UM News Digest - Sept. 18, 2026

UM News Digest - Sept. 18, 2026

Water for Life | MARCHA meeting | James Laney and AU

“Though we were taught how to treat the creek water before drinking it, this water will be a lot safer for us to drink.” — Helena Dolo, on a water well The United Methodist Church provided in her Liberian community.

Members of Bartee Pannoh United Methodist Church and community members celebrate during the dedication of a water well in the Karquekpo community in Sinoe County, Liberia. Photo courtesy of the United Methodist Human Rights Monitor.

Church expands access to clean water in Liberia
GREENVILLE, Liberia (UM News) — Through its Water for Life initiative, the Liberia Conference is installing water wells and sanitation facilities throughout the country to help reduce waterborne diseases and improve safety and equity for women and girls. E Julu Swen has the story.

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Members of MARCHA discuss priorities during their online annual meeting, held July 31-Aug. 1. The caucus replaced its in-person meeting with a virtual gathering due to concerns that members of the Hispanic-Latino community could be detained while traveling under the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Advocacy for immigrant communities will remain a priority for the group, members said. Photo composition by the Rev. Gustavo Vasquez, UM News.

Members of MARCHA discuss priorities during their online annual meeting, held July 31-Aug. 1. Photo composition by the Rev. Gustavo Vasquez, UM News.

Hispanic-Latino caucus reviews mission, structure
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s Hispanic-Latino caucus set priorities at its annual meeting, including reviewing bylaws, strengthening ties with Latin America, advocating for immigrant communities and developing the Elías Galván Endowment Fund. The Rev. Gustavo Vásquez reports.
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Great Plains Conference
Bishop supports Resurrection amid campaign barbs
LEAWOOD, Kan. — While campaigning against the Rev. Adam Hamilton, U.S. Vice President JD Vance decried Resurrection, the United Methodist church that Hamilton founded, for co-sponsoring a local Pride festival. Great Plains Conference Bishop David Wilson called the criticism of the congregation “inaccurate and unwarranted,” in a statement extolling the church’s outreach. “I, for one, am proud to know the people of Resurrection are United Methodists, and I am proud to serve beside them along with our other 680 churches across Kansas and Nebraska as their bishop,” Wilson writes.
Read story
UM News: Hamilton honored for connectional leadership

Baltimore-Washington Conference
Flood recovery continues in Maryland
FULTON, Md. — United Methodists continue to assist families affected by a May 2025 flood that devastated Western Maryland. A $200,000 grant from the United Methodist Committee on Relief has funded work groups installing flooring, remediating mold, replacing windows and doors and repairing electric systems. Seventy-one families have been helped so far. Alison Burdett has the story.
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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.

Laney had indelible impact on Africa University
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Rev. Dr. James T. Laney, who died last month at age 98, was a pastor, missionary, university president, U.S. ambassador and lifelong advocate for peace. He was also a friend to Africa University, playing a pivotal role in establishing the pan-African school in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe, more than three decades ago. “Africa University would not be what it is today were it not for Jim Laney,” writes James H. Salley.
Read remembrance
UM News: Remembering James T. Laney, a lifelong friend to Korea

United Methodist Men
Ministry with, not to
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Steven Schied, director of The United Methodist Church’s Center for Scouting Ministry, came upon a car accident while in El Salvador for the World Methodist Council meeting. In that moment, he discovered that despite all his first-aid training, he did not know enough of the local context to truly help. Thankfully, he was not alone. “We are invited to find the rest of the Body of Christ,” he writes.
Read commentary
UM News: Methodist family spotlights justice, peace, joy

Mississippi Conference
Conferences raise money for Gammon
JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi Conference Bishop Sharma Lewis Logan announced that on behalf of the conference, she and other conference leaders presented a $50,000 check toward endowed scholarships at Gammon Theological Seminary, the historically Black United Methodist seminary. The Florida and Virginia annual conferences have already donated $100,000 each to the seminary as part of efforts to raise $500,000 by December.
Read press release
To give to Gammon

Wesleyan Impact Partners
Bishop’s podcast explores church possibilities
AUSTIN, Texas — Bishop Gregory Vaughn Palmer, executive secretary of the Council of Bishops, is hosting “The Unfinished Church,” a podcast that features interviews with fellow United Methodist leaders and explores the questions, possibilities and people shaping the church right now. The podcast, which will release a new episode every two weeks until the end of the year, is from Wesleyan Impact Partners and the Texas Methodist Foundation. The debut features an interview with Bishop LaTrelle Easterling.
Learn more
Listen to introduction
Listen to interview with Bishop Easterling

Reconciling Ministries Network
Webinar on church and transgender rights
CHICAGO — The United Methodist Alliance for Transgender Inclusion, an extension ministry of Reconciling Ministries Network, plans to hold an online panel discussion on “The UMC and Transgender Rights.” The webinar, featuring United Methodist agency and Reconciling Ministries Network leaders, is scheduled at 3 p.m. U.S. Eastern time Sept. 22.
Register and learn more