UM News Digest - Jan. 12, 2026

UM News Digest - Jan. 12, 2026

Countering federal violence with neighborly love
Filipino United Methodists celebrate mission in Middle East
Camp boosts reading skills, confidence

“We all know here in the Upper Midwest that the way you care for ice is that you throw a little salt on it. So, I invite you to go into the world and be salt and light.” — Bishop Lanette Plambeck, who leads the Minnesota and Dakotas conferences.

Hundreds of people gather on Jan. 10 in Portland, Ore., in a candlelight vigil for those killed or injured by federal immigration agents earlier in the week. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

Hundreds of people gather on Jan. 10 in Portland, Ore., at a candlelight vigil for those killed or injured by federal immigration agents. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

Countering federal violence with neighborly love
MINNEAPOLIS (UM News) — United Methodists across the U.S. led prayer vigils and protested in solidarity with their neighbors after a week that saw federal immigration enforcement agents kill Renee Good and shoot two people in Portland, Oregon. Pastors also used their sermons to comfort the grieving and offer guidance for how to respond to a government that seems increasingly hostile to large parts of the U.S. population. The message across the denomination is clear: Christ calls disciples to reject violence, welcome the immigrant and work toward a just and loving world. Heather Hahn reports.

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Filipino United Methodists living in the United Arab Emirates gather in Dubai for an annual meeting and celebration that included special choir performances and worship. Screenshot from video by the UAE Media Team.

Filipino church members celebrate Middle East mission
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (UM News) — Filipino United Methodists gathered recently for the Middle East Mission District Annual Gathering. Bishops Ruby-Nell Estrella, Rodel Acdal and Israel Painit of the Philippines Regional Conference joined the community in worship and delivered messages of encouragement to Filipino church members who work abroad in the United Arab Emirates. Larren Jo Basillo and Matthan Bang-asan report for UMC-TV.
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East Ohio Conference
Camp boosts reading skills, confidence
NORTH CANTON, Ohio — Volunteers from Simpson United Methodist Church and the Plain Township School District are combining efforts to help teach students to read. As a school aide, United Methodist Bonnie Bell learned that some children in fifth and sixth grade had never learned to read. Today, she tutors kids weekly and helps run a one-day summer camp for girls. The program is aimed at helping students learn how to read and gain confidence in themselves. Brett Hetherington has the story.
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Mountain Sky Conference
North Carolina center boosts Montana ministry
DENVER — The North Carolina Rural Center has accepted the Mountain Sky Conference as a partner in its Connect Church Hub Cohort. The conference plans to use the Connect Church grant of $375,000 to provide coaching over three years to 25 United Methodist churches in rural Montana. The conference has the story.
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Greater New Jersey Conference
200-year church history includes close calls
BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J. — Union Village United Methodist Church is celebrating its 200th anniversary, and looking back on some close calls it almost didn’t survive. The building was closed and sold in 1907, but the two brothers who bought it had a change of heart and gave it back to the Greater New Jersey Conference. The lowest recorded membership was eight in 1924, but the church kept its doors open, and a new pastor in 1948 was able to revitalize and grow the congregation. YoonCheol Shin reports.
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The Columbus Dispatch
Church to be ‘resilience hub’
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Maize Manor United Methodist Church is going to be a “resilience hub” in its North Linden community, meaning it will be a source of electrical power during climate emergencies. The church received a $75,000 grant from the city, which will fund a battery-powered microgrid and solar panels. Shahid Meighan has the story.
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Read NBC4 story

Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches of Venezuela
Church council in Venezuela urges prayer, peace
SAN CRISTOBAL, Venezuela — The Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches of Venezuela has issued a statement regarding the U.S. military incursion into Venezuela on Jan. 3. “As the Church, we cannot remain indifferent to the uncertainty affecting so many Venezuelan families,” said Bishop Thoby Ramírez on behalf of the council. “We do not agree with war, violence, or any form of imposition that threatens life, human dignity and human rights. Violence, from whatever source it may come, will never be the path to building a just and peaceful nation.”
Read statement

Society of St. Andrew
Lenten devotions available
BIG ISLAND, Va. — Lent starts early this year with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 18. The Society of St. Andrew, the ministry that fights hunger, invites congregations, small groups and individuals to its 40-day Lenten devotionals centered around the theme “Blessed Are the Meek.” The ministry asks a $2.50 donation per booklet ordered.
Learn more and order

United Methodist Alliance for Transgender Inclusion
Transgender State of the Union event planned
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The United Methodist Alliance for Transgender Inclusion plans to hold its first meeting of the year with a “Transgender State of the Union” address given by the Rev. Phillippa Phaneuf. The online address, followed by community conversation, is scheduled at 7 p.m. U.S. Eastern time Jan. 27.
To register