“Now is a Kairos moment for us to focus on mission and evangelism in Africa in order to advance church growth.” — North Katanga Area Bishop Mande Muyombo, new president of the Africa Colleges of Bishops.
TOP STORY
African bishops commit to church unity
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — During the Africa Colleges of Bishops meeting, episcopal leaders from the African continent pledged their support for worldwide regionalization and expressed a commitment to stay in the United Methodist connection. Eveline Chikwanah reports.
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NEWS AND FEATURES
Church and Society
UM Building offered 'ministry of hospitality' on 9/11
WASHINGTON — As it honors the 100th anniversary of the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill, the United Methodist Board of Church and Society has been highlighting significant days in the building’s history. On Sept. 11, 2001, when federal buildings were evacuated after the 9/11 attacks, Church and Society staff remained for prayer and invited Capitol police officers into the United Methodist Building to gather and call their loved ones.
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Louisiana Conference
Preparing for Hurricane Francine
BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana Conference and the United Methodist Committee on Relief are already gearing up to respond as Hurricane Francine barrels toward the Louisiana coast. UMCOR’s Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin also stands ready to provide emergency supplies. Bishop Delores J. Williamston, preparing for her first hurricane as leader of the Louisiana Conference, offers words of assurance: “We are a conference of hope, even in the midst of a storm.” The Rev. Todd Rossnagel reports.
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Remembering ecumenical leader
MINNEAPOLIS (UM News) — A memorial service for the Rev. Bruce W. Robbins, who died Aug. 3 at age 73, will be livestreamed on Sept. 21. The service will be held at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis at 1 p.m. U.S. Central time. Robbins was an advocate for Christian unity and interfaith dialogue. He served both staff and top leadership roles with the Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns and later served as senior pastor of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church.
Read UM News obituary
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PRESS RELEASES
Horizon Texas Conference
Special session to unite Texas conferences
ABILENE, Texas — The Central Texas, North Texas and Northwest Texas annual conferences will hold a joint special session at 9:30 a.m. U.S. Central time Sept. 28 at the Abilene Convention Center to unify into the Horizon Texas Conference. The three will officially become one on Jan. 1.
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See schedule
California-Pacific Conference
California-Pacific plans special session
PASADENA, Calif. — The California-Pacific Annual Conference plans a special session online at 3-5 p.m. U.S. Pacific time Oct. 5 to review and approve the conference budget as part of a comprehensive spending plan for 2025 and deal with a rules change.
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Register
RESOURCES
Baltimore-Washington Conference
How can churches help prevent gun violence?
FULTON, Md. — United Methodists are in prayer for an end to gun violence in light of recent school shootings in Joppatown, northeast of Baltimore, where a high school student died, and in Winder, Georgia, where two students and two teachers were shot and killed. Since the Columbine shooting in 1999, there have been 417 school shootings in the United States, affecting 383,000 students. The Baltimore-Washington Conference suggests ways congregations can work for gun violence prevention.
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Florida Conference
Election resources offered for churches
LAKELAND, Fla. — Florida Conference Bishop Tom Berlin is offering resources for churches during the U.S. election season. He also has video interviews with the Rev. Adam Hamilton of Kansas’ Resurrection, a United Methodist Church, and Curtis Chang, co-author of “The After Party — Toward Better Christian Politics.”
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RECENT HEADLINES
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EVENTS
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have a United Methodist event to share, you can add it to the calendar with this submission form.
Wednesday, Sept. 18
Migrants Speak webinar: Climate Change, Displacement & Conflict
Sunday, Oct. 6
World Communion Sunday