NEWS AND FEATURES
Churches serve as warming centers, shelters
DALLAS (UM News) — United Methodist churches scrambled to open as warming centers and overnight shelters when historic winter storms left nearly 3 million homes in Texas without electricity. Other states have been hit hard as well. Sam Hodges reports.
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Arkansas church opens as warming shelter
Bishop Skeete, 'pastor to people,' dies at 90
NEW YORK (UM News) — United Methodists remember Bishop F. Herbert Skeete as a leader who stepped up to serve in whatever way the church needed. The retired bishop, who led the Philadelphia and Boston areas and helped establish Africa University, died Feb. 11 at age 90. Heather Hahn reports.
Read obituary
Read Council of Bishops press release
Scrutinizing the proposed hold on new bishops
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist bishops explained in a webinar why they are urging delegates to delay electing any new U.S. bishops until 2024. However, some delegates say such a move is more drastic than needed. Heather Hahn reports.
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Watch webinar
Schools, students struggle with COVID-19 closures
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — A second surge of COVID-19 continues to disrupt education in this southern African nation. From preschool through college, students and staff at United Methodist schools are facing challenges and finding innovative ways to cope. Kudzai Chingwe reports.
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Book revisits pastor's reticence on civil rights
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (UM News) — A Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and United Methodist has written a book about how his minister father failed to speak out boldly during the civil rights movement. Jim Patterson has the story.
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'Black Church' film taps United Methodist sources
PIEDMONT, W.Va. (UM News) — "The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song," a PBS film that premiered Feb. 16-17, draws on historic photos from the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History. Film host Henry Louis Gates Jr. is shown visiting the United Methodist church he attended growing up. Sam Hodges reports.
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Amid political unrest, cyclones plague Mozambique
MAPUTO, Mozambique (UM News) — In less than two years, four cyclones have struck Mozambique, killing thousands, leaving many homeless and destroying life-sustaining food crops. The United Methodist Committee on Relief is preparing an emergency response to humanitarian needs. Eurico Gustavo and João Sambo report.
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After the cyclone, faith abides
Northern Illinois Conference
Delegation releases anti-racism statement
CHICAGO — The Northern Illinois Conference delegates to General Conference and the North Central Jurisdictional Conference have released a statement against racism. "This is a critical time in both our church and our country. We cannot remain silent on these matters," said the Rev. Alka Lyall, delegation chair.
Read statement (PDF)
Watch video of statement
Resources from conference’s Anti-Racism Task Force
Mountain Sky Conference
Remembering Ann Fort, 'Mama Kenya'
LONE TREE, Colo. — Ann Fort, a Colorado United Methodist, embarked on her first trip to Kenya after she was widowed at the age of 74. Returning 19 times, often leading mission teams, she built a living legacy of schools, water projects, churches, orphan care, university scholarships and medical assistance. She died Dec. 24 at age 96. The Rev. Donald E. Messer has a remembrance.
Read remembrance
KDFA
United Methodist troop makes history
AMARILLO, Texas — The BSA troop chartered by Saint Paul United Methodist Church has made history with two of the first female Eagle Scouts. Ainsley Mason and Hope Ennis took almost two years to achieve the Eagle Scout rank, an endeavor that usually takes about five years. Taylor Mitchell has the story.
Read and watch story
Des Moines Register, Iowa Conference
Retired pastor dies from COVID-19
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Rev. Larry Sonner, who served the church as a pastor for decades and made waves after retirement for officiating at the wedding of a lesbian couple, has died from COVID-19 at 84. Iowa Area Bishop Laurie Haller said in a statement that Sonner was highly respected across the United Methodist connection. Sarah Kay LeBlanc and Courtney Crowder have the story for the Des Moines Register, and the Iowa Conference has an obituary.
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Read obituary
California-Pacific Conference
Bishop addresses pastor's guilty plea
PASADENA, Calif. — California-Pacific Conference Bishop Grant Hagiya released a statement after a former United Methodist pastor pleaded guilty to child molestation on Feb. 8. John McFarland was sentenced to 15 years to life for molesting seven girls ages 5 to 15. "As clergy, we need to remember our sacred vows of 'doing no harm,' and uphold our highest moral values in our personal and professional conduct," Hagiya wrote. "In this difficult time, let us be in prayer for the victims, their families, and all who are affected."
Read statement
Read Orange County Register story
Greater Northwest Area
Bishop Stanovsky plans to retire at year's end
DES MOINES, Wash. — Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky, who leads the Greater Northwest Area, announced that she plans to retire as of Dec. 31, 2021. Her area includes the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest conferences. With her announcement, a total of 15 U.S. bishops are retiring or taking on new roles with the Council of Bishops this year.
Read announcement
PRESS RELEASES
Africa Voice of Unity
African group opposes denomination split
JALINGO, Nigeria — Africa Voice of Unity, a group of United Methodist clergy and laity from different annual conferences in Africa, has issued a statement opposing any breakup of The United Methodist Church.
Read statement
Wesleyan Covenant Association
Traditionalists urge protocol be taken up
ATLANTA — An international coalition of traditionalist leaders announced its continued support for the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation. The coalition also urged that the Commission on the General Conference, working with the Council of Bishops, find a way for General Conference to take up the protocol legislation as soon as possible. The Commission on the General Conference is meeting Feb. 20.
Read coalition statement (PDF)
Read WCA release
Christmas Covenant
Backers of Christmas Covenant launch website
HARARE, Zimbabwe — An international group of church leaders has launched a website to answer questions and offer testimonials about the Christmas Covenant, the first major restructuring proposal to originate in the central conferences — church regions in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. The legislation aims to transform central conferences into regional conferences and create a U.S. regional conference.
Read press release
See website
COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Daily Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not the UM News staff.
Florida United Methodist Foundation
Taking up, not giving up, for Lent
LAKELAND, Fla. — This year for Lent, why not focus on making a positive contribution instead of giving up something? The Rev. Mark Becker, president of the Florida United Methodist Foundation, suggests committing to reading the Bible every day or volunteering in your community. "Make Lent a time when you grow closer to God by growing closer to your neighbors," he writes.
Read commentary
Greater New Jersey
The paradox of 'We, the people'
NEPTUNE, N.J. — While events of the past year have raised the level of awareness and education about the nation's systemic racism, the Rev. Lan Wilson, director of resourcing and worship for the Greater New Jersey Conference, notes that simply being educated isn't enough. "One must take that knowledge and use it to examine ourselves, our communities, our organizations, our churches and the entire world around us," Wilson writes.
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RESOURCES
South Carolina Conference
Poor People's Campaign inspires Lenten study
LAKE CITY, S.C. — The Rev. Amiri B. Hooker, senior pastor of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, has developed a Lenten study based on the Poor People’s Campaign’s agenda and revival, as well as some of his favorite social justice quotes. He has written a daily Lenten devotional and weekly Bible study, each titled "On-Fire but Not Consumed."
Read story
Download Lenten devotionals (PDF)
Download Bible (PDF) study
Church and Society
Agency hosts 'Justice Talks' webinar
WASHINGTON — The Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, top executive of the Board of Church and Society, will join agency staff for a conversation about their work and witness on Capitol Hill, advocating for peace and justice in a changing political landscape. "Justice Talks: A Look Ahead at 2021" will broadcast via Zoom at 4 p.m. U.S. Eastern time Feb. 24.
Register for event
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