“We just hope we come out of this with a renewed sense of excitement and also a sense that we’re rebirthing something.” — The Rev. Stan Copeland, on “Space at the Table: Conversations of Hope for the UMC Future,” an event held Nov. 16 in Dallas.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Finding ‘God’s next’ for United Methodism
DALLAS (UM News) — Pandemic and schism have combined to challenge The United Methodist Church in a big way. But there’s opportunity in crisis, according to speakers at a recent event titled “Space at the Table: Conversations of Hope for the UMC Future.” In his keynote address, the Rev. Mike Slaughter said, “What a time to reimagine what God’s next is for The United Methodist Church.” Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Zürcher elected bishop in Central and Southern Europe
BASEL, Switzerland (UM News) — The Rev. Stefan Zürcher of Switzerland has been elected as a United Methodist bishop by delegates at the Central and Southern Europe Central Conference. Zürcher, 55, was elected Nov. 18 on the fourth ballot. He has served as district superintendent of Northwestern Switzerland since 2015 and is a member of the denomination's Connectional Table. Tim Tanton has the story.
Read story
See all of UM News’ 2022 episcopal election coverage
Ask The UMC
Clearing up misperceptions about disaffiliation
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, continues to receive questions related to local church disaffiliations. In Part 6 of its “Is The United Methodist Church Really …?” series, the team tackles inquiries related to multi-point charges, legal counsel, United Methodist-related foundations and credit unions and student scholarships.
Read story
Read previous installments
Greater Northwest Area
$100,000 UMCOR grant helps flood recovery
FERNDALE, Wash. — Recovery efforts from the 2021 Whatcom County floods will take a big step forward thanks to a $100,000 recovery grant that the Pacific Northwest Conference received from the United Methodist Committee on Relief. The UMCOR grant will provide funding for a reconstruction manager and part-time volunteer coordinator. Kathy Bryson, the conference’s co-disaster response coordinator, reports on recovery efforts.
Read story
United Methodist Communications
Shut down inner critic, find healing
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — On the latest episode of the “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast, author Andrew Lang discusses his new book, “Unmasking the Inner Critic: Lessons for Living an Unconstricted Life.” He shares ways people of faith can explore their inner narrative and expand to a place of healing.
Listen to podcast
Channel 3000
Church acknowledges ancestral homeland
MADISON, Wis. — First United Methodist Church acknowledged its land as the ancestral homeland of the Ho-Chunk Nation tribe of Native Americans. A ceremony was held Nov. 14. The church has also established an endowment to provide college scholarships to indigenous students at Madison College. Steve Combs reports.
Read story and watch video
PRESS RELEASES
California-Nevada Conference
Request for Bishop Dyck to stay as interim
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops has recommended to the Council of Bishops that Bishop Sally Dyck continue as interim bishop of the California-Nevada Conference until the complaints against Bishop Minerva Carcaño are resolved or until Aug. 31, 2024, whichever comes first. Dyck, who is also the Council of Bishops ecumenical officer, has served as the conference’s interim leader since March, after Carcaño was suspended while the denomination’s complaint process moves forward. In a letter to the conference, Dyck said she has agreed to remain as interim bishop.
Read announcement
Read letter from Bishop Dyck
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.
Higher Education and Ministry
Reflections on jurisdictional conferences
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Thirteen new bishops were elected at U.S. jurisdictional conferences Nov. 2-5, but that was not the only thing that happened. Staff members with the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry reflect on how the meetings stressed belonging, faithfulness and discovery.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
ResourceUMC
Help for celebrating Student Day
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Student Day, one of the denomination’s special Sundays, is Nov. 27. Special offerings on this day support scholarships and loans for students attending United Methodist-related and other accredited colleges and universities. United Methodist Communications has resources to help pastors and leaders celebrate the day, which this year coincides with the first Sunday of Advent.
See resources
EVENTS
Monday, Nov. 28-Friday, Dec. 23
Online course: Prepare the Way for the Lord
Monday, Dec. 5-Friday, Dec. 16
Online course: Transforming Evangelism
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
Love of children brings $800,000 gift to Zimbabwe
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — In 2001, the Rev. John Holler and a mission team from South Carolina traveled thousands of miles to work at the Fairfield Children’s Home. They fell in love with the orphans and The United Methodist Church’s Old Mutare Mission that was caring for them. Holler promised to return. Last month, he walked back on the campus with a gift of $800,029. Kathy L. Gilbert reports.
