UM News Digest - July 13, 2026

UM News Digest - July 13, 2026 Remembering Clara Ester | Leadership Gathering | Lawn ministry “She never stopped answering God’s call to serve others, to seek justice and to love without reservation.” — Alabama-West Florida Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, on the late Clara Ester. Clara Ester of the Alabama-West Florida Conference addresses the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News. Remembering civil rights advocate Clara Ester MOBILE, Ala. (UM News) — Lifelong United Methodist Clara Jane Ester was inspired by the Revs. Martin Luther King Jr. and James Lawson to fight injustice. She went on to inspire countless others as a civil rights advocate, deaconess and servant leader. Ester died July 9 at age 77. Kathy L. Gilbert has a remembrance. Read story The Leadership Gathering, organized by the Council of Bishops, is scheduled to be held Oct. 20-24 at Knox United Church Calgary in downtown Calgary, Canada. Photo courtesy of Knox United Church Calgary.  Leadership Gathering moves ahead amid challenges NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — War in the Middle East and the Ebola outbreak in Congo are adding complications to preparations for the Leadership Gathering scheduled in October in Canada. Nevertheless, organizers are pressing forward with the gathering intended to help set a new course for The United Methodist Church. They also are releasing a survey to get more input from youth and young adults. Heather Hahn reports.  Read story Take survey   Wisconsin Conference Church serving from the lawn up OAK CREEK, Wis. — Last summer, Oak Creek Community United Methodist Church looked around the church property, and saw a gift: acres of green lawn that stretch around the building. The congregation began reimagining this underutilized land for ministry. Jane Lentz has the story. Read story Susquehanna Conference College café extends ministry to students STATE COLLEGE, Penn. — Abba Java, a Wesley Foundation ministry at Pennsylvania State University, has long been more than just a coffee shop. It is a place of belonging, connection and community, where students can find friendship and needed support amid the pressures of college life. The Wesley Foundation is connected with St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. The Susquehanna Conference has a video. Watch video   ADVERTISEMENT South Georgia Conference Helping children dream a better future COLUMBUS, Ga. — Years ago, staff at Open Door Community House asked the children in their after-school program a simple question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The answers shaped how Open Door approaches ministry. The Rev. Stephanie Smith has the story. Read story Dakotas Conference Church closes with gifts TYNDALL, S.D. — Tyndall United Methodist Church, a fixture in the community for 147 years, held its last worship service in May. But the church is continuing its ministry through donations to nearby Wagner United Methodist Church and other gifts to support its community and the wider denomination. Doreen Gosmire has the story. Read story Immigration Task Force United Methodists denounce ICE killing NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Immigration Task Force grieves the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, whose life was taken during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Houston’s East End neighborhood. In a statement, the task force denounces “the actions that led to his death and reject any system that treats immigrant lives as disposable.” The task force also called for a full, transparent and independent investigation into his death. Read statement Council of Bishops Wespath makes ecumenical connections GLENVIEW, Ill. — Wespath, the general agency that administers investments and benefit plans for The United Methodist Church, also offers an example of leading ecumenically. Since 2022, Wespath has administered retirement benefits to the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Most recently, the agency has begun attracting ecumenical customers to its institutional investment services, including Baptist, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Mennonite and nondenominational churches, colleges and social service organizations. Read press release   ADVERTISEMENT Camp & Retreat Ministries New scholarships available for retirees PHILADELPHIA — United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries is offering scholarships for retired United Methodist camp and retreat ministry leaders to attend the 2027 National Camp & Retreat Leaders’ Gathering on Jan. 24-28 at Zephyr Point, Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more and apply Learn about national gathering   2024 file photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News Group advises adding 2 more US bishops Read story Map courtesy of Pixabay; graphic by UM News  Probe ends of pastor who worked for Epstein Read story July 27-Aug. 7 Online course: Embracing personal prayer Aug. 3-Sept. 11 Online course: A Life Worthy of the Gospel More United Methodist events UMNews.org | UM News Photos

United Methodist Now - Which Bible verse sticks with you?

