UM News Digest - March 16, 2026

UM News Digest - March 16, 2026

Church leaders explore future of jurisdictions
When fear knocks, the church answers
Commentary: Help heal harm endured by women

“If we could get that passed at 2028 General Conference, it would allow the U.S. to move away from jurisdictions when it’s ready.” — The Rev. Amy Lippoldt, one of a group of leaders considering submitting legislation to let regional conferences decide if they want jurisdictions.

The five U.S. jurisdictions, which each consist of multiple annual conferences, first came into being in 1939. While regionalization leaves the current jurisdictions in place, a group of United Methodist leaders are looking at proposing changes to the denomination’s constitution to allow each regional conference, including the U.S., to decide whether to have jurisdictions. Map from The United Methodist Church Handbook 2025-2028 courtesy of ResourceUMC.

Map from The United Methodist Church Handbook 2025-2028 courtesy of ResourceUMC

Church leaders explore future of jurisdictions
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (UM News) — The major restructuring of The United Methodist Church known as regionalization has left U.S. jurisdictions in place. United Methodist leaders are considering a proposal to leave the existence of jurisdictions up to each of the newly created regional conferences, including the U.S. Heather Hahn reports.

Read story

See research on jurisdictions

El Plan, United Methodist Communications
When fear knocks, the church answers
CHICAGO — What happens when immigration enforcement reshapes daily life — not in theory, but on the streets, in schools and inside churches? The Rev. Juan Garay, communicator for El Plan for Hispanic/Latine Ministry, in collaboration with the Rev. Gustavo Vasquez of United Methodist Communications and Jeehye Kim Pak of the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race, has produced a 12-minute documentary that captures how United Methodist congregations in Chicago are navigating fear and uncertainty amid increased activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A four-story series also documents El Plan’s visits to congregations in the area.
Watch documentary
Read series in Spanish (with translation option)

South Carolina Conference
Men’s ministry event draws crowd
COLUMBIA, S.C. — More than 225 men headed to Journey United Methodist Church on Feb. 20-21 for what became the South Carolina Conference’s largest men’s ministry event in many years. The “Building Bridges Across Generations” Men N Ministry event brought all ages of men and boys — including Scouts — together for an event that its leaders are calling “highly successful and impactful.” Jessica Brodie has the story.
Read story

Higher Education and Ministry
Church support critical to Bennett College
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Support from The United Methodist Church’s Black College Fund is more than financial; it’s essential, says Teresa Hardee, Bennett College’s interim president. Since taking office in July, Hardee has overseen projects made possible by the fund, which provides annual support to the 11 United Methodist-related historically Black colleges and universities. Wendy R. Cromwell has the story.
Read story
Read more in Black College Fund series

Rutgers University
Database shows church-based affordable housing
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — A new report and searchable database is out cataloging completed affordable housing developments and shelters built on religious property in the United States from 2015 to 2025. The database is the work of Nadia A. Mian, senior program director of the Ralph W. Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement at Rutgers University. More than 16 of the projects listed are United Methodist.
See database
Read report (PDF)
UM News: State gives big boost to church housing plan

Faith and Order
Committee continues theological work
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — The Committee on Faith and Order held its annual in-person meeting on Feb. 9-11. Under the Book of Discipline, the committee has the task of leading The United Methodist Church in informed theological reflection and exploration. The committee continues to prioritize revisions to its document “Sent in Love,” a statement on the United Methodist understanding of church. The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, the committee’s secretary, has an update.
Read press release (PDF)

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.

Status and Role of Women
Help heal harm endured by women
GLENVIEW, Ill. — A good preacher “must actively learn the harm others have endured by the church — and then you must seek to repair and heal wounds you may not have personally inflicted,” writes the Rev. Stephanie York Arnold, the top executive of the United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women. Some Bible passages have been weaponized to systemically oppress and shame women, she said. “We must do better if we really want to undo the culture of shame that the church has utilized for centuries.”
Read commentary