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UM News Digest - Feb. 14, 2025
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Bishop Mande Muyombo places the bishop's pin on the Rev. Werner Philipp's lapel after he was elected a United Methodist bishop at the Germany Central Conference on Feb. 13 in Würzburg, Germany. Photo by Klaus Ulrich Ruof, EmK Public Relations.
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Germany elects Werner Philipp as bishop
WÜRZBURG, Germany (UM News) — The Germany Central Conference elected the Rev. Werner Philipp, a district superintendent in eastern Germany, as a United Methodist bishop on the seventh ballot on Feb. 13. Philipp will succeed Bishop Harald Rückert. Last year’s General Conference elected Philipp to serve on the Commission on the General Conference. Klaus Ulrich Ruof has the story, and Jennifer Rodia and Lilla Marigza have a video interview. |
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A couple recounts the threats of violence that caused them to flee Mexico with their 1-year-old child in this 2018 file photo. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.
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Church advocates for at-risk immigrants
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodists continue to speak out against measures put in place by the Trump administration to make it easier to deport undocumented immigrants. There have been words of warning, encouragement and some practical advice on what to do when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents knock on church doors looking for people to deport. Jim Patterson reports. |
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Holston Conference
Husband and wife harmonize as co-pastors
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — A conversation with the Revs. Ken Sauer and Clair Sauer is a demonstration in how they harmonize as co-pastors and married partners. Since July 2024, the Sauers have served as co-lead pastors at Oak Ridge’s First United Methodist Church. The church also played a part in their love story. Annette Spence has this Valentine’s Day feature.
Read story
United Media Channel TV
Video asks United Methodists about love
MANILA, Philippines — From the new United Methodist TV studio in the Philippines comes a Valentine’s Day special in its “Life Talks” series. The video asks United Methodists to share their thoughts on love. Among those offering their perspectives are a married clergy couple, a deaconess who advocates for victims of drug violence, and a deaconess who serves as a preschool teacher. Noel Miguel produced the video feature, which is in Tagalog with English subtitles.
Watch video on Facebook
North Georgia Conference
Bishop serves as chaplain for state senate
ATLANTA — Bishop Robin Dease, who leads the North Georgia and South Georgia conferences, served on Feb. 12 as “Chaplain for the Day” in the Georgia State Senate. She offered a heartfelt message to the state senators and closed in prayer for elected leaders. The same day, North Georgia United Methodists participated in an Advocacy Day at the Georgia State Capitol. Sybil Davidson reports.
Read story |
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United Methodist Communications
Regionalization webinar aims to equip voters
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist leaders will host a Worldwide Regionalization & Ratification Webinar at 10 a.m. U.S. Central time Feb. 20. The session will address the significance of worldwide regionalization within The United Methodist Church, its implications for the U.S. church and the potential impact of inaction. The webinar will be held via Zoom for registered attendees and livestreamed on ResourceUMC.org and the United Methodist Videos YouTube channel.
Read press release
Register and share questions
Finance and Administration
Church leaders flock to quadrennial training
HOUSTON — Nearly 380 U.S. United Methodist leaders attended the quadrennial training event organized by the General Council on Finance and Administration, the denomination’s finance and data agency. One particularly well-attended session, “LEADing on Immigration,” was presented by the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race alongside the United Methodist Board of Church and Society.
Read press release
Watch video |
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| UM News includes in the 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 refreshed Wesleyan vision is emerging
CAMBRIDGE, England (UM News) — Following a time of division, The United Methodist Church has an opportunity for renewal by recapturing the vision of John and Charles Wesley, says the Rev. Dr. Paul W. Chilcote. This means being people who embrace inclusion and emphasize Christlike practice, Scriptural dynamism, spiritual growth, missional character and deep love, he writes.
Read commentary
Gettysburg Connection
Government workers benefit taxpayers
GETTYSBURG, Pa. — The attempt by the Trump administration to get rid of many federal employees doesn’t make sense because “hard-working civil servants save taxpayers more than they cost,” writes the Rev. Judy Young, a retired United Methodist pastor. She says that one government program in the Agriculture Department’s Foreign Agriculture Service alone resulted in $1.5 billion in agricultural sales around the world, much more than it cost to run.
Read commentary |
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Image by Sergei Tokmakov, Esq., courtesy of Pixabay
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United Methodists join suit against Trump policy
WASHINGTON (UM News) — A United Methodist agency and three conferences have joined more than two dozen Christian and Jewish bodies in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The religious groups are seeking a reversal of the Trump administration policy that allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to carry out raids in houses of worship. Heather Hahn reports.
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File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News
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USAID freeze strikes Africa University
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — At Africa University, programs researching malaria and tuberculosis were halted and staffers on those efforts were no longer getting their paychecks after funding from the United States Agency on International Development was suspended. The freeze had an immediate $1.2 million impact on the United Methodist university. Jim Patterson reports.
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Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News
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Ask The UMC
Series looks at what’s new in the Discipline
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, is examining changes made in the 2020/2024 Book of Discipline. The series will examine the changes in five different areas, with Part 1 on changes that affect local churches, annual conferences and general agencies. The Rev. Taylor W. Burton Edwards offers an analysis.
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Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News
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Scarritt Bennett Center
Honoring a social justice legacy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In honor of Black History Month, the Scarritt Bennett Center features people who are a part of its legacy of working for social justice. The Rev. Sondrea Tolbert, the center’s executive director, speaks with DeLaris Johnson Risher about her time as a student at Scarritt College for Christian Workers. She was one of two Black students who desegregated the college in 1952. |
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