UM News Digest - April 6, 2026

UM News Digest - April 6, 2026

Solar oven ministry changes lives
Black caucus wrestles with immigration injustice
Do United Methodists pray for the dead?

“People do not have the luxury of choosing what they’re going to eat; it’s if they’re going to eat.” — Gene Bethke, Solar Oven Partners volunteer.

Recipients of sun-powered ovens learn to adapt local recipes to the new cooking method. This photo was taken during a United Methodist Solar Oven Partners workshop for new oven owners in Bo, Sierra Leone, in December 2025. Photo courtesy of Solar Oven Partners.

Solar oven ministry changes lives
RAYMOND, S.D. (UM News) — Over the past 25 years, United Methodist Solar Oven Partners has offered a simple device to improve nutrition, promote better health and prevent deforestation. Volunteers talk about how these sun-powered ovens are changing lives in places like Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Sierra Leone and the Navajo Nation. Lilla Marigza has the story.

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Tiffany French, a member of Black Methodists for Church Renewal’s New York Conference caucus, relates the harm that immigration enforcement actions are having on Black, largely immigrant communities in her area. Photo by John W. Coleman, UM News.

Black caucus wrestles with immigration injustice
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UM News) — The leader of Black Methodists for Church Renewal urged members gathered for the United Methodist group’s annual meeting to respond to current challenges in the church and society with “faith, compassion, justice and prophetic courage.” The gathering included worship, dialogue and a call to action on the harsh immigration enforcement besieging communities. John W. Coleman reports.
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UM News: Caucuses seek changes to 2028 General Conference plans

United Methodist Communications
Do United Methodists pray for the dead?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In the third installment of “Ask The UMC Shorts,” the Rev. Taylor Burton Edwards explains how United Methodists pray for the dead. “Ask The UMC Shorts” is a collection of brief videos answering frequently asked questions about The United Methodist Church.
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Baltimore-Washington Conference
7 bishops led historic Good Friday service
HANOVER, Md. — In a historic and sacred Good Friday service, all seven active African American female bishops of The United Methodist Church gathered at St. Mark United Methodist Church to proclaim the Seven Last Words of Christ. This is the first time the denomination has had seven active African American female bishops. Alison Burdett has the story.
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Watch full service

New York Conference
‘The Rocks Cry Out’ on Palm Sunday
BRISTOL, Conn. — At Asbury United Methodist Church Forestville, United Methodists gathered for The Rocks Cry Out: A Palm Sunday Service of Esperanza. The event included an act of worship, a declaration of solidarity and a living continuation of the movement sparked by Faithful Resistance: A Public Witness for Immigrant Justice. Members from all the New York Conference’s cooperative parishes in Connecticut were represented at the gathering. Lisa Isom has the story.
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UM News: United Methodists put faith into action on Palm Sunday

South Carolina Conference
From split to unity in vision
AIKEN, S.C. — Almost one year since Trinity United Methodist Church experienced a church split, leaders gathered to pray and consider this new chapter of the remaining congregation’s life. The Rev. Matthew Alexander invited the congregation, saying, “If you have an interest in the future of Trinity, this day of visioning is for you.” Jessica Brodie reports.
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Michigan Conference
Advocacy Day focuses on hunger
LANSING, Mich. — About 300 United Methodists and ecumenical friends joined for the fourth annual Advocacy Day last month to speak up on behalf of people dealing with hunger. Participants gathered for a rally on the Capitol steps before attending 85 scheduled meetings with state senators, representatives and staffers. James Deaton has the story.
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FāVS News
Church becomes refuge — powered by the sun
TWISP, Wash. — Methow Valley United Methodist Church is putting its land to work for the community. A new solar array, battery storage system and soon an EV charging station are transforming the rural Washington church into a resilience hub — offering shelter, clean air and power during wildfires and outages, with a high school senior leading the charge. Emma Ledbetter reports.
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Religion and Race
Talks held about DEI strategy
BALTIMORE — The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race convened 25 leaders from around the globe for a strategic roundtable in response to increasing resistance to diversity, equity and inclusion work. The goal was to create a space for deep discernment, theological reflection and collaborative strategy to effectively move forward. “At a time when DEI is being challenged, misunderstood and even dismantled, the church is called not to retreat, but to respond with clarity, courage and faithfulness to the Gospel,” said the Rev. Giovanni Arroyo, the agency’s top executive.
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Oklahoma Conference
British Methodist leader to speak in Oklahoma
PERKINS, Okla. — The Oklahoma Conference and Lost Creek United Methodist Church will host David Worthington, global ambassador of Methodist Heritage Sites, for a special presentation at 6 p.m. U.S. Central time April 22 at Oak Park Retreat Center in Perkins. Worthington, who also is the former director of the New Room in Bristol, England, will give a presentation on “Wisdom from the Past, Hope for the Future: A Methodist Heritage Story.”
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