UM News Digest - Nov. 14, 2025
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“Attendees come seeking spiritual growth. We teach how to live a life of prayer in the face of obstacles, trials and tribulations.” — The Rev. Togara Bobo, pastor in charge at St. Peter’s Inner City United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. |
Attendees raise their hands in celebration during a lunch-hour prayer service July 24 at St. Peter’s Inner City United Methodist Church in Mutare, Zimbabwe. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News. |
Lunch-hour prayer service draws crowd
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Lunchtime services at St. Peter’s Inner City United Methodist Church offer time for prayer and worship. United Methodists, along with members of other denominations, have access to pastors for individual attention, as well as counseling for spiritual needs. The sessions often attract around 500 people. Eveline Chikwanah has the story. |
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Indiana Conference
Conference donates $1 million to fight hunger
CARMEL, Ind. — After prayerful discernment, the Indiana Conference cabinet has approved the allocation of $1 million from the conference’s closed church funds to launch the new ALL IN: Feeding Indiana Through a Legacy of Love initiative. Of this total, $300,000 will be available in grants to local churches that are currently responding to the urgent food crisis, Indiana Conference Bishop Tracy S. Malone announced in a pastoral letter. She also is the Council of Bishops president.
Read pastoral letter
Great Plains Conference, United Women in Faith
United Methodists join in Sand Creek run
EADS, Colo. — Bishop David Wilson and three others representing the Great Plains Conference took part in the 2025 Sand Creek Massacre Spiritual Healing Run in October. The annual event honors the more than 230 Cheyenne and Arapaho people — mostly women, children and elderly people — who were slaughtered by a band of volunteer soldiers on Nov. 29, 1864, in eastern Colorado. Todd Seifert with the Great Plains Conference and Tara Barnes of United Women in Faith have more on this painful chapter in Methodist history.
Watch Great Plains video
Read United Women in Faith story
UM News: Agencies host Sand Creek Massacre exhibit in DC
UMC-TV
Connectional Table lives into new vision
MAKATI, Philippines — The United Methodist Church’s Connectional Table held its recent meeting in the Philippines. During the gathering, Filipino members highlighted their church’s history and ministries, and the table focused on creating action plans aligned with the church’s new vision to “love boldly, serve joyfully and lead courageously.” Kyla Ragasa and Matthan Bang-asan have the story for UMC-TV.
Watch video |
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Holston Conference
Camp director becomes trail chaplain
KINGSPORT, Tenn. — The Rev. Jeff Wadley has shared his intent to retire as director of United Methodist Camp Bays Mountain, just as the Appalachian Trail Chaplaincy board has announced that Wadley will serve as its 2026 chaplain. Annette Spence has the story.
Read story
United Methodist Communications
Unsung Heroes of Methodism: Harry F. Ward
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodists know all about John and Charles Wesley, but what about Harry F. Ward? Unsung Heroes of Methodism introduces folks to this Methodist pastor and social activist who co-authored the Social Creed, and served as the first chairman of the American Civil Liberties Union. Philip J. Brooks has the story.
Read story
Religion News Service
Pastors rally behind church member in court
CHICAGO — Supporters of a United Methodist facing charges that stem from a protest at an immigrant processing facility in Broadview, Illinois, include several pastors from the denomination. Brian Shaw, an attorney, was part of a group that allegedly surrounded and damaged an ICE vehicle attempting to leave the facility. “If you come for one United Methodist, you have come for all of us,” said the Rev. Lindsey Long Joyce, a pastor at Grace Church of Logan Square. Jack Jenkins reports.
Read story |
| Council of Bishops
Bishops hold jam-packed meeting
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Council of Bishops convened Nov. 3-7 for its 2025 fall meeting under the theme “One — With Christ, With Each Other, In Ministry.” The online meeting brought together about 100 active and retired bishops from across Africa, Asia, Europe and North America to worship, learn and discern new pathways for leadership in a rapidly evolving church and world.
Read press release
UM News: Bishops called to moral witness |
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| | 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. |
Afterregionalization, church must prioritize unity
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s move to regionalization can make the denomination more just, nimble and truly global, says the Rev. Dr. Luan-Vu “Lui” Tran. But the crucial question now is how we remain one church. “If we simply loosen connectional ties without reimagining accountability, regionalization will degenerate into fragmentation,” he writes. “The urgent task before us is to define how difference can live within covenant.”
Read commentary |
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| Photo by Heather Hahn, UM News |
GC2028 delegate count marks historic shift
MINNEAPOLIS (UM News) — No matter what happens at the next General Conference, The United Methodist Church’s legislative assembly will be groundbreaking. General Conference organizers have set the total number of delegates for the next assembly scheduled in 2028. For the first time, most delegates will come from regions outside the U.S. The number of allotted delegates also is smaller than at recent sessions. Heather Hahn reports. |
| File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News |
Bishops prioritize creation care
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s bishops remain committed to caring for God’s world, and they call on fellow United Methodists to join in this urgent work. During its fall meeting, the Council of Bishops adopted a response to the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement’s open letter asking the bishops to prioritize creation care and environmental stewardship. Julie Dwyer has the story. |
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Screenshot photo courtesy of the Council of Bishops Facebook page |
Bishops plan gathering to follow Spirit’s lead
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist bishops heard an update on planning for next year’s Leadership Gathering that aims to help church leaders discern the Holy Spirit’s guidance as the denomination starts anew. Bishops also are making plans to engage the whole denomination through a survey that captures members’ hopes and concerns ahead of the gathering. Heather Hahn reports. |
| Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News |
Mission hospitals give hope to expectant mothers
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s medical facilities at Old Mutare and Mutambara missions are providing improved maternity care, including daily meals for patients at the waiting mothers’ shelters. A partnership between United Methodists in Zimbabwe, Norway and the U.S. helped make the improvements possible. Kudzai Chingwe has the story. |
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Image courtesy of the Council of Bishops |
Regionalization starts taking effect
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — What is now the Standing Committee on Regional Conference Matters Outside the USA has a new name and a new responsibility. The international United Methodist body, which submitted regionalization to General Conference, met to celebrate the ratification of the denominational restructuring and get to work on next steps. Heather Hahn has the story. |
| Photo by the Rev. Gustavo Vasquez, UM News |
La Trinidad epitomizes Hispanic legacy in the church
SEGUIN, Texas (UM News) — La Trinidad United Methodist Church is marking 120 years of history and stands as an example of faithful witness. “In these challenging times for the Hispanic-Latino community inside and outside the church, this congregation is a symbol of struggle, faithfulness and resilience,” said Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey. The Rev. Gustavo Vasquez offers an analysis on the church’s challenges and legacy. |
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