UM News Digest - Oct. 5, 2026

UM News Digest - Oct. 5, 2026 Bridging worship divide | Church women | Worldwide role “Isn’t that what we’re trying to get to as worship leaders? Some form of experience… so that people can experience God and the grace of Jesus Christ?” — The Rev. Jeff Campbell, the top executive of Discipleship Ministries. LaShanda Evans sings during the Fusion 2026 Worship Music Conference at Belmont United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tenn. Evans is the worship team coordinator for United Methodist Discipleship Ministries, which sponsored the event. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News. Music leaders tackle ‘great divide’ in worship NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Two hundred music and worship leaders gathered at The Fusion 2026 Worship Music Conference to attend workshops on songwriting, pastor and worship leader relations, worship ethics, Wesleyan theology, creative liturgy writing, copyrights and more. Presenters talked about options that might bring younger people back to church. Jim Patterson has the story, and Mike DuBose provides photos. Read story The Rev. Jairous Mafondokoto, administrative assistant to the bishop in the Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana Area, congratulates Pamela Saungweme for offering her home to the church for use in drug and substance abuse programs. Saungweme had been moved by the testimony of a family whose son had overcome addiction. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News. Women put faith into action across Zimbabwe HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Methodist women in Africa are responding to drug abuse, violence and trauma in their communities through practical support. United Methodist Pamela Saungweme offered the church her Mutare home to use for programs aimed at fighting substance abuse. Church member Ekenia Chifamba founded and operates an organization promoting the rights and welfare of girls and young women. Eveline Chikwanah has the story. Read story United Methodist elected to worldwide role HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Patricia Petudzai Mapani, 61, a United Methodist from Harare, was elected world vice president of the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women at the organization’s world assembly. Eveline Chikwanah reports. Read story Western North Carolina Conference Pastor’s adopted child thrives CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Rev. Linda Kelly has the pleasure of seeing her adopted daughter thriving as an employee of The United Methodist Church. The now retired pastor and district superintendent adopted Kasey Kelly in China 31 years ago. Today, the younger Kelly works for the conference’s Mission Engagement and Disaster Relief and Recovery Team. Ken Garfield has the story. Read story Mississippi Conference Conference offers lay training in Spanish NEW ALBANY, Miss. — La Misión, the Hispanic ministry of New Albany United Methodist Church, in partnership with the Mississippi Conference, hosted the conference’s first basic lay servant training in Spanish. During the event, students learned United Methodist Church history and were prepared and equipped to lead ministry in their congregations. Matthew Johnson has the story. Read story ADVERTISEMENT Association of Ministers with Disabilities Looking beyond the 2026 Disability Summit  METAIRIE, La. — The September 25 Disability Summit brought together United Methodists for worship and reflection on disability justice and church life. A new statement from the Association of Ministers with Disabilities reflects what group members heard and identifies areas where continued attention and action are needed across The United Methodist Church. Read statement (PDF) Learn more Wespath Emerging leaders meet at Wespath GLENVIEW, Ill. — Emerging leaders of The United Methodist Church gathered in mid-September at the offices of Wespath Benefits and Investment for leadership development, open dialogue and relationship building. The Anchor Summit — Advancing New Church Hope, Opportunity and Resilience — explored issues including congregational sustainability, team leadership, clergy well-being and conflict management. Christina Tincher reports. Read story Native American Inter-Tribal Caucus Group: Greenland agreement bears watching SELBYVILLE, Del. — The United Methodist Church’s Native American Inter-Tribal Caucus reflects on the Sept. 22 security agreement signed by Greenland, Danish and U.S. authorities. Noting concerns the United Nations has raised about what the agreement lacks, the caucus states, “promises must be watched, power must be watched, and implementation must be watched.” Read statement (PDF) UM News: US threats to Greenland challenge church ADVERTISEMENT Photo courtesy of First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth; graphic by UM News   Pastor’s ministry had length and depth Read story File photo by Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Former lieutenant governor suspended from ministry Read story Oct. 12-25 Online course: Creating a discipleship growth plan Oct. 16, 23 and 30 Church and Society book study on voting rights More United Methodist events

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Top PC(USA) News of the Week: PC(USA) Pastor competes on Jeopardy, YAVs share stories, Advocating for Affordable Healthcare, a new Gun Violence resource

Week of September 28 - October 2, 2026

Who is the Presbyterian pastor who won on ‘Jeopardy!’? National Presbyterian Church associate pastor comes from behind to win on the iconic game show

Young Adult Volunteers speak of their work and its impact — on themselves and on the communities they serve The PILLARS recurring gift community receives its second up-close look at a cherished PC(USA) ministry

Churches urged to advocate for those who need affordable, accessible healthcare Self-Development of People’s latest webinar encourages people of faith to work with community partners on this justice issue

Gun violence prevention is a group project Presbyterians are leaders in the effort that includes ecumenical, interfaith and community partners

PC(USA)’s Office of Public Witness helps create new clergy resource on gun violence prevention laws The resource focuses on Extreme Risk Protection Orders, which remove temporarily firearms from at-risk individuals

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202

RNS Morning Report - A former SSPX priest embraces life as a gay man and tattoo artist

Top Stories A former SSPX priest embraces life as a gay man and tattoo artist EXTON, Pennsylvania — In some traditionalist circles, Palmquist’s story — from SSPX priest to talking on YouTube about his faith and being gay — is already infamous. As ICE readies Louisiana facility for children and families, faith leaders hold vigil ALEXANDRIA, La. (RNS and Verite News) — Part of the Trump administration’s efforts to ramp up deportations, the facility — which will hold unaccompanied minors and families — is situated beside an airport that has become known as the country’s busiest hub for deportation flights. As anti-Hindu rhetoric grows, Texas Hindus rethink public celebrations DALLAS (RNS) — ‘I enjoy celebrating your culture, religion, whatever your faith is, but everything has a limit,’ said Irving resident Seema Ashar. ‘You cannot disturb other people, and it’s getting wilder and wilder every year. You have to respect everybody around you.’ For Sukkot, etrogim purveyors find a lively, lucrative market in Brooklyn (RNS) —The most expensive fruit sold in New York City today is not for consumption. A single etrog, a pithy, lemon-like citrus fruit, can cost thousands of dollars for religious Jews willing to pay for perfection.       Opinion America: Don’t be a stranger (RNS) — All told, only 34% of Americans — barely a third — say most people can be trusted. There is a path to a more neighborly America. Shields up! Evasive maneuvers! How the LDS Church responds to perceived criticism (RNS) — The church’s insatiable need for public approval means we are supposed to emphasize how the church’s internal records show our metrics going up, up, up. ICYMI Bishop Mariann Budde to resign, will remain in post during lengthy replacement process WASHINGTON (RNS) — ‘I’m going to do all that I can to both lead well in this period and to ensure that there’s as much wind in the sails of the future leader and the diocese going forward as is humanly possible,’ Budde said in an exclusive interview with Religion News Service. Here’s what to know about Pete Hegseth’s new Office of Religious Affairs (RNS) — A memo announcing the establishment of the Office of Religious Affairs said it would ‘oversee research, technology, and analytical tools to support and assess spiritual fitness, spiritual readiness, and spiritual resilience’ of soldiers.       Support Our Work As a nonprofit newsroom that covers all faiths, RNS sits uniquely at the intersection of freedom of the press and freedom of religion. News tips or feedback? Email comments@religionnews.com. Like the Morning Report? Share it with a friend. Forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. We rely on reader donations to power our reporting. Donate here. Or send a check to: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205

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