UM News Digest - Feb. 18, 2026

UM News Digest - Feb. 18, 2026

United Methodists in Nigeria celebrate growth, unity
Making regionalization a reality for the church
US threats to Greenland challenge church

“We are transforming lives, creating jobs and demonstrating that the church can thrive spiritually and economically.” — Nigeria Area Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel.

Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel, who leads The United Methodist Church in Nigeria, presides over a historic joint conference for the church’s five annual conferences, including the reunified Southern Conference. Photo courtesy of UMCN Communications.

United Methodists in Nigeria celebrate growth, unity
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — The United Methodist Church in Nigeria made great strides in 2025, recording membership growth and establishing agriculture ventures. Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel says the church is thriving with a focus on evangelism and income-generating projects that support self-sustainability. Eveline Chikwanah reports.

Read story

Bishop Harald Rückert recites 1 John 4:20-21 during opening worship for a Feb. 6-9 meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, that brought together members of the Committee on Faith and Order, the Connectional Table, the Study of Ministry Commission and the Standing Committee on Regional Conference Matters Outside the USA (previously the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters). Photo by Heather Hahn, UM News.

Making regionalization a reality for the church
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (UM News) — United Methodist leaders from four continents are pressing forward with a significant reimagining of the Book of Discipline that will go before General Conference voters. They also heard an update on the formation of a U.S. regional conference. Heather Hahn has the story.
Read story

US threats to Greenland challenge church
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (UM News) — The Rev. Mark Lewis, a United Methodist pastor from the U.S. who serves in Denmark, shared with church leaders from around the globe the ongoing impact of U.S. aggression on international relations. He also shared what it means for the church. Lewis will be a panelist at the “Serve Joyfully” webinar on mission scheduled on Feb. 21. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Learn more and register for webinar

Oregon-Idaho Conference
Black Swimming Initiative has church origin
PORTLAND, Ore. — Black Swimming Initiative was founded by Lincoln Street United Methodist Church member Emily Lighthipe and fellow triathlete Morgan Spriggs in 2020 to get more Black people invested in water sports and reduce the number of drownings for people of color. Now, in its sixth year, the Black Swimming Initiative is celebrating 1,000 swim lessons given. Kristen Caldwell has the story.
Read story

California-Pacific Conference
Church builds 50th home in Mexico
CHULA VISTA, Calif. — As they have for 14 of the past 15 years, members of First United Methodist Church Chula Vista spent the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. weekend constructing homes in Ensenada, Mexico. This year’s team was the largest ever, totaling 93 people from multiple United Methodist churches. Altogether, the group constructed four homes including First United Methodist’s 50th. The Rev. Brian T. Parcel, the church’s pastor, has the story.
Read story

Holston Conference
10 people describe their call to ministry
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — Resurrection, the Holston Conference’s annual youth retreat, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Because the gathering has inspired hundreds of young people to answer God’s call to full-time ministry, Annette Spence asked 10 clergy and lay people to share their own experiences to honor Resurrection’s four decades.
Read story

Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.
Download this graphic in multiple languages.

Council of Bishops
Bishop Malone shares Lenten message
WASHINGTON — “As we journey toward Holy Week, we are invited to walk more closely with Jesus — to listen to his teachings, to witness his compassion, and to follow him even when the road leads toward sacrifice,” Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone writes in a Lenten message on behalf of the bishops.
Read Lenten message

Religion News Service, World Council of Churches
Remembering Jesse Jackson, civil rights icon
CHICAGO — United Methodist Bishop Julius C. Trimble, a Chicago native, took a moment at a church meeting to remember the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a U.S. civil rights leader who died Feb. 17 at age 84. “He was one of the foremost proponents of global peace and justice that history will record,” said Trimble, who was in high school when he first met Jackson. Both the World Council of Churches and Religion News Service have tributes to Jackson.
Read World Council of Churches tribute
Read Religion News Service obituary

Finance and Administration
Webinar offers church cybersecurity guide
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The General Council on Finance and Administration plans to offer the webinar “Church Survival Guide for a Cybersecurity Journey” at 1 p.m. U.S. Central time March 18. This is the second in the finance agency’s cybersecurity training series for pastors, church staff and key volunteers.
Learn more and register