UM News Digest - June 4, 2025

UM News Digest - June 4, 2025

Being ‘vile’ is a good thing, historian says
Examining updates in the Book of Resolutions
‘Not-so-obvious introvert’ on church’s new vision

“If we’re going to actually ground ourselves in (John) Wesley, it’s really hard to not be progressive socially.” — Ashley Boggan, top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History.

Centered on the moment John Wesley “submitted to be more vile" in spreading the love of God to all people, Ashley Boggan argues in her new book that Wesleyan “vile-tality” is at the core of who we are as Methodists. Cover art courtesy of Abingdon Press.

Being ‘vile’ is a good thing, historian says
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — A return to roots for The United Methodist Church means being a countercultural movement again, says the top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History. Ashley Boggan argues in her new book that United Methodists need to submit to being “more vile” like Methodism founder John Wesley did when he preached in the fields. Jim Patterson reports.

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UM News: Archives and History sets big plans

Ask The UMC
Examining updates in the Book of Resolutions
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With the reorganization of the Social Principles in 2024, the fourth section of the Book of Resolutions, The Political Community, has expanded more than all others. It is now the largest section, including 72 resolutions. The subtopics now included represent a shift in awareness in The United Methodist Church, writes the Rev. Taylor W Burton Edwards in Part 4 of the “What’s new in the Book of Resolutions” series.
Read analysis
Read more in series

Baltimore-Washington Conference
UMCOR grant funds notary clinics for migrants
FULTON, Md. — The Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware conferences, which share a bishop, have jointly been awarded a $10,000 grant from the United Methodist Committee on Relief for Standby Guardianship Clinics. The effort seeks to provide notary services at no cost for migrant families facing the threat of deportation. The Baltimore-Washington Conference has the story.
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North Georgia Conference
Ministry grows with hydroponic innovation
ATLANTA — Networks Cooperative Ministry, founded by seven churches including Embry Hills and Tucker First United Methodist churches, is going high-tech and low-soil to feed its community. The ministry’s latest development is a project called “Growings” — a hydroponic farm that is already producing more than 350 pounds of fresh, organic produce each month. Sybil Davidson has the story.
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Greater Northwest Area
Making it right when the pulpit gets it wrong
MARYSVILLE, Wash. — After the Rev. Meredith Gudger-Raines, pastor of Marysville United Methodist Church, shared a quote at the end of her sermon she thought was attributed to Pope Leo XIV, she learned she was wrong. Her letter to her congregation in response offers a lesson on why checking sources in a time of disinformation is so important.
Read letter

Higher Education and Ministry
Grants awarded for theological education
EVANSTON, Ill. —The United Methodist Church’s Central Conference Theological Education Fund Commission awarded 83 grants, totaling $1.26 million, to advance theological education in central conferences. The central conferences are eight church regions in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. The next grant application period is Oct. 15-Dec. 15. Kimberly Lord 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.

‘Not-so-obvious introvert’ on church’s new vision
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (UM News) — In The United Methodist Church’s new vision statement, words such as “boldly,” “joyfully” and “courageously” reflect an extroverted ideal, says the Rev. Myung Sun Han. To an introvert, those words can seem to impose an expectation rather than extend an invitation, he writes. However, with a different perspective, the vision statement can be read in a way that resonates well with introverts.
Read commentary
UM News: Bishops unveil vision for United Methodist Church

History Colorado
Remembering the unjust Japanese internment
GRANADA, Colo. — The Rev. Brian Lee, lead pastor of Simpson United Methodist Church in Arvada, Colorado, delivered remarks at the annual ceremony commemorating the history of Japanese Americans illegally imprisoned at Amache, also known as the Granada Relocation Center, during World War II. “Now, more than ever, we need to tell the world the stories of what Amache means to us,” he said.
Read Lee’s remarks

Religion and Race
Agency offers resources for Trinity Sunday
WASHINGTON — As the Christian calendar moves toward Pentecost on June 8 and Trinity Sunday on June 15, the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race is providing resources to celebrate the Trinity. Based on the Athanasian Creed, the agency also has provided a theological framing of the Trinity as it relates to diversity, equity and inclusion.
See resources
See statement

World Council of Churches
Webinar discusses peace for Gaza
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The World Council of Churches plans to have a webinar at 8 a.m. U.S. Central time June 5 as part of the ecumenical group’s campaign “Stop Annexation, End the Occupation,” aimed at paving a path for a just peace in Palestine and Israel.
Learn more
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