UM News Digest - Aug. 12, 2026

UM News Digest - Aug. 12, 2026 Georgia unification | Nigeria training | Prayers for Colombia “As this decision now becomes a part of our shared story, turn our hearts upon the future you are preparing for us.” — Bishop Robin Dease, praying after delegates voted to unite the North Georgia and South Georgia conferences. The newly united Georgia Conference will begin operations in January 2027. Maps courtesy of the South Georgia Conference, adapted by UM News Georgia unification gains final approval DULUTH, Ga. (UM News) —  The United Methodist Church’s Southeastern Jurisdiction has approved the union of the North Georgia and South Georgia conferences. Both missional and financial reasons led to the unification. The newly formed Georgia Conference will begin operations in January 2027 with more than 215,000 members. Heather Hahn reports. Read story Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel (right center) prays for graduates of The United Methodist Church’s Technical Training Program during a July 1 ceremony in Jalingo, Nigeria, marking the program’s revival after a two-decade hiatus. Photo by Joseph Dauda Idris, UM News. Church relaunches technical training in Nigeria JALINGO, Nigeria (UM News) — After a two-decade pause, The United Methodist Church in Nigeria restarted a program that provides vocational training to young people and offers them funds to help start their own businesses. The program was relaunched under the leadership of Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel, who has placed young people’s economic empowerment at the heart of the church’s mission. The Rev. Filibus Bakari Auta has the story.  Read story Council of Bishops A pastoral letter for Colombia WASHINGTON — Bishop Rubén Saenz Jr., president of the Council of Bishops, has written a pastoral letter in response to the deadly Aug. 10 earthquake in Colombia. It calls United Methodists to prayer and tangible compassion through the work of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. “John Wesley taught that personal holiness and social holiness are bound together — that we cannot love God without also tending to our neighbor’s wounds,” he writes. “In moments like this one, that teaching stops being an idea and becomes a summons: to show up, to give generously, and to accompany those who grieve.” Read letter Donate to UMCOR Dakotas Conference Walking in footsteps of American Methodism MITCHELL, S.D. — United Methodists from the Dakotas and Minnesota conferences traveled through New York City, Philadelphia, Delaware and Baltimore seeking insight from prominent places in Methodist history. The six-day American Methodist Pilgrimage, a partnership with the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History, invited participants to “walk in the steps of Bishop Francis Asbury and other early Methodist leaders” while discovering the places where American Methodism took root. Anna Mutzenberger reports. Read story ADVERTISEMENT WLOS-ABC Church helps with free community fridges FRANKLIN, N.C. — First United Methodist Church Franklin is one of five local partners behind Fresh Access Franklin, a new initiative providing free, solar-powered community fridges for neighbors experiencing food insecurity. The church hosts one of the three refrigerator kiosks on-site and helps keep it stocked with fresh produce, dry goods and other essentials — available around the clock at no cost. Deanna Sipe has the story.  Watch video and read story   Christian Century Sharing pastors across denominations LA GRANDE, Ore. — Across the Pacific Northwest, rural churches from mainline denominations are combating declining attendance and escalating costs through a novel solution: pastor sharing. “What we’re finding is it’s getting harder to attract clergy to move to rural communities, particularly for part-time positions,” said the Rev. Geoff Helton, a district superintendent in the Pacific Northwest Conference. “We’ve begun, where we can, sharing clergy.” Emma Maple reports. Read story Global Ministries Grants support racial/ethnic leadership, ministries ATLANTA — Multiethnic Ministries, a joint program of the United Methodist boards of Global Ministries and Higher Education and Ministry, has announced 10 U.S. conferences as recipients of the 2026 Racial/Ethnic Local Church and Multiethnic Ministries grants. Grants range from $10,000 to $20,000 and focus on programs to develop racial/ethnic leadership and church growth.  Read press release Wespath Buckler hired to advance church well-being GLENVIEW, Ill. — The Rev. Jill Buckler has joined Wespath to help lead the development of denomination-wide strategies to advance the holistic well-being of those who serve The United Methodist Church. Buckler’s experience as a pastor, licensed mental health counselor and researcher of clergy well-being positions her to strengthen partnerships and initiatives that support clergy and lay workers across the denomination, the agency said in a press release. Read press release   ADVERTISEMENT Photo courtesy of Highland Park United Methodist Church via Wikipedia Conference sues its largest congregation Read story Photo courtesy of Marife Cambel Relief reaches hard-hit areas after earthquake Read story Sept. 22-24 Growing in Grace Symposium 2026 Sept. 24-26 Fusion 2026: Worship Music Conference More United Methodist events UMNews.org | UM News Photos

