UM News Digest - May 27, 2026

UM News Digest - May 27, 2026

Women in construction • Ebola response • Church accessibility

“I’ve always kind of been prone to blue-collar construction work. … I like it. I don’t mind getting dirty.” — Sarah Bernardo, a Women in Construction student and business owner.

Instructor Marion McAuley (center facing camera) teaches students how to drive screws with an electric drill at the Women in Construction program in Biloxi, Miss. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Program helps women build construction careers
GULFPORT, Miss. (UM News) — In a job market rife with low-paying hospitality jobs, getting hired as a construction worker offers a path to a better life for women. An innovative Mississippi program, supported by United Women in Faith, helps them get there. Jim Patterson has the story, and Mike DuBose has photos.

Read story

The Rev. Clément Kingombe Lutala (center), Dr. Damas Lushima (back center) and several United Methodist lay leaders wear masks and observe safety protocols in front of Ibanda United Methodist Church in South Kivu, Congo, amid a deadly Ebola outbreak in the region. Bishop Antoine Tambwe Kalema is calling all parishes to implement mandatory preventive measures to curb the spread of the virus. Photo by Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UM News.

The Rev. Clément Kingombe Lutala (center), Dr. Damas Lushima (back center) and United Methodist lay leaders wear masks and observe safety protocols in front of Ibanda United Methodist Church in South Kivu, Congo, amid a deadly Ebola outbreak in the region. Photo by Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UM News.

Church urges vigilance amid Ebola outbreak
ITURI, Congo (UM News) — The United Methodist Church in East Congo is mobilizing to respond to a fast-growing Ebola outbreak that has led to over 200 suspected deaths and more than 1,000 cases. The response includes awareness campaigns in local churches and support for frontline interventions in and around the 10 United Methodist health facilities in Ituri Province, the outbreak’s epicenter. Philippe Kituka Lolonga reports.
Read story

Minnesota Conference
Conference plans ‘Day of Justice’
ST. CLOUD, Minn. — The Minnesota Conference plans to hold a pre-annual-conference Day of Justice from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. U.S. Central time June 15 at the River's Edge Convention Center. During the gathering, lay and clergy participants will delve into the denomination’s Social Principles and explore such topics as care for migrants, civil disobedience, disability rights and voting rights. Reid Baumann has the story.
Read story
UM News: Minnesota pastor testifies to U.S. Congress

Holston Conference, Shopper News
Church’s sign messages spread joy on highway
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Caleb Pitkin spends his Sunday mornings preaching inside the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, which has started going by First Church Knox. But Pitkin and a couple of enthusiastic church members also have started their version of street preaching through clever messaging on their sign along busy Kingston Pike. One such message: “Jesus Would Let Folks Merge on 75.” John Shearer has the story.
Read story

Global Ministries, Higher Education and Ministry
Addressing campus food insecurity
ATLANTA — As students face mounting financial pressures from cuts in student support programs on U.S. university campuses, the United Methodist boards of Global Ministries and Higher Education and Ministry are offering campus food and hygiene insecurity grants for United Methodist-related colleges. A total of 20 $10,000 grants will be available to institutions with fewer than 1,500 students to strengthen campus food pantries and related services. Applications will open June 1 and close Aug. 31.
Read press release

Louisiana Conference
Johnson named to Dillard post
NEW ORLEANS — The Rev. Angela “Angie” Johnson has been appointed dean of chapel at United Methodist-related Dillard University. Johnson currently is senior pastor of Columbia Drive United Methodist Church in Decatur, Georgia. She has an extensive background in higher education ministry including service at Emory University and Spelman College.
Read press release

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.

Helping people ‘hear the Gospel’ in new ways
CARROLLTON, Va. (UM News) — May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, a good time for United Methodist churches to examine ways to improve hearing accessibility, says retired Bishop Peggy A. Johnson. “People with hearing challenges as well as all members of the Body of Christ are gifted and needed for the church to function at full capacity. The church can open doors to many talented and Spirit-empowered people as it provides access to the Deaf community,” she writes.
Read commentary