WCC news: WCC sends greetings to the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil

The city of Florianópolis in South Brazil is hosting, from 26-30 August, the 35th General Council of the Evangelical Church of Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB), the highest decision-making body of the church. In a greeting, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay extended prayers to the leadership and participants. Photo: Paróquia de Florianópolis/Divulgação 27 August 2026 The 35th General Council will explore the theme "Church on Mission, the Gospel Announced" and the biblical motto of John 20:21: "Peace be with you."  The theme, Pillay reflected, “speaks deeply to the calling we share as the worldwide Christian family. The Gospel is proclaimed not only through our words, but also through lives and communities that bear witness to Christ through service, reconciliation, justice, compassion, and hope.” Pillay added that the biblical motto, “Peace be with you” (John 20:21), is especially meaningful in a world marked by conflict, fear, division, and uncertainty. “The risen Christ stands among his disciples and sends them forth in peace,” Pillay wrote. “May this peace of Christ be at the heart of your deliberations and decisions, strengthening your witness to a peace that reconciles, heals wounds, restores relationships, and opens paths towards abundant life.” Pillay further noted that Christian hope is not passive, but leads us to concrete acts of service, justice, peace, reconciliation, and care for creation. “The WCC gives thanks for the longstanding fellowship and witness of the IECLB within the ecumenical movement,” he said. “We value your solid contribution to the work of the WCC, to the visible unity of the church, to the search for peace and justice, and to the common mission of Christians in Brazil and throughout the world.” The General Council brings together representatives from different Brazilian states to deliberate on topics that will guide the institution's journey in the coming years and will elect a new presidency for a four-year term. The event takes place every two years. The IECLB General Council is responsible for deciding on any and all matters of interest to the church, by establishing guidelines that ensure the unity of the church and its confessional nature. The council also establishes an action plan and promotes debates on fundamental topics of interest to communities, parishes, and synods.  Read the full message See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

UM News Digest - Aug. 31, 2026

UM News Digest - Aug. 31, 2026 Season of Creation | Help for African migrants | Lydia Patterson “We have good reasons to celebrate creator God and to rejoice in creation, which will hopefully inspire us to better care for God’s gifts.” — Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, co-ecumenical officer of the United Methodist Council of Bishops. Sunlight filters through old-growth redwoods, some as tall as 300 feet, at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve near Guerneville, Calif. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.  Creation celebration added to church year NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodists are joining with fellow Protestants as well as Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians in adding a shared season that focuses on God, the Creator. The new season, which includes suggested Bible readings, comes amid an ecumenical call for climate justice action. Heather Hahn has the story. Read story The Rev. Heather J. Zisengwe, superintendent for The United Methodist Church’s Bulawayo Midlands District in Zimbabwe, holds a baby at a transit camp set up by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches for migrants who have left South Africa amid anti-immigration protests. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Heather J. Zisengwe. African churches respond to migration crisis JOHANNESBURG (UM News) — United Methodists in southern Africa are providing humanitarian relief to undocumented migrants who have fled anti-immigration attacks in South Africa in recent months. The United Methodist Church has donated and distributed food, clothing, toiletries, healthcare and counseling for displaced families. Alvin Makunike and Eveline Chikwanah report.  Read story ADVERTISEMENT Texas Conference Lydia Patterson students heading to college HOUSTON — All 45 2026 graduates of the United Methodist-related Lydia Patterson Institute are headed to college. A 100% acceptance rate was touted by Carla Cardoza, president of Lydia Patterson, during a recent speech to Texas Conference officials. Lydia Patterson is a private, faith-based college-preparatory school that serves as a unique educational bridge along the U.S.–Mexico border. Kelsey Johnson and Renata Figueroa Sánchez have the story. Read story Florida Conference State Supreme Court closes church-exit suit TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Supreme Court has ended a 4-year-old lawsuit dealing with church disaffiliations. The result leaves intact the Book of Discipline’s trust clause. In 2022, 106 United Methodist churches sued the Florida Conference to leave with property without following the denomination’s disaffiliation process. In 2023, a lower court dismissed the suit and most churches in the suit ended up using the denomination’s exit procedure. On Aug. 14, the state Supreme Court declined to accept jurisdiction and denied the five remaining churches’ petition for review. The conference has an overview.  Read conference statement UM News: Exiting Florida churches’ lawsuit dismissed ADVERTISEMENT Duke Divinity School Church faces question: Fence off or feed LAS CRUCES N.M. — When students from Camino Real Middle School started waiting for their ride home in the adjacent parking lot of Morning Star United Methodist Church, a decision had to be made. The church could welcome the students or ask them not to congregate on church property. The church’s decision to be welcoming transformed its ministry. Lillian Lammers has a report on what happened. Read story Watch video Eastern Pennsylvania Conference State lawmakers honor church’s anniversary FRACKVILLE, Pa. — More than 100 people of multiple generations joined in a special worship service to celebrate the 146th anniversary of First United Methodist Church of Frackville. Among those marking the occasion were local leaders and state lawmakers, who recognized the church’s outreach. Arturo Bautista has the story. Read story Photo by Yomiuri Shimbun, via AP Churches mobilize after deadly Nepal-Tibet floods Read story Photo by John W. Coleman, UM News ‘Prayerful witness’ offered for immigrants Read story Sept. 15-17 Iliff conference: Preaching in an Age of Contempt Sept. 26 Georgia Unifying Conference More United Methodist events UMNews.org | UM News Photos

