UM News Digest - July 14, 2025

UM News Digest - July 14, 2025

Mid Africa Central Conference elects 3 bishops
New pastors ready to serve in Middle East
Bishop witnesses resilience at Lydia Patterson

From left, Bishops Nelson Kalombo Ngoy, Antoine Kalema Tambwe, Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone and Bishop Mujinga Kashala pose for a photo after the consecration of the new bishops during the Mid Africa Central Conference in Kitwe, Zambia. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News.

Mid Africa Central Conference elects 3 bishops
KITWE, Zambia (UM News) — The Mid Africa Central Conference, formerly the Congo Central Conference, has elected three new bishops to lead the East Congo, South Congo-Zambia and the new Tanganyika episcopal areas. Bishops Antoine Kalema Tambwe, Mujinga Kashala and Nelson Kalombo Ngoy were all elected July 12. Kashala is the second woman elected a United Methodist bishop on the African continent. Chadrack Tambwe Londe reports.

Bishop Kalema

Bishop Kashala

Bishop Ngoy

UM News: Conference gets new name, adds bishop

New pastors ready to serve in Middle East
DOHA, Qatar — Filipino United Methodist missionaries are actively working in the Middle East, particularly in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, to serve the growing number of Filipino overseas workers. Seven new pastors were recently commissioned at a ceremony in Doha. Kyla Ragasa reports for UMC TV.
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UM News: Supporting migrant workers in Hong Kong

Louisiana Conference
Bishop witnesses resilience at Lydia Patterson
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Conference Bishop Delores J. Williamston recently returned from a visit to Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, Texas, where she witnessed firsthand the unwavering commitment of the staff and students at the United Methodist school located on the U.S.-Mexico border. She described a school community that accompanies its students every step of the way. Louisiana Conference staff have the story.
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Kentucky Conference
Church lets pollinator field bloom
LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. — For years, the 1.5-acre field behind Lawrenceburg United Methodist Church was kept tidy with regular mowing. But it wasn’t serving much purpose beyond looking neat. Church member Carol Stewart led the way to the congregation planting a field designed for bees, butterflies and birds. The Kentucky Conference staff report.
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Church and Society
The man behind a landmark Supreme Court case
WASHINGTON — With a Trump administration executive order challenging the 14th Amendment birthright citizenship in the U.S., the United Methodist Board of Church and Society shares the story of Wong Kim Ark. His persistence led to the landmark 1898 U.S. Supreme Court case that affirmed birthright citizenship rights cannot be denied based on race or ancestry.
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Register for birthright-citizenship webinar

Higher Education and Ministry
Annual report surveys year of change
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The 2024 Impact Report from the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry reflects on a year of significant change for the agency and new opportunities for service and reflection, said Roland Fernandes, its top executive. He succeeded the Rev. Greg Bergquist on July 1, 2024, after Bergquist’s retirement. The report highlights the agency’s support for United Methodist students and historically Black colleges and universities and its leadership in convening more than 30 regional and international gatherings for United Methodist-related educational institutions.
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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.

Religion Unplugged
Social enterprise can help save faith
SAN DIEGO — Houses of worship, including United Methodist churches, need to consider using some of their empty space to produce revenue, build foot traffic and reach young constituents. Rick Reinhard, a United Methodist and principal of Niagara Consulting Group, offers advice on using social enterprise to spread God’s word and pay the bills.
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Listen to podcast

United Methodist Communications
Marketing basics for smaller congregations
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Smaller congregations have a unique opportunity to connect deeply with their communities through simple intentional marketing practices. No big budget required. Renee McNeill offers a few basics to get congregations started.
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