities to rural communities. United Methodist Global Ministries has granted more than $300,000 toward construction and community training. Christie R. House has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
World Council of Churches
Ecumenical group honored as Bridge Builder
OSLO, Norway — The World Council of Churches, which includes The United Methodist Church, will receive the Bridge Builder Award for building bridges of understanding between people at the national and international levels. The award is presented by the jury of the 14th August Committee Norway together with The Oslo Center.
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 the UM News staff.
Greater Northwest Area
A spirituality too small
TACOMA, Wash. — Andy Lang, a United Methodist high school teacher, shares a short reflection on the limitations of the progressive Jesus of his childhood. While this faith helped him to have a strong sense of right and wrong, it also left him with “a spirituality too small for the complexities of life.”
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Religion and Race
New podcast episode explores anti-Asian racism
WASHINGTON — In the second episode of “Expanding the Table,” a new podcast series on practicing anti-racism by the Commission on Religion and Race, three Asian American Christian theologians examine the history and current realities of anti-Asian racism in the U.S. and what every Christian should know and do.
Listen to podcast
RECENT HEADLINES
Churches urged to relaunch, not just reopen
Free education policy affects church schools
EVENTS
Tuesday, July 13
Webinar: The Generosity Audit — Ready for a Stewardship Reset?
Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.