UM News Digest - Sept. 15, 2025

UM News Digest - Sept. 15, 2025

Taking worship into the wild
Big push planned to fund pastoral education
Memphis bishop: Be ‘instruments of peace’

“It brings one to a renewed awareness of the world of nature.” — Mary Spurgeon, of First United Methodist of Omaha on her church’s Wild Worship.

Mary Spurgeon stops to listen to the sounds of nature during Wild Worship, an outdoor gathering offered by her church, First United Methodist of Omaha. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Taking worship into the wild
OMAHA, Neb. (UM News) — Wild Worship or Wild Church is a movement in which people gather in natural settings to worship, connect with nature and experience spirituality outside of traditional church buildings. Lilla Marigza reports on First United Methodist Church of Omaha’s unique ministry.

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The Union Theological Seminary choir, under the direction of Deborrah Reyes, helps lead closing worship for The United Methodist Church’s Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters meeting in Manila, Philippines, in 2019. File photo by Heather Hahn, UM News.

Big push planned to fund pastoral education
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist bishops plan a one-time special offering next year to better support pastors’ theological education in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. The board of the denomination’s finance agency gave its approval Sept. 12, clearing the way to boost the endowment fund for educating clergy outside the U.S. in the Wesleyan tradition. Heather Hahn reports.

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Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference
Memphis bishop: Be ‘instruments of peace’
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — With the recent killing of Charlie Kirk in Utah and the Trump administration planning to deploy the National Guard to Memphis, Bishop David Graves implores United Methodists to stand for justice, listen across divides and “be instruments of peace.” Graves leads the Tennessee-Western Kentucky, Kentucky and Central Appalachian Missionary conferences.
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North Georgia Conference
A year after hurricane, church returns home
AUGUSTA, Ga. — When Hurricane Helene struck Augusta last fall, St. John United Methodist Church’s building suffered significant damage. Strong winds peeled back the roof over the 225-year-old church’s sanctuary. On Sept. 7, the church held a service to celebrate the congregation’s return to the sanctuary after the completion of most of the repairs. Sybil Davidson has the story.
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Western Pennsylvania Conference
Pastors’ gathering fosters connection
HOPWOOD, Pa. — The National Fellowship of Associate Members and Local Pastors annual gathering, held Sept. 9-11 at Jumonville Camp and Retreat Center, was an opportunity to experience support, connection, learning and fellowship vital to equipping these uniquely called spiritual leaders. The three-day conference, titled “The Clergy Toolkit: Nuts and Bolts of Local Pastoral Ministry,” featured pre-conference classes, a panel discussion with church leaders and breakout sessions on various aspects of clergy life and ministry. Jeannie Schott has the story.
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Correction: UMCOR’s efforts in Gaza
ATLANTA — A story in Friday’s UM News Digest about the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s support for partners in Gaza linked to a story from 2024. UM News regrets the error. UMCOR continues to support partners in Gaza to bring food and water rations to Palestinian families in the refugee and displacement camps where they are living. Christie R. House offered an update on relief efforts in July.
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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
A reflection on violence, faith and fractured humanity
CHICAGO — In the wake of recent violence in the U.S., the top executive of the United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women asks, “Who are we?” The Rev. Stephanie York Arnold writes that she’s not sure many Christians even want to remember who they’re supposed to be. “It truly seems that all too often physical violence has become our idol and our first response when we face fear, uncertainty, difference and hurt.”
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World Council of Churches
Faith-based webinar planned on AI
GENEVA — The World Council of Churches plans on Oct. 15 to host the first in a series of webinars, “AI and Our Information Society: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly,” on the positive and negative aspects of artificial intelligence and its impact in the digital communication sphere. The webinar is set for 7 a.m. U.S. Central time.
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