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UM News Digest - June 6, 2025
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“Let what happened here today echo across Nigeria — that the Church stands with the people, that love is stronger than hate, and that peace is possible even in the most broken places.” — Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel
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Community members affected by a violent attack in Karim Lamido, Nigeria, gather to receive aid from The United Methodist Church on June 4. Photo by the Rev. Filibus Bakari Auta, UM News.
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24 United Methodists killed in Nigeria attack
KARIM LAMIDO, Nigeria (UM News) — At least 24 United Methodists have been confirmed dead in north central Nigeria following a brutal attack by armed gangs believed to be Fulani herders, said United Methodist Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel. The violence is the latest in a rural region where predominantly Muslim herders and predominantly Christian farmers have frequently clashed over land access. United Methodists including the bishop distributed food and other support to survivors, and more relief is in the works. The Rev. Filibus Bakari Auta reports.
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“The Memory Garden” is the first in a series of Christian contemporary novels by Jessica Brodie, editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate and a member of Mount Hebron United Methodist Church in West Columbia, S.C. Flower photograph by congerdesign, courtesy of Pixabay; book cover and portrait, courtesy of Jessica Brodie.
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Author weaves United Methodism into novel
LEXINGTON, S.C. (UM News) — “The Memory Garden,” a book about an unlikely friendship between a woman and an 11-year-old boy from different worlds, was a vision author Jessica Brodie said, “God spoke into my heart.” She said she took inspiration from stories she shared as a writer and editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate. “United Methodism is woven into every element of this book,” Brodie said. Kathy L. Gilbert has the story. |
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Discipleship Ministries
The tale of a church’s turnaround
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In 2017, Glendale United Methodist Church was facing the possibility of closure with attendance reduced to about 33 people. That year also began the church’s reversal of its decline. Ken Sloane writes about how United Methodist connectionalism and commitment to welcome helped the church rebound and experience 300% growth.
Read story
Desert Southwest Conference
Church responds with grace to fire
LAS VEGAS — In the early morning hours June 4, a fire broke out at University United Methodist Church. No one in the congregation was injured, and emergency workers helped keep the damage contained. The church is also ensuring ministry and worship continue as scheduled. Christina Dillabough reports.
Read story
Great Plains Conference
Campus ministers connect at retreat
LINWOOD, Kan. — Nine campus ministers and chaplains from seven states convened at the Tall Oaks Camp and Conference Center to support each other and compare notes. The retreat was focused on discussing vocation and discernment, based on the four seasons of the year. David Burke has the story
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South Carolina Conference
10 churches file suit to leave conference
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ten churches have filed a lawsuit in the South Carolina Supreme Court, seeking to break away from The United Methodist Church yet keep their church property. United Methodist church law states that the conference holds individual church properties in trust for the denomination. The conference has asked the state Supreme Court to assign all separation questions to a single trial judge. Jessica Brodie reports.
Read story on lawsuit
Read story on conference motion
New 2025 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2025 annual conference reports. New this week are the Austria, Michigan, North Alabama and Upper New York conferences.
Read reports |
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Commission on the General Conference
Commission monitoring travel bans
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Commission on the General Conference is monitoring the potential impact on delegate travel resulting from the June 4 executive order that suspended entry to citizens of some countries into the United States. The commission already has a task team exploring alternative options to facilitate full participation in the 2028 General Conference.
Read press release
United Women in Faith
March planned to protest budget cuts
NEW YORK — The Pentecost Witness for Justice and a Moral Budget, a public vigil, procession and meetings with senators, is planned for June 10 in Washington. United Women in Faith members and others will protest the proposed budget Congress is debating, which they say would be “rewarding the wealthiest Americans with tax cuts while brutalizing the most vulnerable with massive cuts to clear social needs.” The gathering is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern time.
Read press release
More information
To register
United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy
Association honors 3 United Methodist bishops
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — The United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy and Friends plans on June 12 to present its Karen P. Oliveto and Robin Ridenour Award to three United Methodist bishops who served as episcopal leaders of what is now the Mountain Sky Conference. The three honored are the late Bishop Melvin E. Wheatley and retired Bishops Roy I. Sano and Mary Ann Swenson. The three were among the 15 U.S. bishops who signed the 1996 Denver General Conference declaration opposing United Methodism’s anti-LGBTQ policies.
Read press release (PDF)
Learn more |
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Photo by Linda Bloom, UM News
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Ruling: Stop alternative church-exit plans
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s top court struck down the Mississippi Conference’s process to let churches leave with property after the denomination’s disaffiliation policy expired. The decision, released before the start of the Mississippi Annual Conference, is the most recent to emphasize that closures cannot be used as alternative paths for church disaffiliations. Heather Hahn reports.
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Cover art courtesy of Abingdon Press
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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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Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News
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Partnerships strengthen Zimbabwe health facilities
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Support from partners across the United Methodist connection has improved services and infrastructure at church mission hospitals and clinics in the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area over the past decade. Patients, health care workers and church leaders are touting the state-of-the-art equipment and upgraded facilities. Eveline Chikwanah has the story.
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Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News
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Nyadire Connection dedicates sixth rural clinic
MUTOKO, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Through faith and perseverance, The Nyadire Connection’s dream of renovating rural health centers in Zimbabwe became reality with the completion of the final Nyadire Mission Hospital clinic. It was the fifth clinic to be revitalized by the Pittsburgh-based nonprofit. A sixth clinic was rebuilt by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Kudzai Chingwe reports.
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Composited by Lilla Marigza, UM News
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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 with 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 Ask The UMC’s “What’s new in the Book of Resolutions” series.
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Photo courtesy of the Rev. Myung Sun Han
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‘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.
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