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UM News Digest - May 5, 2025
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“While the Judicial Council ruled what it ruled, there are some contextual realities with that that still need to be honored, particularly in our central conferences.” — Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone, speaking about a church court ruling related to same-sex weddings.
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Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone (center) addresses her fellow bishops and those watching on livestream on May 2, the final day of the council’s spring meeting in Chicago. Sitting beside Malone, from left, are Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., president-designate, and Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, secretary. Photo by Rick Wolcott, Council of Bishops.
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Bishops respond to same-sex wedding ruling
CHICAGO (UM News) — United Methodist bishops seek to ease concerns after the denomination’s top court ruled that trustees cannot bar a pastor from officiating at same-sex weddings within church walls. In a statement approved on the last day of their spring meeting, the bishops note that the decision does not take away rights from central conferences to set their own rules on marriage. Heather Hahn reports. |
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Reinstated clergy members the Revs. Beth Stroud (left), Deen Thompson and Susan Morgan serve communion at a May 1 celebration of full inclusion for LGBTQ persons in The United Methodist Church. Photo by Sam Hodges, UM News.
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‘World shifted’ with full inclusion
DALLAS (UM News) — A May 1 celebration of the one-year anniversary of The United Methodist Church’s move to full inclusion for LGBTQ people drew nearly 200 people to Greenland Hills United Methodist Church. One speaker said “the world shifted” when General Conference made policy changes on ordination and more. Sam Hodges reports. |
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West Ohio Conference
Banner gifted to Korean Methodists
WORTHINGTON, Ohio — Quilting club members of Newark First United Methodist Church stepped up to the challenge of quickly creating a banner to be gifted to the Korean Methodist Church. Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, who leads the East Ohio and West Ohio conferences, requested the banner while visiting the church and being told about the Comfort Quilters. Bishop Seong-Bok Kim of the Seoul Annual Conference accepted the banner when Jung visited recently. “May it serve as a visible sign of our renewed commitment to mission — here in Ohio, in Korea and around the world,” Jung said. West Ohio Conference staff have the story.
Read story
Arkansas Conference
Conference embraces new mission
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — After a year of work, the Arkansas Conference has crafted a new mission statement: “Working together to build vital faith communities by following Jesus, loving people and sharing grace.” The statement is designed to guide the conference into a hope-filled, grace-filled, joy-filled future. Amy Ezell reports.
Read story
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Deaf church marks 50th anniversary
PASADENA, Md. — Magothy Deaf Church celebrated its 50th anniversary May 3 with special guests including Bishop Peggy Johnson, Kelby Brick from the National Association of the Deaf and three former pastors. The congregation is an official United Methodist church, one of a few made up primarily of Deaf, hard-of-hearing and DeafBlind people in the denomination. The Rev. Leo Yates Jr. has the story.
Read story
UMC TV Studios
Church communicators develop new skills
TAYTAY, Philippines — Communicators in the Philippines hope to reach a broader audience using new communications tools. The Taytay United Methodist Church communications team, in partnership with United Methodist Communications, hosted a “Tell Your Church’s Story” training event for churches in the Rizal Philippines Conference East. A dozen church teams brushed up on communications strategies for social media platforms and other skills. Janina Quitlong and Cathy Pimentel report.
Watch video |
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Council of Bishops
Leadership Gathering dates announced
CHICAGO — The Council of Bishops announced that the Leadership Gathering is scheduled for April 22-25, 2026, with the working theme of “Emboldened by the Spirit: Imagining a Church Yet to Be!” The bishops of The United Methodist Church gathered for their spring meeting April 27-May 2 to worship, learn, discern new ways to offer leadership and hear about mission and ministry occurring around the worldwide connection.
Read press release
UM News: Bishops plan for different kind of gathering |
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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. |
Discipleship Ministries
Considering consolidation
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Churches joining together can make themselves more effective, given hard facts like declining attendance, aging buildings, budget shortfalls and volunteer fatigue. Ken Sloane of United Methodist Discipleship Ministries makes the case on how consolidation can lower costs, reorder priorities and lead to better mission work.
Read commentary |
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Image by Ralf Vetterlem, courtesy of Pixabay
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Conference moves toward fossil-fuel divestment
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Earth image by NASA Space Observatory; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News
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Bishops unveil vision for United Methodist Church
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