UM News Digest - Oct. 27, 2025

UM News Digest - Oct. 27, 2025

Single church members find support in sisterhood
Event calls church to imagination and joy
Choir brings ‘Amazing Grace’ to Carnegie Hall

“We meet for spiritual growth, empowerment and fellowship. God is always there for us.” — Cathrine Muchenje, a widow of 25 years and member of Women of Substance.

Women of Substance members sing during a Mountain Prayer Program at Ewanrigg Botanical Gardens in Harare, Zimbabwe. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News.

Single church members find support in sisterhood
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — United Methodist women in Zimbabwe’s Harare East District are discovering new ways to connect with God and each other through a partnership with the Indiana Conference. Called Women of Substance, the group comprises single, divorced and widowed church members who participate in prayer retreats, excursions and training for income-generating projects. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.

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Beauty Baruwa sits with God in prayer during a Mountain Prayer Program at Ewanrigg Botanical Gardens in Harare, Zimbabwe. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News.

Desert Southwest Conference
Event calls church to imagination and joy
LAS VEGAS — What happens in Vegas might usually stay in Vegas, but not this time. The Viva La Church gathering, held Oct. 21-23 at Green Valley United Methodist Church, brought together innovators, dreamers and builders from across the U.S. to help foster a church movement of imagination and joy. Christina Dillabough reports.
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Minnesota Conference
Choir brings ‘Amazing Grace’ to Carnegie Hall
MAPLE GROVE, Minn. — Choir members from Cross Winds United Methodist Church performed at Carnegie Hall in New York last summer. Maple Grove-based composer Lloyd Larson recruited the singers to perform his cantata about the life of John Newton, the slave trader turned minister and abolitionist who wrote “Amazing Grace.” Reid Baumann has the story.
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Mississippi Conference
Fall outreach connects churches, communities
WEST POINT, Miss. — Churches across the Mississippi Conference are taking advantage of cooler fall weather to reach out to their communities. Outdoor worship, carnivals and trunk or treat open doors for members of the community to learn about churches and for the churches in turn to show the love of Christ. Matthew Johnson reports.
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Horizon Texas Conference
Church trains immigration court observers
DALLAS — More than 30 people representing 10 United Methodist churches and community organizations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area received training at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church to be observers in immigration courts. “Folks are showing up doing the right thing, showing up for their court hearing, only to be apprehended in the hallways,” explained Noemi Rios, founder of the nonprofit that led the training. The Rev. Andrew Fiser has the story.
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Church World Service
Faith leaders defend refugee program
NEW YORK — Roland Fernandes, United Methodist agency executive, joined with other denominational leaders in a Church World Service statement protesting the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. refugee program. The United Methodist Church is part of Church World Service, which helps resettle refugees. Fernandes leads the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, Board of Higher Education and Ministry as well as the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
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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.

Status and Role of Women
Love doesn’t mean tolerating abuse
GLENVIEW, Ill. — October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. During this month, the Rev. Tyler Schwaller reflects on how Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13 might be misused to justify staying in an abusive relationship. Schwaller, the director of sexual ethics for the United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women, writes that “love does not bear all things in the sense of tolerating anything, even abuse. Quite the opposite.”
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South Carolina Conference
Pastor couple’s book explores spiritual growth
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina United Methodist Advocate’s book-publishing arm, the Advocate Press, has published a book by husband-and-wife United Methodist pastors. “A Moment to Breathe: Sermonic Reflections,” by the Revs. Amenti Sujai and Daniel Hembree, aims to help people take new steps on a path to peace.
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