UM News Digest - July 7, 2025

UM News Digest - July 7, 2025

Grieving church brings comfort in Texas floods
Conference denounces ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
Pastor moves from pulpit to stage

“You can just feel the heaviness in this space. And at the same time, we know that we serve alongside a God of hope, a God of possibility, a God that never leaves us or forsakes us, a God that is always promised to be with us.” — Rio Texas Conference Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, who visited Kerrville, Texas, on July 6.

Workers search through debris at Louise Hays Park in Kerrville, Texas, on July 6 after catastrophic floods over the Fourth of July weekend killed at least 95 people, including 27 campers and counselors at nearby Camp Mystic. Photo by the Rev. Amanda Banda, Rio Texas Conference.

Grieving church brings comfort in Texas floods
KERRVILLE, Texas (UM News) — As the Guadalupe River overflowed early July 4, Kerrville First United Methodist Church quickly opened as a shelter. Since then the church has been providing support and respite for families waiting to hear about their loved ones at Camp Mystic, the Christian camp swallowed by the floodwaters. Church leaders are asking for prayer and that people give money to United Methodist disaster relief. The Rev. Amanda Banda and Heather Hahn have the story.

Read story

See Rio Texas Conference resources and press release
Donate to UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response

Florida Conference
Conference denounces ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
LAKELAND, Fla. — The Florida Conference has issued a statement raising alarm about the immigrant detention center that officials are calling “Alligator Alcatraz.” The center was erected in eight days on land prone to flooding to detain undocumented people for potential deportation. “Leaders and members of The Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church do not support this facility in purpose, design, funding, or location,” the conference said. “We do support a clear path to the process for legal immigration and a reduction in criminal activity.”
Read statement

Great Plains Conference
Pastor moves from pulpit to stage
MCPHERSON, Kan. — The star of a production of “Chicago” at the McPherson Opera House is the pastor of McPherson First United Methodist Church. The Rev. Andrew Conard auditioned for the musical in an attempt to learn more about the community. He didn’t expect to get the lead role of Billy Flynn, but he did. David Burke reports.
Read story

Global Ministries
Central Africans get new church home
ATLANTA — An Atlanta church and the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries are helping a church in the Central African Republic expand. Cascade United Methodist Church helped raise money that led to the new United Methodist temple in the city of Bangui. Global Ministries is also supporting the country’s first United Methodist health facility. Christie R. House has the story.
Read story

Western Pennsylvania Conference
Conference reinstates 2 gay clergy
ERIE, Pa. — The Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference gathered in June with a theme of reconnecting with Christ and one another. This theme was reflected when the clergy session voted to reconnect with the Revs. Jeff Miller and Tim Koch, who had previously surrendered their membership because of the denomination’s now-deleted ban on gay clergy. RoBear Wilson has the story, and Ron Chan has the photos.
Read story and see photos

Finance and Administration
Leticia Mayberry Wright named general counsel
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The General Council on Finance and Administration, the denomination’s finance agency, has named Leticia Mayberry Wright as general counsel. Mayberry Wright, who previously was interim general counsel, has served in the agency’s legal department since 2013.
Read press release

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.

Native American International Caucus, Religion and Race
A Native American look at the Fourth of July
SELBYVILLE, Del. — For many Native Americans, the Fourth of July is not a day of celebration, but a day of reflection on the history of colonization and its ongoing impact. Ragghi Rain Calentine, chair of the United Methodist Native American International Caucus and an Eastern Cherokee storyteller, shares the historical context of the U.S. Revolutionary War from a Native perspective.
Read letter

Religion and Race, Council of Bishops
Webinar set on birthright citizenship
WASHINGTON — In response to the recent Supreme Court decision related to Birthright Citizenship, an alliance of United Methodist general agencies, the United Methodist Council of Bishops, and partner organizations have planned a live webinar at 8 p.m. U.S. Eastern time July 17.
Learn more
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