UM News Digest - Aug. 28, 2026

UM News Digest - Aug. 28, 2026 Nepal-Tibet floods | Prayerful witness | Highland Park update “In the midst of such overwhelming pain, we pray that the people of Nepal and Tibet may know that they are not alone. We are together in this hour of anguish.” — The Rev. Jung Eun Grace Moon, general secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia. A disaster site hit by a massive debris flow along a tributary of the Bhotekoshi River is seen in Bidur, Nepal, on Aug. 28. Nepalese police said the death toll had reached 469 as of the morning of Aug. 28 after catastrophic flooding struck the Nepal-Tibet border region. Photo by Yomiuri Shimbun, via AP. Churches mobilize after deadly Nepal-Tibet floods KATHMANDU, Nepal (UM News) — Hundreds are dead and nearly 2,000 people remain unaccounted for after catastrophic flooding and landslides struck the Nepal-Tibet border region. The disaster has prompted churches and mission partners to mobilize relief while Christian leaders across Asia call for prayer and sustained solidarity with affected communities. The United Methodist Committee on Relief said it stands ready to support response efforts. The Rev. Thomas E. Kim reports. Read story Donate to UMCOR International Disaster Response The Rev. Ronell Howard addresses attendees at the Greater New Jersey Conference’s “Prayerful Witness” outside Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, N.J., on Aug. 15. Photo by John W. Coleman, UM News. ‘Prayerful witness’ offered for immigrants NEWARK, N.J. (UM News) — United Methodists in New Jersey gathered outside a large federal immigration detention center to pray, preach, peacefully protest and provide support to detainees and their families. The “Prayerful Witness” featured speeches and outreach expressing themes of Christian love, concern and solidarity. John W. Coleman has the story. Read story Horizon Texas Conference, Highland Park United Methodist Bishop addresses Highland Park members DALLAS — Horizon Texas Conference Bishop Rubén Saenz Jr. released a video explaining the conference’s lawsuit to Highland Park United Methodist Church members on Aug. 26, the same day the church leadership held an at-capacity town hall about the lawsuit. “You should not have to choose between loving Highland Park UMC and being United Methodist,” the bishop said. “Those are not opposing loyalties.” At the center of the dispute are changes the church council made to the congregation’s governing documents in 2022. The Rev. Matt Tuggle, the church’s senior minister since February, announced at the town hall that he is facing a complaint under church law, but did not go into any details. Congregation members also received a statement by former senior minister, the Rev. Mark Craig, who backed the church council and Tuggle.  Watch Bishop Saenz’s video Read Rev. Craig’s statement UM News: Conference sues its largest congregation Georgia conferences Georgia unifying conference set for Sept. 26 DULUTH, Ga. — The unifying conference for the Georgia Annual Conference is set for 10 a.m. U.S. Eastern time Sept. 26. Clergy and lay members who vote at the annual conference have the option to attend in person at The United Methodist Center in Duluth or online. The event also will be livestreamed. The purpose is to prepare for the formation of the new Georgia Annual Conference, which officially launches Jan. 1. Register UM News: Georgia unification gains final approval ADVERTISEMENT Religion and Race Grants awarded to expand mental health support WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race has announced the recipients of the 2026 CORR Action Fund Grant program, an initiative dedicated to expanding mental health support for historically underserved communities. “I am inspired by the breadth and depth of mental health projects that we were able to award funds through this grant cycle,” said the Rev. Alka Lyall, chair of the CORR Action Fund.  “We are proud to resource our United Methodist ministries demonstrating Wesleyan holiness through critical care in these times of need.”  Read press release      Archives and History Cheeyeon Park named scholarship recipient MADISON, N.J. — Cheeyeon Park is the 2026 recipient of the Josephine Forman Scholarship, an award sponsored by the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History in cooperation with the Society of American Archivists. The $10,000 scholarship provides financial support to students of color pursuing graduate education in archival science. Read press release ADVERTISEMENT 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. An upswell of joy SAN DIEGO (UM News) — Decades after enduring painful treatment as a closeted teen, writer Tammy Evans recounts feeling buoyed during a Pride event by the Rev. Lori Leopold, lead pastor of Pacific Beach United Methodist Church. How she responded to protesters on the parade route became a full-circle moment for Evans. “Her exuberance — in spite of it all — swept me from the weeds into an upswell of joy, and I felt steadied, buoyed, even hoisted above,” Evans writes. “It felt like an ‘Amen!’ moment.” Read commentary Holston Conference Bishop remembers Dolly Parton ALCOA, Tenn. — Like so many others, Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett has mourned the passing of country music star and philanthropist Dolly Parton. Wallace-Padgett leads United Methodists in the Holston and West Virginia conferences. Her area includes eastern Tennessee, a part of the U.S. transformed by Parton’s generosity and business-savvy. “I have been most impressed by her generous spirit, genuine love for others, authentic Christian faith and ability to connect with people from all walks of life,” Wallace-Padgett writes. Read commentary Photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News Church sets the table to connect beyond its walls Read story Photo courtesy of the New England Conference Conference confronts cyber theft with faith, resolve Read story Sept. 21-Nov. 13 Methodist Identity: Our Beliefs Nov. 14 SBC21’s Renewing Our Faith Summit More United Methodist events UMNews.org | UM News Photos