UM News Digest - Oct. 19, 2026

UM News Digest - Oct. 19, 2026 Motorcycle ministry | Leadership Gathering Q&A | Online worship “Conquer the lands entrusted to you for The United Methodist Church. Plant churches, win souls and make the Lord proud.” — Nigeria Area Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel. Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel (second from left) and other church leaders try out newly acquired motorcycles at a handover ceremony in Jalingo, Nigeria. Photo by Joseph Dauda Idris Balasa, UM News. Motorcycles strengthen ministry in rural Nigeria JALINGO, Nigeria (UM News) — United Methodist Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel presented 48 motorcycles to district superintendents across the five annual conferences in the Nigeria Episcopal Area. The bikes will help alleviate travel challenges faced by those ministering in rural communities with rugged terrain. Filibus Bakari Auta has the story. Read story Logo courtesy of United Methodist Communications What to know about the Leadership Gathering CALGARY, Alberta (UM News) — After many long months of preparation, the Leadership Gathering is set to take place this week in Canada to help imagine The United Methodist Church of tomorrow. Heather Hahn has answers to frequently asked questions.  Read FAQ Rio Texas Conference Building community through Fresh Expressions MARBLE FALLS, Texas — For Hill Country United Methodist Church, growth doesn’t always look like more people filling seats on Sunday morning. Sometimes it’s a group at the local senior center or a conversation between a pastor and local musicians. Now beginning its fourth year as a church plant, Hill Country United Methodist is exploring what it means to build relationships through Fresh Expressions of ministry. The Rev. Amanda Banda has the story.  Read story Oklahoma Conference ‘The fun part of life is serving’ EDMOND, Okla. — For Marilyn Williams, a lifetime of service to older adults began when her Virginia Beach garden club was looking for volunteers to visit a local nursing home. The United Methodist also was among the denomination’s earliest ordained deacons, a clergy order started 30 years ago. The Rev. Derrek Belase has the story. Read story ADVERTISEMENT South Carolina Conference Couple delays retirement to fund special home CHAPIN, S.C. — Elliott and Kathy New of Union United Methodist Church postponed Elliott’s retirement by one year, putting that salary and their stocks toward a new home for adults with special needs. The home is named Benjamin’s House in memory of their late son. Jessica Brodie reports. Read story Upper New York Conference Church opened doors to people with nowhere else SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — When unhoused neighbors had nowhere else to turn, First United Methodist Church of Schenectady opened its doors. The congregation is loving boldly by offering warmth, safety and compassion to those in need. Shelby Winchell has the story. Read story Horizon Texas Conference Conference adds second count to Highland Park suit DALLAS — The Horizon Texas Conference has amended its civil suit against Highland Park United Methodist Church, adding a second count accusing the church of breach of contract and arguing that the church council’s 2022 changes to Highland Park’s articles and bylaws are void. The conference is asking the court for a permanent injunction prohibiting Highland Park from breaching the articles and bylaws further and from amending them without a district superintendent’s approval. The Oct. 15 filing comes as Highland Park’s church council announced that it unanimously adopted a resolution calling for a church-wide disaffiliation vote on Oct. 25 and 26. In the letter, the council recommends severing all ties with The United Methodist Church. Read amended filing (PDF) Read church council’s letter UM News: Highland Park proposes leaving denomination UM News: Conference sues its largest congregation ADVERTISEMENT United Methodist Communications Where to worship online NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Online worship services have become a common ministry in United Methodist churches across the connection. Many stream and/or post their full, regular worship services weekly. United Methodist Communications has compiled a list of places to worship online. If your church offers online services and is not on the list, write to AskTheUMC@umc.org with your church name, city and state, times of online services, verification of your streaming licensing, and links to where you post your services.  See list Association of Ministers with Disabilities New resource on trauma and disability NEW ORLEANS — The Association of Ministers with Disabilities has released a new resource developed following its 2026 Disability Summit. The white paper is titled “Disability, Trauma, and the Church: Toward a Disability-Just, Trauma-Informed Ecclesiology, Ministry, and Institutional Practice.” The paper is intended not only for disabled clergy and laity, but also bishops and other United Methodist leaders. Read white paper United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy Webinar looks at inclusion across geography DENVER — Does The United Methodist Church face the danger of experiencing a type of gerrymandering? That question prompts an upcoming free Zoom webinar sponsored by the United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy scheduled at 4-6 p.m. U.S. Mountain time Nov. 10. Learn more and register Photo by George Banda, Rio Texas Conference Amid decline, US professions of faith rise Read story Photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News United Methodists, Korean church renew ties Read story Oct. 26-Nov. 9 Online course: Leading Missional Small Groups Nov. 9-20 Online course: Transforming Evangelism More United Methodist events UMNews.org | UM News Photos

