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UM News Digest - Nov. 7, 2025
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“As Methodists, we acknowledge our complicity in this dark and painful chapter of history, and we hope that this sacred space continues to be a place of grace, truth and reconciliation.” — Bishop Julius C. Trimble, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, on hosting an exhibit on the Sand Creek Massacre.
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“The Sand Creek Massacre: The Betrayal That Changed Cheyenne and Arapaho People Forever” will be on display Nov. 10-Dec. 1 at the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill in Washington. Photo Courtesy of History Colorado.
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Agencies host Sand Creek Massacre exhibit in DC
WASHINGTON (UM News) — As the U.S. marks Native American Heritage Month, an important piece of Native American and Methodist history is coming to the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill. The United Methodist Board of Church and Society and Commission on Religion and Race are co-hosting the Sand Creek Massacre exhibit as “both an act of confession and a witness of faith.” Joey Butler reports. |
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Michigan Conference
Church helps keep kids warm
ISHPEMING, Mich. — Wesley United Methodist Church is marking its 16th season giving away coats and other winter wear to families in need. The Keep Kids Warm program has touched the lives of hundreds of children, ensuring they are warm and dry when they go to school or play outdoors each winter. Dick Derby has the story.
Read story
UMC.org
Wesleyan wisdom for today’s church
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In an episode of the “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast, Crystal Caviness talks to Wesleyan scholar Paul Chilcote about his new book, “Transformed by Grace,” and how the wisdom of John and Charles Wesley can inspire United Methodists to live into the church’s new vision to “love boldly, serve joyfully and lead courageously.”
Listen to podcast
Greater Northwest Area
Bishops encourage ecumenical public witness
EDMONDS, Wash. — An overflow crowd filled Edmonds United Methodist Church on Oct. 24 for United in Faith: A Call to Action, an ecumenical gathering uniting people of faith to defend democracy and promote compassion and truth. United Methodist Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee urged participants to reclaim faith as moral courage and public witness. Patrick Scriven reports.
Read story |
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World Council of Churches
Climate conference called ‘kairos moment’
BELÉM, Brazil — As the world’s largest climate gathering opens in the Amazon on Nov. 10, the World Council of Churches says this location creates an unprecedented “kairos moment” — a decisive time demanding response. The conference must center the voices of Indigenous peoples and frontline communities in ways previous conferences have failed to do, the ecumenical group says.
Read statement
Delaware News Journal
Deaf pastor brings rural communities together
KENT COUNTY, Del. — The Rev. Rick Kelly, pastor at Kenton and Hartly United Methodist churches, was born almost completely Deaf and said he knows about facing challenges and feelings of being overlooked. He’s leading efforts to serve those in need in rural Kent County. He also has recently published a book, “Call Me Rick: Grace in the Middle,” about his faith journey. Ben Mace has the story.
Read story
Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome
Methodist-Roman Catholic dialogue continues
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — The Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission met in plenary session Oct. 19-24, building on its work on the theme of diversity, unity and communion for mission. The commission was established in 1967 as the bilateral theological dialogue between the World Methodist Council and the Catholic Church. The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty reports.
Read story |
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Council of Bishops
Saenz elected Council of Bishops president
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Council of Bishops on Nov. 6 elected Horizon Texas Conference Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. as its next president. Also elected was North Katanga Area Bishop Mande Muyombo as president-designate, and Dakotas-Minnesota Area Bishop Lanette L. Plambeck as secretary. The three will take office at the conclusion of the Council of Bishops meeting in May and will serve two years.
Read press release
Coming up: UM News will have more coverage from the Council of Bishops meeting including an update on Leadership Gathering plans.
Archives and History
Agency re-elects top leadership at board meeting
MADISON, N.J. — During its annual meeting, the board of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History re-elected Ashley Boggan as top executive and Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey as president. The board also approved the 2026 budget and honored the Rev. Bonnie McCubbin and the African American Methodist Heritage Center.
Read press release
UM News: Being ‘vile’ is a good thing, historian says |
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Religion and Race, Discipleship Ministries
Resources for Native American Heritage Month
WASHINGTON — November is Native American Heritage Month. The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race offers online resources to stimulate discussion of issues affecting the Native American community. United Methodist Discipleship Ministries offers worship resources and articles for Native American ministries, and the North Carolina Conference has compiled an overview of United Methodist resources.
See Religion and Race resources
See Discipleship Ministries resources
See North Carolina Conference story
United Methodist Alliance of Transgender Inclusion
Webinar explores transgender inclusion
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The advocacy group United Methodist Alliance of Transgender Inclusion plans to hold a webinar at 1 p.m. Eastern time Nov. 13 with American poet and professor Joy Ladin. The webinar will explore opportunities to empower people to transform church and society into places that celebrate gender diversity.
Learn more and register |
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File photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News
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New United Methodist Church structure ratified
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist voters around the globe have ratified Worldwide Regionalization — a package of constitutional amendments aiming to put the denomination’s different geographical regions on equal footing. Heather Hahn reports.
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File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News
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Church strengthens stands on inclusion, racism
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — In addition to regionalization, United Methodist voters ratified three other amendments to the denomination’s constitution including changes that make clear the church’s belief that God’s love is for all people. Heather Hahn reports.
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Screenshot photo courtesy of the Council of Bishops Facebook page
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Amid shutdown, bishops called to moral witness
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone urged her fellow bishops to “embody the radical love of Jesus” at a time when Jesus’ name is being misused to justify hate, division and threats to human dignity. Malone opened the bishops’ online fall meeting as a U.S. government shutdown entered its sixth week. Heather Hahn has the story.
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Photo courtesy of the Northern Illinois Conference
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Reclaiming faith beyond fear and ideology
BOLINGBROOK, Ill. (UM News) — The Gospel was never meant to defend privilege or power, says the Rev. Dr. Tércio Bretanha Junker. “The inclusive ethics of the Gospel call us to move beyond fear and ideology toward a living faith rooted in compassion and courage,” he writes. “They encourage us to embody love not just as a feeling but as the guiding principle of Christian life and moral thought.”
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