“I am not trying to make a political statement, but I wanted you to know how God has blessed me as I continue to grow in my understanding of my own life in Christ.” — The Rev. Mary Johnson on transitioning to being a woman.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Bishop’s spouse transitions to be trans woman
WASHINGTON — Because she wants to be a witness to others on a similar journey, the Rev. Mary Johnson is beginning to share the story of her transition from the Rev. Michael Johnson and her choice to live fully as the person she said God created her to be. She is the spouse of retired Bishop Peggy Johnson. Melissa Lauber has the story.
Read story
Read Q&A with the Rev. Mary Johnson
Read Q&A with Bishop Peggy Johnson
Mt. Bethel countersues conference leaders
MARIETTA, Ga. (UM News) — Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church has countersued the North Georgia Conference leadership, which filed a lawsuit in September seeking control of the megachurch. Mt. Bethel argues that the conference is blocking the congregation's efforts to disaffiliate under church law. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
5-NBCDFW
Church responds after school shooting
MANSFIELD, Texas — Community of Hope United Methodist Church opened for prayer and offered counseling after a shooting last week at nearby Timberview High School left four people wounded. Yona Gavino reports.
Read story and watch video
PRESS RELEASES
World Council of Churches
Congratulating Nobel Peace Prize winners
GENEVA — The World Council of Churches sent congratulations to journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, who received the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. Both were recognized for their work championing press freedom in their home countries — Ressa in the Philippines and Muratov in Russia. The WCC expressed solidarity with their ongoing fight for justice and peace.
Read press release
Read Nobel Peace Prize announcement
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.
Church and Society
The traumatic legacy of indigenous boarding schools
WASHINGTON — The Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe attended an online pilgrimage to learn about the experiences of indigenous communities in North America. “As people of faith and for those of us who are U.S. citizens, we must seek truth in order to address the trauma,” writes Henry-Crowe, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Retired pastors reap benefits of farming
Young elder numbers hit record low
EVENTS
Tuesday, Oct. 12
Tuesdays at the Table: What is the role of the Bible in our lives?
NEWS AND FEATURES
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Bishop’s spouse transitions to be trans woman
WASHINGTON — Because she wants to be a witness to others on a similar journey, the Rev. Mary Johnson is beginning to share the story of her transition from the Rev. Michael Johnson and her choice to live fully as the person she said God created her to be. She is the spouse of retired Bishop Peggy Johnson. Melissa Lauber has the story.
Read story
Read Q&A with the Rev. Mary Johnson
Read Q&A with Bishop Peggy Johnson
Mt. Bethel countersues conference leaders
MARIETTA, Ga. (UM News) — Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church has countersued the North Georgia Conference leadership, which filed a lawsuit in September seeking control of the megachurch. Mt. Bethel argues that the conference is blocking the congregation's efforts to disaffiliate under church law. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
5-NBCDFW
Church responds after school shooting
MANSFIELD, Texas — Community of Hope United Methodist Church opened for prayer and offered counseling after a shooting last week at nearby Timberview High School left four people wounded. Yona Gavino reports.
Read story and watch video
PRESS RELEASES
World Council of Churches
Congratulating Nobel Peace Prize winners
GENEVA — The World Council of Churches sent congratulations to journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, who received the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. Both were recognized for their work championing press freedom in their home countries — Ressa in the Philippines and Muratov in Russia. The WCC expressed solidarity with their ongoing fight for justice and peace.
Read press release
Read Nobel Peace Prize announcement
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.
Church and Society
The traumatic legacy of indigenous boarding schools
WASHINGTON — The Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe attended an online pilgrimage to learn about the experiences of indigenous communities in North America. “As people of faith and for those of us who are U.S. citizens, we must seek truth in order to address the trauma,” writes Henry-Crowe, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Retired pastors reap benefits of farming
Young elder numbers hit record low
EVENTS
Tuesday, Oct. 12
Tuesdays at the Table: What is the role of the Bible in our lives?
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