Read story
United Methodists build strong ties at children's home
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Charles and Carol Moore and the Rev. Owen Ross have personal connections to Fairfield Children’s Home. The Moores, members of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, sponsor 5-year-old twins who live at the home. Ross, director of church development in the North Texas Conference, bonded with the children at Fairfield during a semester at Africa University. All three returned to Zimbabwe for Africa University’s 30th anniversary celebration. Kathy L. Gilbert has their stories.
Read the Moores' story
Read Ross' story
UM News: Africa University celebrates 30 years
Complaint filed against gay bishop’s consecration
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Western Jurisdiction bishops are facing an unusual public complaint following the consecration of the denomination's second bishop who is openly gay and married to someone of the same gender. The complaint, which is online and open to others to sign, comes after each of the five U.S. jurisdictions passed a resolution urging The United Methodist Church to affirm LGBTQ people. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
‘Ghosts’ actress is a lifelong United Methodist
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — One of the stars of the hit CBS sitcom “Ghosts” credits her upbringing in The United Methodist Church with helping her develop “an empathetic ear” that helps her succeed as an actress. Sheila Carrasco, daughter of retired pastor and superintendent the Rev. Oscar Carrasco, plays the ghost of a hippie named Flower on the show. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
Hollering for Change: Reflections on historic election
SEVERNA PARK, Md. (UM News) — In the wake of the election of Bishop Delores “Dee” Williamston, the first Black woman elected to the episcopacy in the South Central Jurisdiction, the latest installment of “Hollering for Change” looks at the history-making event. The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler speaks with the Rev. Wanda Bass about what it was like to be in the room when Williamston was elected and her hopes for the new bishop’s leadership.
Watch video
UM News: ‘You can holler for your safety because you matter’
Commentary: Is this a time for church innovation?
SANTA FE, N.M. (UM News) — Taking an example from how director George Lucas’ vision helped revolutionize the film industry, the Rev. D.G. Hollums asks whether a pending split is an opportunity to reimagine the denomination.
Read commentary
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Finding ‘God’s next’ for United Methodism
DALLAS (UM News) — Pandemic and schism have combined to challenge The United Methodist Church in a big way. But there’s opportunity in crisis, according to speakers at a recent event titled “Space at the Table: Conversations of Hope for the UMC Future.” In his keynote address, the Rev. Mike Slaughter said, “What a time to reimagine what God’s next is for The United Methodist Church.” Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Zürcher elected bishop in Central and Southern Europe
BASEL, Switzerland (UM News) — The Rev. Stefan Zürcher of Switzerland has been elected as a United Methodist bishop by delegates at the Central and Southern Europe Central Conference. Zürcher, 55, was elected Nov. 18 on the fourth ballot. He has served as district superintendent of Northwestern Switzerland since 2015 and is a member of the denomination's Connectional Table. Tim Tanton has the story.
Read story
See all of UM News’ 2022 episcopal election coverage
Ask The UMC
Clearing up misperceptions about disaffiliation
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, continues to receive questions related to local church disaffiliations. In Part 6 of its “Is The United Methodist Church Really …?” series, the team tackles inquiries related to multi-point charges, legal counsel, United Methodist-related foundations and credit unions and student scholarships.
Read story
Read previous installments
Greater Northwest Area
$100,000 UMCOR grant helps flood recovery
FERNDALE, Wash. — Recovery efforts from the 2021 Whatcom County floods will take a big step forward thanks to a $100,000 recovery grant that the Pacific Northwest Conference received from the United Methodist Committee on Relief. The UMCOR grant will provide funding for a reconstruction manager and part-time volunteer coordinator. Kathy Bryson, the conference’s co-disaster response coordinator, reports on recovery efforts.
Read story
United Methodist Communications
Shut down inner critic, find healing
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — On the latest episode of the “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast, author Andrew Lang discusses his new book, “Unmasking the Inner Critic: Lessons for Living an Unconstricted Life.” He shares ways people of faith can explore their inner narrative and expand to a place of healing.