God speaks to us through Scripture Find strength, guidance, and purpose   A few verses can never adequately represent the Bible as a whole, but there is value in holding tightly to specific passages as they relate to your walk of faith. CONSIDER WHAT STICKS Test your Bible knowledge Find out how much you remember from Scripture by taking this short quiz that covers the Old and New Testaments. QUIZ Share the love of Jesus with your family   As you spend time with your family this summer, look to this collection of tips, conversation starters and tools that will help you share your faith with kids, teenagers, and adults. EXPLORE IDEAS How we are loving, serving and leading: Look inward to hear God’s voice If we practice disciplines that help us listen to our own souls, we will hear the voice of God. SLOW DOWN Take a deep dive into our history Watch a seven-part video series that shares the story of Methodism in America. ROOTED METHODISM See faith put into action Around the world, our connection is investing in the health and wellbeing of our neighbors. WATCH Forward

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Weekly Outlook - Post-GA highlights

Dear readers, Getting back to regular life after General Assembly has felt a bit like stepping out of a wormhole. For one whirlwind week in Milwaukee, the Outlook team spent our days (and many late nights) reporting, writing, editing and sharing the news. It was exhausting and exhilarating — with some fun along the way. The downside? Our brains haven't quite gotten the memo that it's over. More than one of us is still having General Assembly dreams while we re-adjust to normal life. (Please tell me we're not the only ones.) If you closed your laptop after the assembly wrapped up, here are a few stories you may have missed: The assembly delayed work on a new confession — and the decision was more nuanced than it might seem. Commissioners approved the complete divestment of fossil fuels through the consent agenda. Young adults at GA found both deep friendships and deep tensions. The PC(USA) voted to investigate the closure of World Mission following one of the more dramatic plenary debates. One story pairs especially well with that last item. As the denomination wrestles with the consequences of the World Mission closure, Brittany Porch reflects on her congregation's recent mission trip to Peru — a reminder that even amid institutional change, relationships endure and God's love continues to be shared across the world. Happy reading, Rose Schrott Taylor Digital Content Editor Presbyterian Outlook  P.S. Want the SparkNotes version of GA for your congregation? Pre-order our post-GA bulletin insert, available July 15.

Assembly declines to send proposed confession to presbyteries by John A. Bolt As commissioners debated fossil fuels, Milwaukee’s streets carried a different kind of climate protest by Eric Ledermann Assembly declares Israel’s war in Gaza a genocide by Eric Ledermann A hopeful vision for global mission by Brittany Porch    PC(USA) Young Adult Advisory Delegates struggle to reconcile differences by Gregg Brekke and Mary Mabry Assembly creates commission to investigate World Mission closure by Eric Ledermann

In case you missed it... Faithful witness in divided times: New books on justice, church and public life These authors wrestle with polarization, climate change, racism, incarceration and community — asking what faithful Christian witness looks like in a fractured world. — Amy Pagliarella Spielberg’s Disclosure Day offers wonder — and questions for faith The acclaimed director pairs suspense with reflections on God, empathy and humanity's place in a universe that may be more populated than we imagined, writes Alfred Walker.  A Democratic and Republican Faith: A Public Theology for a Church and Nation in Crisis Reviewer Amy Pagliarella examines Raymond Roberts’ case that America’s democratic ideals are rooted in Protestant theology — and why the church still needs a “thicker” public faith. APCU to embrace PC(USA) seminaries, Presbyterian-founded schools around the world APCU is expanding its institutional membership to include seminaries and Presbyterian-founded institutions around the world. — APCU 227th General Assembly elects Pumroy-Cordero, Schondelmeyer as co-moderators Commissioners elected the pair on the first ballot after participating in a lengthy question-and-answer session with the full slate of candidates. — Eric Ledermann So Jung Kim: Remember her name Whitney Wilkinson Arreche remembers the Rev. Dr. So Jung Kim as a holy agitator whose passion for ecumenism and everyday theology left ongoing ripples. From relief to renewal: What the Jinishian Memorial Program teaches the church about mission As the Jinishian Memorial Program marks 60 years, Greg Allen Pickett explores what its long commitment to local leadership and civic formation can teach the church about mission. Our version of GA SparkNotes for your congregation... available July 15.

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