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UM News Digest - June 13, 2025
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A National Guardsman stands watch at a June 10 prayer vigil organized by the United Methodist-founded Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice in downtown Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice.
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Working for immigrant rights and peace in LA
LOS ANGELES (UM News) — As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations have ramped up, United Methodists in the Los Angeles area have joined in efforts to support immigrants. They are also striving to de-escalate a tense situation after President Trump deployed National Guardsmen and U.S. Marines over the objections of state and local leaders. Heather Hahn reports. |
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Louisiana Conference
Responding to visa emergency at Lydia Patterson
BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana Annual Conference unanimously voted to support immigrants, just as attendees heard news that the U.S. government is halting visa interviews, threatening the immediate future of the Lydia Patterson Institute, a United Methodist college-preparatory school that welcomes students from Mexico. An emotional moment unfolded June 12 as Carla Cardoza, the school’s president, shared news of the U.S. State Department’s pause. If such a situation remains, about 30% of students will not be able to return to the El Paso, Texas, school in the fall. Mark Lambert and Todd Rossnagel report.
Read story
Read about Cardoza’s emotional address
UM News: Lydia Patterson is a dream maker
Donation helps girls stay in school
ZIMUNYA, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Women in The United Methodist Church’s Mutare District collected and distributed sanitary pads to underprivileged girls at two schools in Zimunya. For many, access to sanitary products is a challenge. Teachers say the gifts will allow girls to stay in school during menstruation and also restore dignity. Priscilla Muzerengwa has the story.
Watch video
Michigan Conference
Bishop responds to vandalism
ACME, Mich. — Vandalism at the Michigan Annual Conference is a good reminder of the need to continue anti-bias and anti-racist work, Bishop David Bard said in a statement. A prayer room set up at the conference at the Grand Traverse Resort was defaced by a racial slur written on a photo and some symbols that could be interpreted as denigrating to women. Conference officials are working with law enforcement to discover who is responsible for the vandalism.
Read bishop’s statement |
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Great Plains Conference
Bishop asks for compassion after raid in Omaha
TOPEKA, Kan. — Great Plains Conference Bishop David Wilson asks United Methodists to join him in prayer for all affected by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid that took place June 10 in south Omaha, Nebraska. The Rev. The Cesar M Duran also shared the perspectives of Latino pastors on the raids.
Read bishop’s statement
Read Duran’s story
Religion News Service
Faith leaders argue GOP bill hurts poor
WASHINGTON — United Methodists were among the religious leaders urging lawmakers to vote against a Republican-led budget bill currently before the U.S. Senate. They argue proposed cuts as well as provisions involving public education will disproportionately hurt low-income Americans. Among those participating in a public vigil and talking to senators June 10 were participants from United Women in Faith and the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. Jack Jenkins reports.
Read story
See photos on Facebook
New 2025 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2025 annual conference reports. New this week are the Alabama-West Florida, Alaska, Holston and Indiana conferences.
Read reports |
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| 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. |
We need a new table where all are welcome
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Ben Smith, a young adult leader in the Holston Conference, says United Methodist systems function to protect power and preserve a table that was never built with everyone in mind. “If The United Methodist Church is going to have a future, it won’t come from doubling down on what’s familiar. Instead, it will come from a movement of people — especially those long pushed to the margins — not just pulling up chairs, but building a new table from scratch,” he writes.
Read commentary |
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Foundation for Evangelism
Foundation awards local-church grants
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — The Foundation for Evangelism has chosen 53 Wesleyan-tradition churches and organizations to receive an Equipping the Local Church grant. Of those selected for the 2025 grant cycle, 31 are United Methodist. The selected proposals reflect an array of initiatives, each uniquely tailored to a holistic vision for evangelism.
Read press release and see recipients |
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Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News
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Wedding ban gone, church honors 3 gay couples
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — For Pride Month, Edgehill United Methodist Church held a vow-renewal service for three gay couples. The married couples, all leaders in the congregation, previously were unable to wed in their church home under denomination-wide restrictions that ended last year. Heather Hahn has the story, and Mike DuBose has photos.
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Photo courtesy of the Africa University Public Affairs Office
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622 graduate at Africa University
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — More than 600 students from 20 African countries graduated at Africa University’s 31st graduation ceremony. The pan-African United Methodist institution also celebrated the attainment of inaugural degrees offered in partnership with Wesley Theological Seminary and Claflin University. Eveline Chikwanah reports.
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Photo from video by Lilla Marigza, UM News
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Accessibility audits expand church’s welcome
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist Church has taken steps toward making churches more accessible to those with disabilities. The Holston Conference is making accessibility audits a priority. “It was really good just to be reminded of all the ways we can be more open and hospitable,” said the Rev. Elaine Ruth. Lilla Marigza has the story.
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Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News
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What’s new in Book of Discipline on human sexuality?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The 2024 General Conference passed more changes to statements regarding human sexuality than any previous General Conference, reversing 52 years of policies that had steadily increased restrictions on LGBTQ people. The Rev. Taylor W Burton Edwards offers an analysis in Part 5 of Ask The UMC’s series on “What’s new in the Book of Discipline.”
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