UM News Digest

UM News Digest - Nov. 21, 2025 Church forges ties with Sand Creek Massacre descendants Seeking peace after Tanzania’s election violence  Top stories from the week “My personal vision is that there should be relationships amongst all parishioners from every church with Indigenous or other cultural groups, in every church.” — Lloyd Marsden of First United Methodist Church in Sheridan, Wyoming, on his church’s relationship with the Northern Cheyenne and Sand Creek Massacre descendants. Barbara Braided Hair, left, teaches members of First United Methodist Church in Sheridan, Wyo., how to make fry bread. Barbara is the late wife of Otto Braided Hair Jr., a Sand Creek Massacre descendants representative of the Northern Cheyenne tribe in Lame Deer, Mont., who helped educate church members about the 1864 massacre led by Methodists. File photo courtesy of First UMC Sheridan. Church forges ties with massacre's descendants SHERIDAN, Wyo. (UM News) — The Native American Committee of First United Methodist Church in Sheridan has nurtured a two-decade relationship with the Northern Cheyenne tribe in Lame Deer, Montana. Activities have ranged from providing food to attending powwows and raising funds for the annual Sand Creek Massacre Healing Run. Being a consistent presence has helped them gain acceptance. Joey Butler has the story. Read story The Rev. Isaac Ibrahim, Dar es Salaam District superintendent, preaches during worship Nov. 9 in Tanzania. Photo by Asaph Sungura Ally, UM News. Seeking peace after Tanzania’s election violence  DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (UM News) — As Tanzania grapples with the aftermath of violence following the country’s recent election process, United Methodists are sending a message of hope, prayer and reconciliation. Churches are mobilizing to promote peace and ease tensions. Chadrack Tambwe Londe reports. Read story Great Plains Conference Jaron Bell gains notice onstage, in pulpit BROOKEVILLE, Kan. — To the dozens of parishioners at Brookville United Methodist Church, Jaron Bell is their pastor. To a growing number of fans, he’s a popular musician and comedian. To an ever-expanding crowd of hundreds of thousands, he’s a viral sensation online. “I think I am a pastor,” the 38-year-old says, “I’m just a different kind of pastor.” David Burke has the story.  Read story Alabama-West Florida Conference Conference restarts ASU campus ministry MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama-West Florida Conference announced a key step in its campus ministry efforts: the return of the Wesley Foundation to Alabama State University, a historically Black university. The Rev. Herbert Brisbon III will start his appointment as campus minister of the Wesley Foundation on Jan. 1. He will work with a provisional board to launch the ministry in the spring. The conference has the story.  Read story ADVERTISEMENT Highland Park United Methodist Church Longtime Highland Park pastor stepping down DALLAS — After more than 25 years at Highland Park United Methodist Church, the Rev. Paul Rasmussen plans to step down from his role as senior minister on Feb. 1, and step into a new role as pastor emeritus. Rasmussen was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020, and he said he feels he no longer has the energy the position requires. Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., with church leaders’ support, has appointed the Rev. Matt Tuggle to serve as the next senior minister of Texas’ largest United Methodist church. Rasmussen shared his announcement in a video. Watch video New 2025 annual conference reports posted NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2025 annual conference reports. New this week is the Mozambique North Annual Conference. Read reports MS Now Church hosts training to support immigrants CHARLOTTE, N.C. — United Methodists in western North Carolina are seeking to protect their neighbors as masked federal agents step up arrests of suspected undocumented immigrants. MS Now reporter Jacob Soboroff reported how Dilworth United Methodist Church on Nov. 17 hosted a training led by Siembre North Carolina for people who want to protect their neighbors. Watch video on Instagram ADVERTISEMENT Virginia Conference 67 Virginia food pantries awarded grant GLEN ALLEN, Va. — The Virginia Annual Conference and Virginia United Methodist Foundation have joined to create the Emergency Food Response Fund. In November, the two were able to award funding to 67 food pantries in the Virginia Conference.  Read press release and contribute   Council of Bishops Christian Churches Together holds annual forum PHILADELPHIA — Some 75 people gathered in October in historic Philadelphia for the annual forum of Christian Churches Together, themed “The Light of Life: The Gospel and the Witness of the Church.” Following the ecumenical group’s practice, each of its five “families” — Historic Black, Mainline Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, and Evangelical/Pentecostal — led prayer in their traditions and presented on the forum theme. Read press release Monday, Dec. 1 - Friday, Dec. 5 Online course: Advent — Getting Ready for Christmas Monday, Dec. 8 - Friday, Dec. 12 Online course: Safer Sanctuaries More United Methodist events Photo courtesy of the Council of Bishops Bishop Fisher remembered as trailblazer   DENTON, Md. (UM News)  —  Bishop Violet L. Fisher made history as the first Black woman elected bishop in The United Methodist Church’s Northeastern Jurisdiction. She also earned admiration across the denomination for her powerful preaching and tender pastoral care. She died Nov. 17 at the age of 86. Heather Hahn has an obituary. Read story Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News Income projects empower women in Burundi   GITEGA, Burundi (UM News) — United Methodist women have established income-generating projects to sustain their families and contribute toward church programs. At Nyabugogo United Methodist Church, the women run a three-month tailoring course. Others are farming and rearing animals to earn a living. Eveline Chikwanah has the story. Read story Photo by Heather Hahn, UM News Bishop warns of financial troubles ahead   NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The president of The United Methodist Church’s finance agency urged leaders to face the reality of dramatically reduced resources but also expressed hope that the denomination can rebuild for a faithful future. Bishop David Graves was addressing the General Council on Finance and Administration board as it struggled to meet funding requests in the aftermath of a denominational splintering. Heather Hahn reports. Read story Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News New bishop brings big dreams to Tanganyika   KALEMIE, Congo (UM News) — Bishop Nelson Kalombo Ngoy has a bold vision for the new Tanganyika Episcopal Area, including constructing church hospitals to address the critical lack of medical care. He recently hosted a New York Conference delegation as it visited the region to witness the church’s reconstruction work and challenges. Ngoy served for more than 16 years in New York before being elected to the episcopacy. Chadrack Tambwe Londe has the story. 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