UM News Digest - Nov. 4, 2026

UM News Digest - Nov. 4, 2026 Midterm wins | Connectional Table meets | Remembering Fred Day “I’m going to do all I can to love boldly, to help us as a nation love boldly, to serve joyfully and to lead courageously.” — The Rev. Adam Hamilton, referencing The United Methodist Church’s vision statement in his acceptance speech. At left, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, a member of Ben Hill United Methodist Church in Atlanta, celebrates winning Georgia's race for governor during an election night rally Nov. 3 in Atlanta. At right, the Rev. Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of Resurrection, The United Methodist Church’s largest U.S. congregation, celebrates his victory in Kansas’ Senate race at a watch party Nov. 3 in Overland Park, Kan. Bottoms photo by REUTERS/Taylor Edgerton; Hamilton photo by Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images. United Methodists get big wins in midterms NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodism is part of the “blue wave” that swept the U.S. on Election Day, led by the Rev. Adam Hamilton winning a Kansas Senate seat, and Keisha Lance Bottoms making history with a victory in Georgia’s governor race. Both say they will take their values with them in their new posts. Jim Patterson has the story. Read story The Rev. Giovanni Arroyo, top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race, gives communion to the Rev. Theon Johnson III, a fellow Connectional Table member and senior pastor of Campbell United Methodist Church in Campbell, Calif., during the Connectional Table’s Oct. 29-30 meeting in Vancouver. Photo by Paul Gómez, United Methodist Communications. Group pushes Leadership Gathering ideas forward VANCOUVER, British Columbia (UM News) — The Connectional Table, which coordinates The United Methodist Church’s ministry and resources, affirmed the work of the Leadership Gathering. That’s significant because the Connectional Table can help give life to the gathering’s suggestions. The body also explored the future of U.S. jurisdictions and how to handle disputes between regional conferences. Heather Hahn reports. Read story Read Connectional Table statement The Rev. Alfred T. “Fred” Day III speaks about the founding of the African Methodist Episcopal Church on May 17 during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News. Beloved historian Rev. Fred Day dies at 75 PHILADELPHIA — The Rev. Alfred T. “Fred” Day is being remembered as a “spiritual guidepost” and powerful preacher who helped history and faith come alive for new generations. Colleagues also recalled the native Philadelphian’s rabid loyalty to local sports teams. Day died on Oct. 29 at age 75 after a short illness. Jim Patterson has an obituary. Read obituary Rio Texas Conference Growing faith through connection SAN ANTONIO — What happens when families with young children are given space to connect, share their stories and discover simple ways to nurture faith in everyday life? Through Sacred Roots Family Experiences, families across Texas found opportunities to do just that. The Rev. Jennifer Chickering has the story.  Read story Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Church offers VBS blast from the past LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Faith United Methodist Church-Manheim Township was looking for ways to connect with its congregation. With fewer children and youth in attendance and aging volunteers, church leaders realized vacation Bible school might not be in the cards this year. That is until the idea of hosting an Adult VBS popped up. Buni Harbison has the story. Read story ADVERTISEMENT United Methodist Communications When kindness creates change  NEW YORK — What difference can one person make? On a new episode of “Compass” podcast, host Ryan Dunn talks with the Very Rev. Winnie Varghese, dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, about the surprising power of kindness. Varghese shares insights from her upcoming book, “One Single Act: Gestures of Kindness, Compassion, and Courage That Change Us and the World.” Listen to podcast ADVERTISEMENT Association of Ministers with Disabilities Resource explores neurodiversity  NEW ORLEANS — The United Methodist Association of Ministers with Disabilities has released a white paper titled “Neurodiversity and the Church: Toward a Neurodiversity-Affirming Ecclesiology, Ministry, and Institutional Practice.” The paper argues for five commitments from the church to welcome neurodiverse Christians. Read white paper (PDF) Screen shot courtesy of the Council of Bishops by UM News Bishops urged to pray God’s future into being Read story Photo courtesy of the Lunge family Pastor remembered as humble leader devoted to youth, justice Read story Nov. 23-Dec. 4 Online course: Teaching Sacred Tension in Local Congregations Feb. 25-26 United Methodist Association of Communicators annual meeting More United Methodist events UMNews.org | UM News Photos

