UM News Digest - Nov. 2, 2026

UM News Digest - Nov. 2, 2026

Council of Bishops meeting | Pastor remembered | Stephen Ministries

“God’s reign is not only coming; it’s already breaking in, like yeast in the dough, like a seed in the ground, like light through a crack in the door of a dark room. The kingdom, the power and the glory belong to God, and so do we.” — Council of Bishops President Rubén Saenz Jr.

Council of Bishops President Rubén Saenz Jr. preaches about the power of the Lord’s Prayer in a video address during the start of the Council of Bishops’ fall meeting. The episcopal leaders will gather online through Nov. 6 for a week centered on worship, prayer and next steps following the Leadership Gathering in Calgary. Screen shot courtesy of the Council of Bishops by UM News.

Council of Bishops President Rubén Saenz Jr. delivers a video address during the start of the Council of Bishops’ fall meeting. Screen shot courtesy of the Council of Bishops by UM News.

Bishops urged to pray God’s future into being
CALGARY, Alberta (UM News) — Council of Bishops President Rubén Saenz Jr. preached about the power of the Lord’s Prayer as the bishops began their first meeting since the Leadership Gathering offered ideas for the future United Methodist Church. “When we pray ‘Your will be done,’ may each of us ask, ‘Whom must we make room for?,’” Saenz said. Heather Hahn has the story.

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The Rev. Francis O. Lunge, pastor of Greenwood Memorial United Methodist Church in Dorchester, Mass., died on Oct. 8 at the age of 41. Family and colleagues remember him as a humble leader devoted to youth and justice. His father, Central Congo Area Bishop Daniel O. Lunge, ordained him posthumously during a thanksgiving service in Kinshasa, Congo. Photo courtesy of the Lunge family.

The Rev. Francis O. Lunge, pastor of Greenwood Memorial United Methodist Church in Dorchester, Mass., died on Oct. 8 at the age of 41. Photo courtesy of the Lunge family.

Pastor, bishop’s son remembered as humble leader
KINSHASA, Congo (UM News) — Friends and colleagues remember the Rev. Francis Lunge, son of Central Congo Bishop Daniel O. Lunge, as a devoted leader with a passion for youth ministry, higher education and social justice. Rev. Lunge died Oct. 8 at the age of 41. Approved for ordination prior to his passing, he was posthumously ordained as an elder during a memorial service in Congo. Chadrack Tambwe Londe and Ombaku Lukute Jean Claver have an obituary.
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Stephen Ministers from First United Methodist Church of Haddonfield, N.J., discuss how to share and use information gained during a celebration and learning event for the ecumenical ministry Sept. 26. Photo by John W. Coleman, UM News.

Ministry marks 50 years of training caregivers
HADDONFIELD, N.J. (UM News) — An ecumenical program that helps Christian lay members offer one-on-one emotional support to neighbors in need is celebrating its 50th anniversary with learning events nationwide. Stephen Ministries has trained more than 600,000 people from over 14,000 congregations and organizations, including nearly 3,000 United Methodist churches. A new initiative aims to help churches address the growing mental health crisis in their communities. John W. Coleman reports.
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Northern Europe and Ukraine Regional Conference
Church prepares for winter in Ukraine
UZHHOROD, Ukraine — As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues, The United Methodist Church is establishing resilience centers to provide warmth, electricity, community and hope to vulnerable families in Ukraine. The two centers will be able to provide up to 30 hot meals each day, in addition to hot beverages, internet access and charging facilities. Their purpose is not only to meet physical needs but also to reduce isolation, stress and loneliness. The Revs. Yulia Starodubets and Oleg Starodubets and Bishop Knut Refsdal have the story.
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UM News: Ukrainian United Methodists care for fellow countrymen

Religion News Service
Mainline Protestants are having a political moment
WASHINGTON — Of the nine pastors, former pastors and seminarians running for Congress as Democrats this year, six — including four locked in tight, widely watched races — belong to mainline Protestant denominations, such as The United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. “I think there’s a lot of religious people — especially, I think, mainline Protestant pastors — who are saying: Somebody’s got to do something,” said the Rev. Adam Hamilton, a United Methodist pastor running an unexpectedly competitive race for U.S. Senate in Kansas. Jack Jenkins reports.
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UM News: On the road with Rev. Adam Hamilton in Kansas

South Carolina Conference
Church offers comfort to families in need
MANNING, S.C. — Manning United Methodist Church has partnered with local police and firefighters to provide food and comfort bags for children and families in crisis, even setting up a storage shed next to the police station to keep supplies close at hand. Jessica Brodie has the story.
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Native American Inter-Tribal Caucus,
Immigration Law & Justice Network
Groups share concerns over border-wall effort
SELBYVILLE, Del. — The Native American Inter-Tribal Caucus expresses deep concern about plans to build a federal border wall in the middle of the ancestral homeland of the Tohono O’odham Nation, whose lands extend between southern Arizona and northern Mexico. “The Nation has cooperated with federal border security efforts for decades while consistently opposing construction of a permanent border wall through its Homeland,” the caucus’ statement said. The border-wall effort also will be the topic of a webinar co-sponsored by the Immigration Law and Justice Network, United Women in Faith, the United Methodist Committee on Relief and others. Resistance from the Borderlands: Arizona Communities Stand Against the Wall is at 2 p.m. U.S. Central time Nov. 4.
Read caucus statement (PDF)
Register for webinar