UM News Digest - July 1, 2026

UM News Digest - July 1, 2026

Supreme Court rulings | Ebola response | Annual conferences

“Our rejoicing is therefore tempered, incomplete while the rulings of these same days leave others afraid.” — Council of Bishops President Ruben Saenz Jr., responding to the U.S. Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship decision.

The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington. File photo by Clayton Childers, United Methodist Board of Church and Society.

Church cheers birthright citizenship ruling
WASHINGTON — United Methodists expressed gratitude that the U.S. Supreme Court overturned President Trump’s executive order denying birthright citizenship. However, they also lamented that the high court upheld other Trump administration actions targeting even legal immigrants. Heather Hahn has the story.

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Council of Bishops statement

Dr. Damas Lushima, wearing a mask and a Global Ministries vest, stands in front of the Ebola treatment center at the Rwampara General Referral Hospital in Bunia. Photo courtesy of the Eastern Congo Health Council.

Church steps up Ebola response in Congo
ITURI, Congo (UM News) — Facing a deadly Ebola flare-up in Congo, The United Methodist Church is rolling out an integrated spiritual, medical and community based response to protect the most vulnerable populations. Congolese authorities and international partners report more than 1,300 confirmed cases and over 370 deaths linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in Congo. Chadrack Tambwe Londe reports.
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Harper Hill Global helps fight misinformation

Mountain Sky Conference
Conference faces floods and fires
DENVER — Communities are facing devastating fires in Utah and Colorado, as well as catastrophic flooding in Northern Montana. United Methodists in the Mountain Sky Conference, which encompasses these states, are opening up evacuation centers, responding with needed resources and giving to fund emergency and disaster response. In a pastoral letter, Mountain Sky Conference Bishop Kristin Stoneking provides an overview of how the conference is responding.
Read pastoral letter
Donate to UMCOR’s U.S. Disaster Response

New England Conference
Camp property restored to Abenaki Nation
CABOT, Vt. — The original inhabitants of the Covenant Hills camp again have control of the land after decades as a property of The United Methodist Church. The New England Conference transferred the deed to the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation on June 27. The Native Americans plan to host education programs, teach the Abenaki language and traditions such as drum-making there. They will also move their food distribution operation to the campground. The conference has the story. Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton also has a reflection on the restoration.
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Read Bishop Bickerton’s reflection

South Carolina Conference
Packing meals for Rise Against Hunger
GREENVILLE, S.C. — At Annual Conference 2026, South Carolina United Methodists didn't just talk about mission — they lived it. Several hundred people gathered at the Greenville Convention Center to pack 125,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger, a nonprofit sending food to hungry people around the world. It was the first conference-wide mission project since before COVID. Jessica Brodie has the story.
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Baltimore-Washington Conference
Generations learn to work together
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Baltimore-Washington Conference congregations gathered June 27 to learn to cultivate intergenerational worship through coaching, collaborative learning, resource development and congregational partnerships. The Growing Together in Faith initiative seeks to create lasting cultural change by helping congregations become places where all generations participate fully in the life of the church together. Alison Burdett reports.
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Peninsula-Delaware Conference
Record attendance at Men’s Hour of Prayer
DOVER, Del. — The Peninsula-Delaware Conference United Methodist Men hosted their third virtual Hour of Prayer on June 16. The gathering drew a record 50 participants for prayer, worship, discipleship and encouragement. The theme, based on The United Methodist Church’s vision, was “Rooted in Christ to Love Boldly, Serve Joyfully, and Lead Courageously.” The conference reports.
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New 2026 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2026 annual conference reports. New this week are the Alaska, East Ohio, Horizon Texas, New England, New Mexico, North Georgia, Oklahoma and West Virginia conferences.
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No Friday digest this week
There will be no UM News Digest on July 3 in honor of U.S. Independence Day. The Digest will resume July 6. The staff at UM News wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday weekend as Americans celebrate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. Feel free to download this UM News graphic to mark the day.
Download graphic

InvestUMC
InvestUMC announces strategic enhancements
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The board of InvestUMC, formerly known as the United Methodist Church Foundation, has approved a series of strategic updates designed to strengthen InvestUMC’s investment platform, improve long-term performance evaluation and better serve United Methodist ministries. InvestUMC works with the General Council on Finance and Administration, the denomination’s finance agency.
Read press release