UM News Digest - Nov. 2, 2026

UM News Digest - Nov. 2, 2026 Council of Bishops meeting | Pastor remembered | Stephen Ministries “God’s reign is not only coming; it’s already breaking in, like yeast in the dough, like a seed in the ground, like light through a crack in the door of a dark room. The kingdom, the power and the glory belong to God, and so do we.” — Council of Bishops President Rubén Saenz Jr. Council of Bishops President Rubén Saenz Jr. delivers a video address during the start of the Council of Bishops’ fall meeting. Screen shot courtesy of the Council of Bishops by UM News. Bishops urged to pray God’s future into being CALGARY, Alberta (UM News) — Council of Bishops President Rubén Saenz Jr. preached about the power of the Lord’s Prayer as the bishops began their first meeting since the Leadership Gathering offered ideas for the future United Methodist Church. “When we pray ‘Your will be done,’ may each of us ask, ‘Whom must we make room for?,’” Saenz said. Heather Hahn has the story. Read story The Rev. Francis O. Lunge, pastor of Greenwood Memorial United Methodist Church in Dorchester, Mass., died on Oct. 8 at the age of 41. Photo courtesy of the Lunge family. Pastor, bishop’s son remembered as humble leader  KINSHASA, Congo (UM News) — Friends and colleagues remember the Rev. Francis Lunge, son of Central Congo Bishop Daniel O. Lunge, as a devoted leader with a passion for youth ministry, higher education and social justice. Rev. Lunge died Oct. 8 at the age of 41. Approved for ordination prior to his passing, he was posthumously ordained as an elder during a memorial service in Congo. Chadrack Tambwe Londe and Ombaku Lukute Jean Claver have an obituary. Read obituary Stephen Ministers from First United Methodist Church of Haddonfield, N.J., discuss how to share and use information gained during a celebration and learning event for the ecumenical ministry Sept. 26. Photo by John W. Coleman, UM News. Ministry marks 50 years of training caregivers HADDONFIELD, N.J. (UM News) — An ecumenical program that helps Christian lay members offer one-on-one emotional support to neighbors in need is celebrating its 50th anniversary with learning events nationwide. Stephen Ministries has trained more than 600,000 people from over 14,000 congregations and organizations, including nearly 3,000 United Methodist churches. A new initiative aims to help churches address the growing mental health crisis in their communities. John W. Coleman reports.  Read story Northern Europe and Ukraine Regional Conference Church prepares for winter in Ukraine UZHHOROD, Ukraine — As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues, The United Methodist Church is establishing resilience centers to provide warmth, electricity, community and hope to vulnerable families in Ukraine. The two centers will be able to provide up to 30 hot meals each day, in addition to hot beverages, internet access and charging facilities. Their purpose is not only to meet physical needs but also to reduce isolation, stress and loneliness. The Revs. Yulia Starodubets and Oleg Starodubets and Bishop Knut Refsdal have the story. Read story UM News: Ukrainian United Methodists care for fellow countrymen   ADVERTISEMENT Religion News Service Mainline Protestants are having a political moment WASHINGTON — Of the nine pastors, former pastors and seminarians running for Congress as Democrats this year, six — including four locked in tight, widely watched races — belong to mainline Protestant denominations, such as The United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. “I think there’s a lot of religious people — especially, I think, mainline Protestant pastors — who are saying: Somebody’s got to do something,” said the Rev. Adam Hamilton, a United Methodist pastor running an unexpectedly competitive race for U.S. Senate in Kansas. Jack Jenkins reports. Read story UM News: On the road with Rev. Adam Hamilton in Kansas South Carolina Conference  Church offers comfort to families in need  MANNING, S.C. — Manning United Methodist Church has partnered with local police and firefighters to provide food and comfort bags for children and families in crisis, even setting up a storage shed next to the police station to keep supplies close at hand. Jessica Brodie has the story. Read story ADVERTISEMENT Native American Inter-Tribal Caucus, Immigration Law & Justice Network Groups share concerns over border-wall effort SELBYVILLE, Del. — The Native American Inter-Tribal Caucus expresses deep concern about plans to build a federal border wall in the middle of the ancestral homeland of the Tohono O’odham Nation, whose lands extend between southern Arizona and northern Mexico. “The Nation has cooperated with federal border security efforts for decades while consistently opposing construction of a permanent border wall through its Homeland,” the caucus’ statement said. The border-wall effort also will be the topic of a webinar co-sponsored by the Immigration Law and Justice Network, United Women in Faith, the United Methodist Committee on Relief and others. Resistance from the Borderlands: Arizona Communities Stand Against the Wall is at 2 p.m. U.S. Central time Nov. 4. Read caucus statement (PDF) Register for webinar Photo by Rosette Viviane, UM News New churches take root in Madagascar Read story Photo by John W. Coleman, UM News United Methodists help honor AME Church founder Read story Nov. 16-Dec. 21 Proclaiming Scripture with a Storytelling Spirit for Advent Nov. 12-14 Do No Harm: Trauma-Informed Care, a virtual conference More United Methodist events UMNews.org | UM News Photos