Presbyterians for Earth Care - Upcoming Webinar 🪴+ Last Chance to Nominate for Earth Care Awards 🏆

LAST CHANCE to nominate YOUR Eco-Justice Champion for 2026! Do you know a young adult, 30 years old or younger, who connects their faith with creation and shows great potential to be a future leader for environmental justice? Or perhaps you know a more mature person who has spent their life acting and advocating for the beauty, integrity, and health of God’s creation. Maybe your congregation or faith organization operates in a sustainable manner and promotes being a good steward of God’s earth, both within and beyond its membership. If one of these prompts brought an individual or a congregation/organization to your mind, now is the time to nominate them for a Presbyterians for Earth Care (PEC) Annual Earth Care Award. PEC presents three awards annually, two to individuals and one to an organization. These awards are given to individuals and groups whose work for the environment is especially praiseworthy and creative. Visit the Awards page on the PEC website for more information, then nominate your eco-justice hero by October 15, 2026. If you are a PEC member/donor, you are welcome to nominate an awardee. If you are not a member/donor and would like to make a nomination, you can join or renew your PEC membership now. Volunteers are needed to make the decision about which qualified individual/congregation or organizations will receive the 2026 awards. If you would like to serve on the PEC Awards Committee, contact PEC Coordinator Mindy Hidenfelter at pec@presbyearthcare.org. The deadline for submitting nominations for PEC Awards is October 15th. CLICK HERE to Nominate an Award Recipient Growing Gardens, Feeding Minds in Kenya Come and hear the amazing story of environmental and human healing being carried out in western Kenya by the African Inland Church. God’s Green Resourceful Earth, founded by Bishop Tom Ochuka, began as a small tree nursery and has now grown to several gardens and fields, and provides daily lunch along with agricultural education to over 2,000 students in the Kisumu area of Kenya. WEBINAR DATE: Wednesday, November 4, 2026 Time: 7:30 pm Eastern (6:30 Central, 5:30 Mountain, 4:30 Pacific) PRESENTERS: Trisha Tull and Mindy Hidenfelter Trisha Tull coordinates U.S. support for God’s Green Resourceful Earth. Along with Bishop Tom Ochuka in Kisumu, Kenya, Trisha founded God’s Green Resourceful Earth in 2016. A resident of Henryville, IN, she is Professor Emerita of Hebrew Bible at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY and author of Inhabiting Eden: Christians, the Bible, and the Ecological Crisis and the 2024-2025 Horizons Bible Study Let Justice Roll Down: God’s Call to Care for Neighbors and All Creation. Mindy Hidenfelter is a conservation enthusiast with a background in arboriculture and natural resources management. She currently works as the Coordinator for Presbyterians for Earth Care, a faith-based environmental non-profit promoting the care of God’s creation. Mindy lives in Wake Forest, NC with her family and serves as an elder at Wake Forest Presbyterian Church, where she also facilitates the Earth Care Team. CLICK HERE for Webinar Registration We Need Your Help Presbyterians for Earth Care is now forming its Steering Committee Nominating Team. If you are a member of or donor to PEC, and would like to serve on the Nominating Team, please let us know! The time commitment is two, one-hour meetings. We need your help with choosing PEC leadership candidates for 2027! Please email PEC Coordinator Mindy Hidenfelter at pec@presbyearthcare.org if you are interested. How can we help you care for God’s creation?  Drop us an email and let us know at presbyearthcare@gmail.com Help us grow! Please let us know if there is anyone we should add to our list!  Just reply to this email.  Thank you! Please help us to continue to assist individuals and churches in creation care work by donating to PEC through our website by CLICKING HERE.  Thank you!

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