Special UM News Digest - Aug. 11, 2026

Special UM News Digest - Aug. 11, 2026 “Our purpose is restoration — bringing the original governance structure back into alignment with the Book of Discipline so this church can move forward faithfully.” — Horizon Texas Conference Bishop Rubén Saenz Jr., explaining the goal of a lawsuit the conference filed against Highland Park United Methodist Church.  Photo courtesy of Highland Park United Methodist Church via Wikipedia. Conference sues its largest congregation DALLAS (UM News) — The Horizon Texas Conference has filed a lawsuit against Highland Park United Methodist Church, arguing changes the megachurch made to its articles of incorporation violate the denomination’s rules for church governance. The conference’s lawsuit says the changes remove both the conference’s oversight and the wider input from the congregation. This is a developing story. UM News will provide updates as available. Heather Hahn reports. Read story UMNews.org | UM News Photos

UM News Digest - Aug. 10, 2026

UM News Digest - Aug. 10, 2026 Earthquake relief | New professions of faith | A deacon’s calling “Every donation, every volunteer, every prayer and every act of kindness become a testimony that no family has to face tragedy alone.” — Bishop Israel M. Painit, Davao Episcopal Area, Philippines. Suzette Marzo with the United Methodist Young Adult Fellowship prepares to distribute food to children during a relief operation in Sarangani province, Philippines, after a deadly 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Southern Mindanao on June 8. Photo courtesy of Marife Cambel. Relief reaches hard-hit areas after earthquake  CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines (UM News) — The United Methodist Church in the Philippines and church partners have provided food, supplies and other support to more than 700 families following a deadly June earthquake and subsequent flooding. Davao Area Bishop Israel M. Painit said pastors and volunteers also have provided spiritual care. Gladys P. Mangiduyos reports. Read story North Alabama Conference Vision leads to new professions of faith HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Not long ago, Center Grove United Methodist Church reported zero professions of faith. In 2024, the church formed a visioning team to answer the questions “Who are we?” and “Who has God called us to be?” A renewed sense of identity and purpose has led to new professions of faith. The conference has the story. Read story   North Georgia Conference How cheddar biscuits led to a deacon’s call EVANS, Ga. — The outrageous hospitality of Wesley United Methodist Church paved the way for God’s calling on Jessica Stevens’ life. She is now a United Methodist deacon in the Indiana Conference. It started with an invitation from a friend and warm cheddar biscuits served by smiling faces at the church. Meghan Walter has the story. Read story UM News: Deacons take God’s work beyond the church ADVERTISEMENT Ask The UMC Simplifying local church structure  NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Taylor Burton Edwards with Ask The UMC, the information service of United Methodist Communications, says he often receives questions about how to simplify the leadership structure of a local church. In the latest Ask The UMC Shorts video series, he provides guidance and points to paragraphs in the Book of Discipline that help offer an answer.  Watch video Native American Inter-Tribal Caucus Group calls church to honor sacred ceremonies SELBYVILLE, Del. — The United Methodist Church’s Native American Inter-Tribal Caucus released a statement supporting the sacred traditions of the Northern Arapaho Tribe and all tribal nations. The statement follows a controversial sermon by a pastor at the nondenominational Foundations For Nations Church in Wyoming that denounced the tribe’s traditional Sun Dance ceremony and ceremonial pipe as “demonic.” While recognizing all people’s religious freedom, the caucus said that freedom also carries the responsibility “to speak about the sacred traditions of another People with humility, truth, and respect.” Read statement (PDF) Wyoming Public Media: Tribe tells church to leave   NBC-K5 Church condemns ICE detainee transfer EDMONDS, Wash. — Leaders of Edmonds United Methodist denounced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after agents transferred a handcuffed detainee between vehicles in the church’s parking lot while families were dropping children off at a preschool. “It is a place of safety, and so to have that be violated is an affront to our values,” said the Rev. Jeremy Smith. Sharon Yoo has the story. Read story   Foundation for Evangelism  Evangelism foundation announces grant winners LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — The Foundation for Evangelism awarded 17 grants to small or medium-sized churches or church-based organizations in the Wesleyan tradition. A total of $112,500 was distributed through $5,000, $7,500 and $10,000 grants. Among the recipients were six United Methodist churches. Read press release   ADVERTISEMENT Photo by Selina Mutua, UM News Camp brings healthcare to vulnerable community Read story Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News Inclusivity brings church back from the brink Read story Aug. 11 2026 Southeastern Jurisdiction Called Session Aug. 24-28 and Aug. 31-Sept. 4 Academy of Ministry Management More United Methodist events UMNews.org | UM News Photos