Churches, Denominations and Religions: UM News Digest

UM News Digest - March 9, 2026

Fresh Expressions movement gains momentum
Church trains young people to promote peace
History made in rise of 5 Black Eagle Scouts

“Make your decisions on behalf of the next seven generations coming so that they may enjoy what you have today.” — Bishop David Wilson of the Great Plains Conference.

Taeron Flemming, a mime and community pastor at The Well Church in Washington, D.C., performs Feb. 26 during the Fresh Expressions United Methodist National Gathering 2026 at First United Methodist Church in Ocala, Fla. Photo by Brian Rose, Church of the Restoration in Reston, Va.

Fresh Expressions movement gains momentum
OCALA, Fla. (UM News) — The concept of doing church work in tattoo parlors, yoga studios and other unusual settings is catching on, based on the 500 people who traveled to Florida for this year’s Fresh Expressions conference to trade notes and be inspired. Another 200 attended virtually. Jim Patterson has the story.

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United Methodist youth leaders hold up a joint statement they prepared at the end of a training workshop in Uvira, Congo. Photo by Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UM News.

Church trains young people to promote peace
UVIRA, Congo (UM News) — More than 30 youth leaders in Uvira are taking peace training they received from The United Methodist Church in eastern Congo back into their communities. Supported by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, the program focused on combating juvenile delinquency in a region destabilized by war. Philippe Kituka Lolonga reports.
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South Carolina Conference
History made in rise of 5 Black Eagle Scouts
ORANGEBURG, S.C. — More Black history has been made during this year’s Black History Month. During a Feb. 7 ceremony at Trinity United Methodist Church, Orangeburg, five young men rose to Scouting America’s highest rank, Eagle Scout. The ceremony marked the largest group of African Americans to be inducted into the Eagle Scout rank at one time in the history of South Carolina. Jessica Brodie has the story.
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United Methodist Communications
Yu Gwan-sun is an unsung hero of Methodism
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Some have called Yu Gwan-sun the Korean “Joan of Arc” for her courageous role in the Korean independence movement. Today, she is celebrated as a national hero in South Korea. Yu was a Christian whose activism began while she was a student at a Methodist secondary school in Seoul and ended with her tragic death inside a Japanese prison. Philip J. Brooks reports.
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Dakotas Conference
Folks with special needs get a night to shine
HETTINGER, N.D. — The first “A Night to Shine” event in this small town in North Dakota for people with special needs was a roaring success. The Tim Tebow Foundation worked closely with Hettinger United Methodist Church to make people feel welcome. Local businesses and community members also stepped in to help. Rebecca G. Trefz has the story.
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Western Jurisdiction
Bishops call to action in 3 videos
LAHAINA, Maui — Meeting in Hawaii, the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops put together three videos that call United Methodists to action. One video deals with Calls to Acts of Repentance for Hawaii, as approved by the 2024 General Conference. A second calls for care of immigrant neighbors. The final video calls United Methodists to seven options for action steps to unite communities and work toward inclusion and safety for all.
Watch videos
UM News: Apology OK’d for church role in Hawaiian history
UM News: Special sanctuary lost in Maui fires

New England, New York conferences
Two regional foundations to merge
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Bishop Thomas Bickerton, who leads the New Hope Episcopal Areas that encompasses the New York and New England conferences, announced that two United Methodist foundations will join together to provide financial stewardship services to churches and ministries in the New England, New York and Upper New York conferences. The United Methodist Foundation of New England and the United Methodist Frontier Foundation plan to launch their merger mid-year.
Read letter

Alabama Supreme Court
State supreme court issues ruling in property cases
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama Supreme Court has sided with the Alabama-West Florida Conference in a ruling affecting 15 property-dispute cases. In its ruling on March 6, the State Supreme Court ordered judges who had dismissed the conference’s claim that church property is held in trust to allow the conference to use that as evidence. With the ruling, the 15 lawsuits remain ongoing.
See Alabama Supreme Court ruling (PDF)

Council of Bishops Ecumenical Office
Online prayer vigil for peace set for March 10
WASHINGTON — United Methodist Bishop Hope Morgan Ward, the denomination’s co-ecumenical officer, plans to join with The Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe and other interfaith partners in an online prayer vigil for peace amid the war in the Middle East. The vigil is scheduled at noon U.S. Eastern time March 10.
Register to join
Joint ecumenical statement on widening conflict