UM News Digest - July 13,, 2026

UM News Digest - July 13, 2026

Remembering Clara Ester | Leadership Gathering | Lawn ministry

“She never stopped answering God’s call to serve others, to seek justice and to love without reservation.” — Alabama-West Florida Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, on the late Clara Ester.

Clara Ester of the Alabama-West Florida Conference addresses the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Remembering civil rights advocate Clara Ester
MOBILE, Ala. (UM News) — Lifelong United Methodist Clara Jane Ester was inspired by the Revs. Martin Luther King Jr. and James Lawson to fight injustice. She went on to inspire countless others as a civil rights advocate, deaconess and servant leader. Ester died July 9 at age 77. Kathy L. Gilbert has a remembrance.

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The Leadership Gathering, organized by the Council of Bishops, is scheduled to be held Oct. 20-24 at Knox United Church Calgary in downtown Calgary, Canada. Photo courtesy of Knox United Church Calgary.

Leadership Gathering moves ahead amid challenges
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — War in the Middle East and the Ebola outbreak in Congo are adding complications to preparations for the Leadership Gathering scheduled in October in Canada. Nevertheless, organizers are pressing forward with the gathering intended to help set a new course for The United Methodist Church. They also are releasing a survey to get more input from youth and young adults. Heather Hahn reports.
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Wisconsin Conference
Church serving from the lawn up
OAK CREEK, Wis. — Last summer, Oak Creek Community United Methodist Church looked around the church property, and saw a gift: acres of green lawn that stretch around the building. The congregation began reimagining this underutilized land for ministry. Jane Lentz has the story.
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Susquehanna Conference
College café extends ministry to students
STATE COLLEGE, Penn. — Abba Java, a Wesley Foundation ministry at Pennsylvania State University, has long been more than just a coffee shop. It is a place of belonging, connection and community, where students can find friendship and needed support amid the pressures of college life. The Wesley Foundation is connected with St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. The Susquehanna Conference has a video.
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South Georgia Conference
Helping children dream a better future
COLUMBUS, Ga. — Years ago, staff at Open Door Community House asked the children in their after-school program a simple question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The answers shaped how Open Door approaches ministry. The Rev. Stephanie Smith has the story.
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Dakotas Conference
Church closes with gifts
TYNDALL, S.D. — Tyndall United Methodist Church, a fixture in the community for 147 years, held its last worship service in May. But the church is continuing its ministry through donations to nearby Wagner United Methodist Church and other gifts to support its community and the wider denomination. Doreen Gosmire has the story.
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Immigration Task Force
United Methodists denounce ICE killing
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Immigration Task Force grieves the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, whose life was taken during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Houston’s East End neighborhood. In a statement, the task force denounces “the actions that led to his death and reject any system that treats immigrant lives as disposable.” The task force also called for a full, transparent and independent investigation into his death.
Read statement

Council of Bishops
Wespath makes ecumenical connections
GLENVIEW, Ill. — Wespath, the general agency that administers investments and benefit plans for The United Methodist Church, also offers an example of leading ecumenically. Since 2022, Wespath has administered retirement benefits to the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Most recently, the agency has begun attracting ecumenical customers to its institutional investment services, including Baptist, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Mennonite and nondenominational churches, colleges and social service organizations.
Read press release

Camp & Retreat Ministries
New scholarships available for retirees
PHILADELPHIA — United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries is offering scholarships for retired United Methodist camp and retreat ministry leaders to attend the 2027 National Camp & Retreat Leaders’ Gathering on Jan. 24-28 at Zephyr Point, Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Learn more and apply
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