UM News Digest - July 27, 2026

UM News Digest - July 27, 2026

Redefining church | West Bank intervention | Shooting response

“I’ve simply gone wherever people needed me.” — The Rev. Misook Park, pastor of Sammool Korean United Methodist Church in Illinois.

Representatives of churches in the Chicago area who are supporting Sammool House meet in the living room of the home, which provides a safe place for women escaping domestic conflict, financial hardship or other crises. The ministry was founded by the Rev. Misook Park (third from left), pastor of Sammool Korean United Methodist Church. Photo courtesy of Sammool House.

Pastor redefines what a church can be
MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. (UM News) — Through a small immigrant congregation and an unmarked guest house for women in crisis, the Rev. Misook Park has quietly built a ministry that extends beyond Sunday worship. Members of Sammool Korean United Methodist describe their church as outward-looking. Despite limited resources, the congregation has continued caring for neighbors. The Rev. Thomas E. Kim has the story.

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UM News is spotlighting thriving congregations and ministries that embody The United Methodist Church’s vision to “love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.”

United Methodist missionary Janet Lahr Lewis (left) visits with Basma Manasra as she and her family harvest olives in 2006 on their farm in the West Bank village of Wadi Foquin. The region has seen increased threats of violence and land confiscation since the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023. File photo by Paul Jeffrey.

Church members urge intervention in West Bank
WADI FOQUIN, West Bank (UM News) — Building on years of partnership with a small village in the West Bank, the California-Nevada Conference has appealed to the U.S. government to put a halt to the “catastrophic situation” unfolding in villages in the Holy Land. The letter, calling for an end to Israeli annexation and occupation of the West Bank, comes as violence escalates in Palestinian villages. Paul Jeffrey reports.
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Greater Northwest Area
Bishop responds to Seattle mass shooting
DES MOINES, Wash. — Greater Northwest Area Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth has issued a call to pray and work for change after a mass shooting July 26 at a Seattle food festival killed three people and injured four, including a toddler. “I am saddened by this loss of life,” writes Bridgeforth, who leads the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest conferences. “I am also outraged by what gun violence does — not only to human bodies, but to families, communities, and our willingness to gather, celebrate, and enjoy one another.”
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South Carolina Conference
Former church treasurer accused of theft
SUMTER, S.C. — South Carolina United Methodists are in prayer for one of their churches after the arrest of a church member accused of stealing more than $400,000 from a congregation. On July 6, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division charged Latrise Latrell Seward, 54, of Rembert, with breach of trust with fraudulent intent while she was serving as the treasurer of Mechanicsville United Methodist Church. Jessica Brodie reports.
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Florida Conference
Campus ministry honored by university
ORLANDO, Fla. — About five years ago, the University of Central Florida’s Wesley Foundation changed its ministry to align with the values and mission of the “beloved community” in the Florida Conference. That included a focus on diversity, inclusion and poverty alleviation. That work did not go unnoticed. The university has honored the campus ministry with its inaugural Community Partner of the Year Award. The conference has the story.
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United Methodist Communications
Resource for Student Day available
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodists can celebrate Student Day, a Special Sunday with an offering for scholarships, any time of year. But for churches interested in celebrating the day during back-to-school season, United Methodist Communications offers a Student Day liturgy and children’s message for Aug. 30. The resource connects that Sunday’s Old Testament lesson on Moses hearing God’s call to how education helps people discern God’s call on their own lives.
See resource
Learn more about Student Day

Association of Ministers with Disabilities
Disability Summit planned Sept. 25
WASHINGTON — Church leaders, disability advocates, caregivers and ministry partners are invited to gather Sept. 25 for the Disability Summit 2026 at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Metairie, Louisiana. The Association of Ministers with Disabilities, a United Methodist caucus, is hosting the gathering. The summit will focus on strengthening disability ministries, promoting accessibility and fostering a more inclusive church for all. The cost is $25.
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