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UM News Digest - Sept. 26, 2025
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“I felt God’s Spirit leading us to fill the church again — not for our own celebration, but to welcome those whom Jesus would most want to invite.” — The Rev. Sunh Hyung Jo, senior pastor at Chicago First Korean United Methodist Church.
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Families visit booths set up outside Chicago First Korean United Methodist Church in Wheeling, Ill., during the church’s Sept. 13 “Great Feast for Refugees and Neighbors.” Photo courtesy of Chicago First Korean United Methodist Church.
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Church marks 102 years by hosting refugees
WHEELING, Ill. (UM News) — Chicago First Korean United Methodist Church marked its 102nd anniversary by opening its doors wide to welcome some of the city’s newest and most vulnerable neighbors. The Sept. 13 event gathered about 120 refugees and more than 170 volunteers for a day of worship, music, food, fellowship and practical support. The Rev. Thomas E. Kim reports. |
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Tapiwanashe Moreblessing Manyeza (left) and youth from the West Angola Conference participate in an educational campaign in Luanda, Angola, in response to a cholera outbreak in January. Photo courtesy of Tapiwanashe Moreblessing Manyeza.
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Missionaries make difference in Angola
LUANDA, Angola (UM News) — Faith and friendship have helped two mission workers with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries thrive in a new culture and implement programs that are changing lives. Both Tapiwanashe Moreblessing Manyeza of Zimbabwe and Nana Kutela Fatuma Katembo of Congo see their work in public health and agriculture bearing fruit in the West Angola Conference. Neusa Ndalamba has the story. |
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Horizon Texas Conference, KERA
Calling for prayer after attack at ICE facility
DALLAS — Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., who leads the Horizon Texas Conference, shared his prayers after the violence Sept. 24 at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas. The gunman killed a detainee and critically wounded two others before killing himself. “Violence against God’s children wounds us all,” the bishop wrote. Priscilla Rice of KERA also reported on the response of local faith leaders, including the Rev. Eric Folkerth, lead pastor at Kessler Park United Methodist Church.
Read bishop’s statement on Facebook
KERA: Shooting heightens fears among immigrants
Greater Northwest Area
Churchgoers stand up for immigration justice
TACOMA, Wash. — More than 200 United Methodists from across the Pacific Northwest gathered outside the Northwest Detention Center on Sept. 20 to join La Resistencia and community allies in an action of solidarity with the alleged undocumented immigrants detained inside. The gathering combined music, prayer, testimony and communion with a peaceful and public call for the closure of the detention facility and the freedom of those held there. Patrick Scriven reports.
Read story
Missouri Conference
Sharing innovation, finding faith in Missouri
MAYSVILLE, Mo. — Marcin Jakubowski, originally from Poland, and Catarina Mota, a native of Portugal, both came to rural Missouri to share innovation especially in the area of sustainable housing. Mota now has found a spiritual home in The United Methodist Church. Fred Koenig has the story.
Read story |
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Finance and Administration
Search opens for new top finance executive
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The General Council on Finance and Administration has officially launched the search for its next general secretary, the chief executive officer responsible for guiding the agency’s mission of resourcing the denomination through financial stewardship, data collection, legal services and administration. The agency’s board has engaged Diversified Search Group to lead the executive search.
Read press release
Higher Education and Ministry
Endorsing agency names director
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry has appointed Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Kent Lundy as director of the United Methodist Endorsing Agency, effective Oct. 1. The agency is responsible for identifying, endorsing and supporting clergy who serve as chaplains in extended ministries beyond the local church. Lundy brings 18 years of experience as an endorsed chaplain in the Air National Guard.
Read press release |
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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. |
Religioustrauma affects clergy too
CASPER, Wyo. (UM News) — While signs of religious trauma are often blamed on clergy, not much has gone into researching the trauma suffered by many pastors. Clergy experience religious trauma in their local churches as well as in the denominational system, says the Rev. Jessica Boyce, an elder from the Mountain Sky Conference. “Our leaders need to take an active look at the support being provided to clergy, especially in those first few years of ministry,” she writes.
Read commentary |
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Photo by Patrick Abbott, courtesy of First United Methodist Church
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Pastor turns sonnets into sermons
ELON, N.C. (UM News) — The Rev. Jesse Baker is writing sonnets to put Scripture in perspective, which he says helps him write more compelling sermons. As pastor of First United Methodist Church of Elon, Baker writes a sonnet based on the Scripture he intends to preach on each week, then uses the poem to inspire his sermon. Jim Patterson has the story.
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Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News
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Volunteers still rebuilding 1 year after Helene
SPRUCE PINE, N.C. (UM News) — One year ago, Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction across the southeastern U.S., leaving 250 people dead. United Methodists remain active in recovery efforts. Lilla Marigza talks with volunteers from Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, Virginia, about their continued work in Western North Carolina.
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Photo by Roque Facela, UM News
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Church moves from chicken coop to new chapel
MAPUTO, Mozambique (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s Muhalaze Mission Field in Mozambique began with six members meeting on a house porch and later in a family’s chicken coop. Now, members of Muhalaze United Methodist Church have a permanent sanctuary. Roque Facela has the story.
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Photo courtesy of the Upper New York Conference
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Bishop: Jesus’ life is not an option
LIVERPOOL, N.Y. — Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez says he has received many requests to respond to the pressing issues confronting the U.S. and the world. The bishop, who leads the Upper New York and Susquehanna conferences, writes that he feels the Holy Spirit’s nudge to share the example of Jesus rather than his opinions.
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United Methodist News is sent by United Methodist Communications
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