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6 Ways to Deepen Your Congregation’s Connection to the Community this Christmas
How can your congregation deepen its connection to the community this holiday season? Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center staff offers six ways to engage people of all ages. Read more
10 Ways to Reach Unchurched People at Christmas
Pastor Carey Nieuwhof says unchurched people want to celebrate Christmas, so there is no better time to connect with friends and neighbors who rarely, if ever, go to church. He offers ten ways your church can be involved. Read more
Retired Bishop Calvin McConnell Dies at Age 94
Bishop McConnell loved his life in the church and he leaves a legacy of faith, compassion, and advocacy for social justice. He was an insightful and compassionate leader, an engaging speaker, and a friend and mentor to many. Read more
Religion and Science
The challenges of being a religious scientist require thoughtful interaction with other scientists, especially graduate students struggling with the pressures of their faith and profession. Read more
‘Operation Reconquista’ Aims to Return Mainline Churches to ‘Orthodoxy’
Conservatives from seven Mainline Protestant denominations marked Reformation Sunday this year by publishing their own 95 theses calling for reform in their respective denominations – including United Methodists. Read more
Join the Conversation
United Methodist Insight welcomes submissions from our readers and followers. Text may be included in the email body or as an attachment; MS Word files are preferred. Please limit articles to 1,000 words and include full name, contact information, and author's photo. Send your news and views on topics of interest to United Methodists to um-insight@as-tex.net.
Advent 2023
A collection of Advent devotionals and reflections from United Methodist resources
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TheNews2/Cover Images ASSOCIATED PRESS
Seeking God in a Time of Genocide
As a Palestinian, looking at this story amidst the ongoing genocide of our people in Gaza, Herod's slaughter of the innocents, the end of the Christmas story in Matthew, resonates too well for Jonathan Brenneman. Read more
Nov 29, 2023
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Advent 1 - Hope
This Advent, Iowa Annual Conference Communications invited members of the newly formed Bishop’s Leadership Team to share reflections based upon the themes and scriptures of “Unrelenting Grace,” the book being used for Advent study in Iowa. Read more
Nov 27, 2023
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First Sunday of Advent Devotional
The Lewis Center for Church Leadership is presenting a series of Advent video devotionals for church leaders this season. Read more
Nov 27, 2023
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Senoldo
Stay Alert
The season of Advent offers many opportunities to wait with hope and to prepare for the coming of the Christ. Read more
Nov 29, 2023
Latest News & Views
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Fatima Shbair AP
Bethlehem Pastors Arrive in DC, Urge Lawmakers to Embrace Cease-fire, Peace Plan
A trio of Christian leaders are visiting the U.S. capital carrying a letter signed by churches in Bethlehem, the city in the occupied West Bank long heralded by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, urging U.S. leaders to work for peace. Read more
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Closure of Oregon Church Under 'Exigent Circumstances' Leads to Protests
The closure of Trinity United Methodist Church in Eugene, Ore., led to public protests recently despite explanations from conference leaders that the congregation suffered from conditions that contributed to its demise. Read more
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Can a Weary World Rejoice?
We live now in a very weary, very un-peaceful world. We are especially made weary, and perhaps cast into despair, by the war in the land where Jesus was born. Can we celebrate a “Holy Night” when an un-holy war rages in this holy land? Read more
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Concerned New York United Methodists Issue Call for Anti-Racism Action
Concerned clergy and laity of the New York Annual Conference issued a strong "call for accountability and action" Nov. 21 following a consultant's report on anti-racism activity that they claim is being quashed. Read more
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Reba Saldanha AP
With 'Vermin,' Trump Crosses Fully into Nazi Territory
Trump’s most recent comments should jar us – especially American Christians – back to our senses, asserts Robert P. Jones of Public Religion Research Institute. Read more
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Structural Violence in the Headlines
Does American media contribute to violence against Palestinians in the Middle East? Religion scholar Russell P. Johnson looks at headlines from a peacemaking perspective. Read more
UMC Future
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Regionalization Requires Effective Communication
Effective regionalization, however, also requires effective communication, both internally within each region and across the connection. Ideally, this means providing easy, online access to the adaptations each regional or annual conference has made. Read more
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Bishops to Call Special Session of General Conference in 2026
The Council of Bishops plans to call a special session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church in 2026 for the delegates to strategize and work toward bringing about the next expression of United Methodism after disaffiliations. Read more
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Zimbabwean, U.S Partners Unite to Build New Sanctuary
A Zimbabwean community had struggled for years to raise resources to complete a new sanctuary. A three-way partnership helped finish the project. Read more
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United Methodist Church Opens in Displaced Camp
Church leaders said the new church is a symbol of hope for thousands of internally displaced persons living at the Nkonko camp in Congo. The church's inauguration was a moment of joy and celebration for returnees from Angola and United Methodists. Read more
Caring for Creation
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A New Class of Earthkeepers Equipped to Care for God’s Creation
Global Ministries commissioned 57 EarthKeepers from across the United States. Friends and family gathered virtually to celebrate the new class, which included United Methodists from 23 U.S. regional conferences. Read more
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Why COP28 Matters to Your Local Church
We care because first, God calls us to be good stewards of the Earth, and second, because the climate crisis is the existential challenge of our time that will affect the futures of our children and grandchildren. Read more
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Climate Summit Day 1
COP28 Begins: 4 Issues That Will Determine if the UN Climate Summit is a Success, from Methane to Money Read more
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Kamran Jebreili AP
New Faith Pavilion Highlights Contentious Climate Meeting
United Methodists will be well represented at the United Nation's climate conference known as COP28 opens on Nov. 30 – but this year's event is drawing even more controversy than in the past. Read more
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Talking about Climate Solutions
How climate negotiators turn national self-interest into global collective action. Read more
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Greening Your Gift-Giving
In a special four-part holiday series, Crys Zinkiewicz offers tips for greening your gift-giving, decorating, celebration, and putting away. Read more
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It's Too Darn Hot – Again
Nov. 18, 2023, the planet’s temperature went past the 2.0 degree Celsius barrier for the first time, notes climate advocate Bill McKIbben and others. Those attending the UN climate summit hope the Faith Pavilion will help spur more activism. Read more
