UM News Digest - July 15, 2026

UM News Digest - July 15, 2026

Young people’s gathering | New AU dorm | Find-a-Church

“You are the church now, and you are the church of the future.” — Chris Wilterdink, director of Young People’s Ministries, speaking to youth at the Global Young People’s Convocation.

More than 600 participants gathered at the Global Young People's Convocation in Dublin to deepen United Methodist connectionalism among new generations. Jesse Aaron Felicitas of Antagan United Methodist Church in Isabela, Philippines participates in a morning worship service. Photo by the Rev. M. Scott Hughes, Discipleship Ministries.

Jesse Aaron Felicitas of Antagan United Methodist Church in Isabela, Philippines, sings during worship at the Global Young People’s Convocation, held July 7-11 in Dublin, Ireland. Photo by the Rev. M. Scott Hughes, Discipleship Ministries.

Young people’s gathering energizes connection
DUBLIN (UM News) — Breaking from the legislative focus of past gatherings, the 2026 Global Young People’s Convocation shifted toward prioritizing discipleship, cross-cultural connections and authentic relationship-building. The July 7-11 United Methodist forum brought together about 600 young delegates and youth leaders to celebrate, strengthen and actively lead the connectional ministries of the global church. The Rev. Gustavo Vásquez reports.

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Safe, comfortable campus housing for female students is in high demand at Africa University, given its rural location and the lack of reliable public transportation. Photo courtesy of Africa University.

Conferences team up to raise $1.5M for AU dorm
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Responding to Africa University’s pressing need for student housing, two U.S. annual conferences are partnering to raise $1.5 million for building a new dormitory for women. Members of The United Methodist Church’s Upper New York and Susquehanna annual conferences, meeting separately in May and early June, approved the project. Tim Tanton has the story.
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New England Conference
Bishop: Pray, advocate after 2nd ICE death
METHUEN, Mass. — Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, who leads the New England and New York conferences, offered a pastoral response after the death of Joan Sebastian Guerrero, who was the second person killed by federal immigration officials in less than a week. He called for prayer, advocacy and transparency in the investigation of Guerrero’s death.
Read bishop’s statement

Ask The UMC
Keep Find-a-Church profile fresh
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In a new installment of Ask The UMC Shorts, the Rev. Taylor Burton Edwards suggests how often your church should update its Find-a-Church profile. The goal is to keep the information as fresh as possible, he said, noting that the profile is likely the first impression your church is making on potential visitors.
Watch video

Religion News Service
Latina women in Texas reshape denomination
DALLAS — Latina United Methodist Church leaders in Texas are emerging with fresh models for ministry following years of church disaffiliations, decline and uncertainty within the denomination. For many, their leadership is vital to the survival and flourishing of United Methodist congregations across the state and U.S. Chloe Landen and Ellie Ashby have the story.
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UM News: Historic church embraces new era of ministry

New York Conference
Remembering the Rev. John E. Carrington
NEW YORK — The New York Conference is remembering the Rev. John E. Carrington, a longtime pastor and New York City leader who died June 26 at age 100. From 1971 to 1999, he was executive director of the United Methodist City Society. For more than 36 years, Carrington was board chairman of Brooklyn’s New York Methodist Hospital, which is now part of the New York Presbyterian Healthcare System. Its Carrington Pavilion bears his name. Lisa Isom has his obituary.
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United Methodist Congress of the Deaf
Northeastern Deaf ministry leaders gather
WILMINGTON, Del. — People hugged, longtime friends shared updates and hands were flying in ASL during the gathering of Deaf Ministries from across the Northeastern Jurisdiction. The board of the Northeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Congress of the Deaf — a chapter of the Deaf caucus — hosted the June 26-27 gathering at Grace United Methodist Church. The Rev. Leo Yates reports.
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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.

Michigan Conference
Be bold in embracing faith
DOWAGIAC, Mich. — As part of the Michigan Conference’s “America at 250” series, the Rev. Chris Momany argues that, as Wesleyans, United Methodists’ best response to the dangerous ideology of Christian Nationalism must be theological and rooted in the Gospel.
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