RNS Morning Report - Barred from the US, a pastor leads his Wisconsin church from Guatemala

Top Stories Barred from the US, a pastor leads his Wisconsin church from Guatemala (RNS) — RNS found at least 25 immigrant pastors were detained, deported or otherwise separated from their churches. While the Rev. Esdras Paredes ministers via video, his congregation sells tamales to raise funds and prays for a miracle. Why is the documentary ‘NAZA’ causing a political storm? Here are 5 things to know. (RNS) — From its 25-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival to its vilification by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 'NAZA' is drawing attention for its focus on Israel's loose calculus of collateral damage in its war in Gaza. Heather Thompson Day and Seth Day, Christian authors, arrested for alleged abuse (RNS) — The Days are co-authors of a best-selling Christian book on relationships. New Jersey Muslims sue township for mosque denial, alleging discrimination (RNS) — The federal complaint alleges the zoning board bowed to anti-Muslim pressure and violated the Muslim Center’s constitutional rights. Abducted by the LRA as a teen, he now turns to faith to heal his trauma NAIROBI (RNS) — More than 2,000 former LRA captives and returnees gathered in northern Uganda for prayer and reconciliation, confronting a painful question: How do communities receive people who are both victims and victimizers? Opinion The pope’s message on AI is breaking through in Silicon Valley and beyond (RNS) — As I've met with tech leaders and government officials, I've been surprised (and gratified) by the intense level of interest in and respect for what the US Church has to offer as AI accelerates. Israel votes next month. American Jews have a role, even without a ballot. (RNS) — Often the best way to love a country is to fight for it to do better. If we leave it up to Netanyahu and his cohort of politicians willing to sacrifice everything for power and dominance, then we will never reach a better future. ICYMI Pope Leo says existential concerns about AI ‘should be taken seriously’ ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (RNS) — 'If someone were to ask me, am I in panic mode? No, I sleep at night,' the pope said. But, he doesn’t believe the warnings regarding AI are 'fake news, as some have said.' Megachurch pastor Craig Groeschel follows Tim Tebow in suspending ties to Life Surge (RNS) — An investigation by podcaster Pablo Torre and Mother Jones magazine alleged that Life Surge, which runs Christian leadership and wealth events featuring sports stars and Christian celebrities, pressured attendees into taking on tens of thousands in debt. 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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UM News Digest - Sept. 30, 2026

UM News Digest - Sept. 30, 2026 Congo fire | Leadership Gathering | Let the light find you Moïse Mwango Numbalanga (center in white shirt), coordinator for the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s Disaster Management Office in the Bukavu District, walks through the field of ruins in the Irambo neighborhood in Bukavu, Congo, to speak with United Methodist disaster survivors. Photo courtesy of the Disaster Management Office of the East Congo Episcopal Area. United Methodists lose homes in Congo fire BUKAVU, Congo (UM News) — More than 70 United Methodist families are homeless after a devastating fire swept through several neighborhoods in eastern Congo, a region already weakened by insecurity and the reemergence of Ebola. Ibanda United Methodist Church arranged emergency housing in members’ homes, and the United Methodist Committee on Relief is processing a $10,000 solidarity grant. Philippe Kituka Lolonga reports. Read story The skyline of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. Photo by Tamsintj, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Countdown begins to Leadership Gathering CALGARY, Alberta (UM News) — The Leadership Gathering is now less than a month away. The Council of Bishops plans to bring together some 300 United Methodists on Oct. 20-24 to help reimagine the denomination’s future. In the meantime, organizers are providing ways for all United Methodists to engage in the work. Heather Hahn reports. Read story Arkansas Conference Church garden feeds neighbors BRINKLEY, Ark. — United Methodists in the Delta have grown more than a ton of food this year to give to those in need. Steve and Leah Williamson are doing their part at the Mustard Seed Garden, which is next to their church, Brinkley First United Methodist. Most summer mornings, they can be found weeding, watering and sometimes harvesting. Frank E. Lockwood has the story. Read story Great Plains Conference Bishop Mutti remembered at celebration LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — Bishop Albert Frederick “Fritz” Mutti was lauded by friends and colleagues at a celebration of life in his honor Sept. 25 at Woods Chapel United Methodist Church. United Methodist Bishops David Wilson, Laura Merrill and Bob Farr all spoke in tribute to the episcopal leader, who led the Kansas East and West conferences from 1992 until his retirement in 2004. “Bishop Mutti and (wife) Etta Mae’s lives are entwined and affected so many of us in The United Methodist Church,” Wilson said. David Burke reports. Read story UM News: Bishop Mutti, leader in AIDS fight, dies ADVERTISEMENT 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. Be brave enough to let the light find you SULPHUR, La. (UM News) — A United Methodist lay member shares her story in honor of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Ännä White says a former pastor’s honesty about depression allowed her to realize she didn’t have to be healed to find a home at church. “I didn’t have a lightning bolt moment or a miraculous healing, nor do I have five easy steps to tell anyone that will change their life,” she writes. “I doubt I’ll ever be ‘healed,’ but that has not been a prerequisite for belonging.”  Read commentary Status and Role of Women Monitoring report released for young people’s event GLENVIEW, Ill. — The United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women has released a monitoring report from the Global Young People’s Convocation, held July 7-11 in Dublin, Ireland. The agency is mandated by the United Methodist Book of Discipline to monitor “inclusiveness in the programmatic and administrative functioning of The United Methodist Church.” “If best practices about how to interact with one another are understood early on, holding space for oneself and others comes much easier later,” said the Rev. Katrena King, director of Monitoring and Resource Development. Read press release (PDF) See report (PDF) ADVERTISEMENT United Methodist Communications, Pacific Northwest Conference Managing end of Microsoft Publisher NASHVILLE, Tenn. — If you produce your church bulletin or weekly newsletter in Microsoft Publisher, you already know the clock is ticking. Publisher is scheduled to retire in October. United Methodist Communications walks through alternatives at three budget levels: free, low-cost and full-featured paid solutions. Patrick Scriven of the Pacific Northwest Conference offers guidance for preserving Microsoft Publisher documents.  Read United Methodist Communications guidance Read Scriven’s guidance Graphic by Ben Ward, photo by Mike DuBose, UM News Podcast spotlights connection across difference Read story Photo illustration by Ray Shrewsberry, Pixabay Court cases test United Methodist governance Read story Oct. 1-2 Webinar: Voting, Voice and Democracy Oct. 13 The Upper Room: Devotional Writing Workshop More United Methodist events UMNews.org | UM News Photos