Listen to podcast
Channel 3000
Church acknowledges ancestral homeland
MADISON, Wis. — First United Methodist Church acknowledged its land as the ancestral homeland of the Ho-Chunk Nation tribe of Native Americans. A ceremony was held Nov. 14. The church has also established an endowment to provide college scholarships to indigenous students at Madison College. Steve Combs reports.
Read story and watch video
PRESS RELEASES
California-Nevada Conference
Request for Bishop Dyck to stay as interim
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops has recommended to the Council of Bishops that Bishop Sally Dyck continue as interim bishop of the California-Nevada Conference until the complaints against Bishop Minerva Carcaño are resolved or until Aug. 31, 2024, whichever comes first. Dyck, who is also the Council of Bishops ecumenical officer, has served as the conference’s interim leader since March, after Carcaño was suspended while the denomination’s complaint process moves forward. In a letter to the conference, Dyck said she has agreed to remain as interim bishop.
Read announcement
Read letter from Bishop Dyck
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.
Higher Education and Ministry
Reflections on jurisdictional conferences
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Thirteen new bishops were elected at U.S. jurisdictional conferences Nov. 2-5, but that was not the only thing that happened. Staff members with the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry reflect on how the meetings stressed belonging, faithfulness and discovery.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
ResourceUMC
Help for celebrating Student Day
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Student Day, one of the denomination’s special Sundays, is Nov. 27. Special offerings on this day support scholarships and loans for students attending United Methodist-related and other accredited colleges and universities. United Methodist Communications has resources to help pastors and leaders celebrate the day, which this year coincides with the first Sunday of Advent.
See resources
EVENTS
Monday, Nov. 28-Friday, Dec. 23
Online course: Prepare the Way for the Lord
Monday, Dec. 5-Friday, Dec. 16
Online course: Transforming Evangelism
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
Love of children brings $800,000 gift to Zimbabwe
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — In 2001, the Rev. John Holler and a mission team from South Carolina traveled thousands of miles to work at the Fairfield Children’s Home. They fell in love with the orphans and The United Methodist Church’s Old Mutare Mission that was caring for them. Holler promised to return. Last month, he walked back on the campus with a gift of $800,029. Kathy L. Gilbert reports.
Read story
United Methodists build strong ties at children's home
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Charles and Carol Moore and the Rev. Owen Ross have personal connections to Fairfield Children’s Home. The Moores, members of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, sponsor 5-year-old twins who live at the home. Ross, director of church development in the North Texas Conference, bonded with the children at Fairfield during a semester at Africa University. All three returned to Zimbabwe for Africa University’s 30th anniversary celebration. Kathy L. Gilbert has their stories.
Read the Moores' story
Read Ross' story
UM News: Africa University celebrates 30 years
Complaint filed against gay bishop’s consecration
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Western Jurisdiction bishops are facing an unusual public complaint following the consecration of the denomination's second bishop who is openly gay and married to someone of the same gender. The complaint, which is online and open to others to sign, comes after each of the five U.S. jurisdictions passed a resolution urging The United Methodist Church to affirm LGBTQ people. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
‘Ghosts’ actress is a lifelong United Methodist
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — One of the stars of the hit CBS sitcom “Ghosts” credits her upbringing in The United Methodist Church with helping her develop “an empathetic ear” that helps her succeed as an actress. Sheila Carrasco, daughter of retired pastor and superintendent the Rev. Oscar Carrasco, plays the ghost of a hippie named Flower on the show. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
Hollering for Change: Reflections on historic election
SEVERNA PARK, Md. (UM News) — In the wake of the election of Bishop Delores “Dee” Williamston, the first Black woman elected to the episcopacy in the South Central Jurisdiction, the latest installment of “Hollering for Change” looks at the history-making event. The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler speaks with the Rev. Wanda Bass about what it was like to be in the room when Williamston was elected and her hopes for the new bishop’s leadership.
Watch video
UM News: ‘You can holler for your safety because you matter’
Commentary: Is this a time for church innovation?
SANTA FE, N.M. (UM News) — Taking an example from how director George Lucas’ vision helped revolutionize the film industry, the Rev. D.G. Hollums asks whether a pending split is an opportunity to reimagine the denomination.
Read commentary
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