UM News Digest- July 8, 2026

UM News Digest - July 8, 2026

New era for historic church | Civil rights ‘icon’ dies | Congo farm project

“The church’s current growth cannot be understood without recognizing the struggles that shaped us, but our focus is firmly on what God is doing today through new generations.” — The Rev. Nohemí Ramírez, pastor of La Trinidad United Methodist Church in San Antonio.

Leaders of La Trinidad United Methodist Church in San Antonio talk about the church’s 150th anniversary celebration on “SA Live” on May 1. Pictured (from left) are Jen Tobias-Struski, host of the program; Carmen Gámez, chair of the church’s anniversary gala committee; the Rev. Nohemí Ramírez, pastor of La Trinidad; and Patricia Mejía of Spurs Sports & Entertainment. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Nohemí Ramírez.

Historic church embraces new era of ministry
SAN ANTONIO (UM News) — La Trinidad United Methodist Church, San Antonio’s oldest Hispanic Protestant congregation, is marking its 150th anniversary while renewing its commitment to serving new generations and immigrant families. Its historic legacy is fueling a new season of spiritual growth and community renewal. The Rev. Gustavo Vásquez reports.

Read story

(Top left) The Rev. Ralph Edwin “Ed” King Jr. stands behind (left to right) John Hunter Gray (formerly John Salter), Joan Trumpauer (now Mulholland) and Anne Moody offering support as an angry mob attacks a sit-in on May 28, 1963, in the Woolworth’s in Jackson, Miss. (Bottom left) Another view of the sit-in. (Right) In this June 25, 2016, photo, King sits in Woodworth Chapel at Tougaloo College in Jackson, Miss. Black and white photos by Fred Blackwell, courtesy of the Civil Rights Movement Archive; color photo: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis.

Rev. Ed King, civil rights ‘icon,’ dies at 89
JACKSON, Miss. (UM News) — The Rev. Ed King was one of the most prominent white people in the 1960s working to end Mississippi’s segregation and suppression of Black votes. Fellow United Methodists remember his courage in the face of arrests, pushback from church leaders and threats to his life. He died July 4 at the age of 89. Heather Hahn has his obituary.
Read obituary

Global Ministries
Farm project strengthens North Katanga
KAMINA, Congo — In the heart of Congo, a United Methodist farm initiative is redefining community resilience and changing lives. Funded with a grant from the Yambasu Agriculture Initiative, the North Katanga Conference Integrated Agricultural Development Project at Kamisamba Farm is designed to strengthen food security, improve nutrition, enhance skills and create sustainable livelihoods. Norman Yekeye and Kudzai Chingwe report.
Read story

New Mexico Conference
Conference dives deep into Social Principles
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Kathy Jewell, New Mexico Conference lay leader, wanted to help more congregations engage with the 2020/2024 Social Principles as a guide for Christian living in a complex and divided world. She worked with the Rev. Neal Christie, who helped lead the eight-year process to revise the Social Principles, in introducing United Methodists across the conference to the social teachings. Alli Newsom reports.
Read story

Mountain Sky Conference
Mountain Sky marches at Denver Pride
DENVER — United Methodists from across the Mountain Sky Conference stepped into the streets of Denver on June 28 with joy, faith and love to participate in the Denver Pride Parade. It was more than a parade. It was a public witness. Kristian Young has the story.
Read story

United Methodist Congress of the Deaf
DeafBlind people celebrated in special service
PASADENA, Md. — Magothy Deaf Church, a United Methodist congregation, held a DeafBlind Celebration Service on June 28 during DeafBlind Awareness Week. The week honors the achievements and contributions, as well as increases the awareness and inclusion, of DeafBlind individuals. For worship, additional volunteers were recruited to step in as co-navigators, people who provide visual and environmental information, for the DeafBlind people in attendance. The Rev. Leo Yates, the church’s pastor, has the story.
Read story

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.

UMC.org
Scripture that sticks with us shapes our faith
CRYSTAL, Minn. — Unless they are particularly studious, most people grew up reading only the Bible verses that are read in worship services. "Yet despite our busy schedules, it’s important to create space to study the Bible in its entirety to grasp the full story of God’s love for us," writes the Rev. Laquaan Malachi, a licensed local pastor.
Read commentary

Finance and Administration
Deadline approaches for survey
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The General Council on Finance and Administration, the denomination’s finance and data agency, is asking United Methodists to take a survey to help the agency improve its resources and better serve the church. The deadline to take the survey is July 17.
Take survey