UM News Digest - Jan. 16, 2026
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“I am fully committed to serve during this transition period and remain in service afterwards.” — The Rev. Aleze M. Fulbright, who is leaving her role as General Conference secretary on June 30 to take an appointment in Indiana. |
The Rev. Aleze M. Fulbright (center) celebrates the growth of The United Methodist Church in Africa as the Commission on the General Conference meets in Minneapolis on Nov. 11. Photo by Heather Hahn, UM News. |
General Conference secretary to step away
INDIANAPOLIS (UM News) — The Rev. Aleze M. Fulbright is leaving her role as General Conference secretary to take a new appointment in her home Indiana Conference. She will conclude her service with General Conference on June 30 and begin her new appointment as the executive assistant to the bishop on July 1. Heather Hahn reports. |
Janat Twahirwa from Wiceceka distributes condoms to participants during a World AIDS Day event on Dec. 1 in the Mukamira Sector of Rwanda’s Nyabihu District. Photo by Samuel Iraguha Shema. |
Church, Rwandan officials unite to fight AIDS
MUKAMIRA, Rwanda (UM News) — In sharp contrast to the United States, where the federal government downplayed World AIDS Day last year, Rwandan political leaders encouraged churches to spotlight the occasion. For the first time, The United Methodist Church in Rwanda organized the commemoration in full partnership with local government authorities. Joel Habimana has the story.
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Great Plains Conference
Faith perseveres after disaffiliation
IMPERIAL, Neb. — Two and a half years after a painful disaffiliation, the new Faith United Methodist Church was officially chartered on Jan. 11. The congregation formed after the former Imperial First United Methodist Church’s push to disaffiliate succeeded by one vote. The new church has 45 charter members. “There’s a lot of potential here,” said church member Jill Moline. David Burke reports.
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Michigan Conference
‘Ugly quilts’ keep people warm
GOODRICH, Mich.— The United Women in Faith group at Goodrich United Methodist Church has produced and distributed more than 3,000 “ugly quilts” made out of donated blankets, mattress pads, used sheets, neckties and socks. The quilts are actually sleeping bags that are donated to keep homeless people warm at night. Each sleeping bag has a Bible verse ironed onto the inside and contains other supplies. Jeannine Page-Tear and Cyndy Rossman have the story.
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No UM News Digest Jan. 19
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States, there will be no UM News Digest on Monday, Jan. 19. The Digest will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 21. |
Feel free to download and share the above UM News graphic on social media.
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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. |
Martin Luther King Jr. and the work we haven’t finished
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — As the U.S. pauses to remember the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, a United Methodist pastor asks people of faith: “What are we willing to change so that justice may take root among us?” The Rev. Dr. Jefferson M. Furtado, who leads Hilldale United Methodist Church in Clarksville, writes that to honor King faithfully is not simply to quote him once a year, but to allow his witness to interrogate our assumptions and reshape our commitments.
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| Gammon Theological Seminary
Grant supports shared services at Gammon
ATLANTA — Gammon Theological Seminary is among the theological schools benefiting from a $10 million grant awarded by Lilly Endowment Inc. to New Brunswick Theological Seminary. The grant expands the work of AdminWise, a nonprofit shared-services organization that provides essential administrative and operational support to seminaries and church-related schools nationwide.
Read Gammon press release
Read New Brunswick press release |
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| Religion and Race
Celebrate Human Relations Day
WASHINGTON — Human Relations Day is Jan. 18 this year. This special Sunday offering benefits neighborhood ministries, community advocacy and work with at-risk teens. The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race offers resources to help local churches mark the occasion. Available are a Covenant Service for Racial Justice, the series “What Is Beloved Community,” a list of 25 traits of the Beloved Community and more.
See resources
United Women in Faith
Tools to put faith into action
NEW YORK — United Women in Faith offers tools that are designed to help individuals, groups and congregations grow in faith, strengthen connections and live out their calling. These include “Daily Prayer Guide: Wayfinders Together,” the “2026 Program Resource: Mapping Our Way Forward” and response Magazine. The 2026 Program Resource explores how United Methodists can map the way forward with God as guide in these uncertain times.
Learn more and order
World Council of Churches
Resources available for Christian unity
GENEVA — The World Council of Churches has resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The week usually is marked Jan. 18-Jan. 25, between the traditional feast days for St. Peter and St. Paul. However, in regions where this is vacation season, the week can be marked at a different time. This year’s theme is based on Ephesians 4:4 — “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.”
See resources |
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| Photo courtesy of the Mikie Sherrill for Governor Campaign |
Pastor prepares to step into N.J. elected office |
| Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News |
Countering federal violence with neighborly love |
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Church in Germany plants seeds of hope |
| Screenshot from video by the UAE Media Team |
Filipino church members celebrate Middle East mission |
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