UM News Digest - Oct 13 2025

UM News Digest - Oct. 13, 2025

Investment debates underway for 2028
Abisay Juwakali remembered as holistic leader
Conference sets up fund for immigrants

“I think this new United Methodist Church can be defined by collaboration, candor and shared values.” — Florida Conference Bishop Tom Berlin, after attending a gathering on church investment policies.

Sara Metroff (left), marketing manager of investment for Wespath Benefits and Investments, speaks with M. Theresa Basile (middle), co-founder of United Methodists for Kairos Response, and Andy Hendren (right), top executive of Wespath, during September meetings at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Photo courtesy of Wespath Benefits and Investments.

Investment debates underway for 2028
CHICAGO (UM News) — Wespath leaders hosted a summit in hopes of moving toward a consensus on any proposed changes to the denomination’s investment policies ahead of the 2028 General Conference. Investment in fossil fuels companies was a focus, with sentiment running high in some church circles that those investments should be avoided because of environmental and other concerns. Jim Patterson reports.

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The Rev. Abisay Lameck Juwakali, described as an inspiration for resilient leadership and service as well as a pioneer of holistic mission, died Oct. 5 in a traffic accident. Photo courtesy of the Tanzania Annual Conference.

Abisay Juwakali remembered as holistic leader
MWANZA, Tanzania (UM News) — The Rev. Abisay Lameck Juwakali, an advocate for ministry combining evangelism, education and health, died Oct. 5 in a traffic accident in Tanzania. Bishop Mande Muyombo described him as an “inspiration to young pastors” and a pioneer of holistic mission. Asaph Sungura Ally and Chadrack Tambwe Londe have an obituary.

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Northern Illinois Conference
Conference sets up fund for immigrants
CHICAGO — Bishop Dan Schwerin announced that the Northern Illinois Conference has set up an “Emergency Solidarity Fund” for immigrants afraid to leave their homes amid the onslaught of masked federal agents grabbing people from the streets. “You can imagine that winter brings economic challenges to many, but in this moment, immigrant communities in particular are suffering,” the bishop writes.
Read bishop’s statement
Donate to fund

Global Ministries
Church responding to federal cutbacks
ATLANTA — A fundraising campaign dubbed “This Moment Matters” aims to raise $17 million to support the work of the United Methodist boards of Global Ministries and Higher Education and Ministry. Roland Fernandes, top executive of both boards, announced the campaign during joint board meetings Oct. 8-10 on Zoom. Projections estimate 14 million deaths by 2030 due to the dismantling of USAID programs.
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UM News: Africa University restarts malaria program

New York Conference
Historic Manhattan church plans to replace roof
NEW YORK — The Spanish tile roof that sits atop the historic home of St. Paul and St. Andrew United Methodist Church on Manhattan’s Upper West Side was to built to last a century. It’s been 128 years. The church, known across the city for its justice ministries, has now embarked on replacing the roof that has served faithfully but is finally failing. Lisa Isom and Joy Duckett-Cain have the story.
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UM News: Learning to 'live welcome' in response to human need

Church and Society
Inaugural training held for faith-based organizing
BALTIMORE — United Methodist leaders from across the United States gathered Oct. 1-3 for the inaugural National Faith-Based Grassroots Organizing Gathering — a denomination-wide training designed to equip leaders for justice work rooted in the Gospel and the United Methodist Social Principles. Participants described the gathering as helpful both spiritually and practically. The Rev. Laura Kigweba reports.
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World Council of Churches
Ecumenical group welcomes Middle East ceasefire
GENEVA — The Rev. Jerry Pillay, top executive of the World Council of Churches, welcomed with profound relief the initial implementation of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. On behalf of the ecumenical group that United Methodists helped found, he also welcomed the news on Oct. 13 of the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
Read statement

United Women in Faith, Native American International Caucus
Indigenous Peoples’ Day observed
NEW YORK — United Women in Faith joins with the Native American International Caucus in marking Indigenous People’s Day on Oct. 13. The day honors the history, resilience and ongoing contributions of Indigenous communities, said Ragghi Rain Calentine, chair of the caucus.
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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.

Baltimore-Washington Conference
What ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ teaches about anger
WASHINGTON — Alison Burdett of the Baltimore-Washington Conference watched Netflix’s “K-Pop Demon Hunters” a few weeks ago with her family. She hasn’t stopped thinking about it since. “As a Christian mom, I’m grateful when a movie shows inner conflict honestly: how anger can feel righteous, how crowds can sweep us along, and how choosing against that current can be the bravest act in the room,” she writes.
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