Bishops Mourn Deaths of Two Men at the Hands of ICE | |
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Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey and Bishop Rubén Saenz Jr. of the Texas, Rio Texas, and Horizon Texas conferences offered a pastoral statement following the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston on July 7. He was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. "We grieve as neighbors, as clergy and lay leaders, and as people who confess that every human being is created in the image of God and possesses sacred worth that no earthly authority may erase," said the two bishops.
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Bishop Thomas Bickerton of the New England and New York Conferences released a statement on immigration officers' killing of documented resident Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Maine on July 13. "Beloved community has been invaded once again by an act of unjust violence," he observed. "We hold this family, this community, and all who gather this week in prayer." | |
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Loving Our Neighbor Events, Sept. 13
Churches: start planning to participate in the conference-wide Faithful Action: Loving Our Neighbor activities on Sept. 13. Hold a vigil, march, protest, or prayer circle and sing, pray, shout, and stand up for justice for our immigrant and refugee brothers and sisters. Attend an information session on July 27 at 10 a.m. online. More
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School of Leadership Subsidy for Clergy
Learn about innovation in ministry from Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean, co-founder of Ministry Incubators, at the School of Leadership, Sept. 29-Oct. 1, at Green Lake Conference Center, Green Lake, Wis. To help clergy attend this valuable event, the cabinet is providing a $100 subsidy toward each NIC clergy member's registration. More
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Nominate a Child Advocate for Awards
Nominate someone for United Voices for Children’s Child Advocate Awards, which recognize people who have made a difference in children's lives. Awards granted are the Bishop Jesse R. DeWitt Child Advocate Award, Katherine B. Greene Child Worker Award, and the Rev. Margaret Ann Williams Service Award. Submit your nomination by Aug. 3. More
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Mission Team Leader Training, Sept.
This UM Volunteers in Mission training is for first-time mission team leaders or those who have led teams in the past, and those who have taken the training previously and seek updated information. Sessions take place on Sept 3, 10, 17, and 24 at 6 p.m. (90 minutes to two hours). Learn theology of mission, practical advice for leading a team, and tips for traveling with a team. More
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Ecumenical Study Scholarship
Every year the Council of Bishops awards a partial scholarship for a young adult to study for six months at the World Council of Churches' Bossey Ecumenical Institute in Switzerland. Applicants should have completed an undergraduate degree, be planning to pursue vocational ministry, and wish to study the ecumenical movement. See application
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Group Proposes Adding Two Bishops
The Interjurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy on July 1 approved a proposal to raise the number of active U.S. bishops from 32 to 34. Under the plan, the North Central and South Central jurisdictions would each get an additional bishop. This is the first step in a lengthy process. The proposal next goes to the UM Council on Finance and Administration for consideration in the next UMC budget. More
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In Case You Missed It
Prairie Central District part-time assistant wanted: Provides comprehensive administrative and secretarial support. More
Mission u One-Days, July 25 and Aug. 8: One-day Mission u events are still open for registrations. Korean Language Day takes place July 25 at Woori Naperville UMC, Naperville. The session on Aug. 8 at Euclid Avenue UMC in Oak Park offers content in Spanish and English, and for youth and children. More
Immigration 101 training: Aug. 8, 9 a.m. to noon, UMC of Libertyville. Register now. Gain a deeper understanding of immigration issues and practical ways to support immigrant communities. More
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Mission Trips Can Be More than Service Projects
Mission trips are often viewed as service projects, but effective ministry leaders understand that mission trips can be powerful opportunities for spiritual formation and theological reflection. Andrew Mochrie explores how youth leaders can help participants move beyond simply doing good works to recognizing and joining in the deeper work God is already doing in the world—both during the trip and long after they return home. More
Sacred Worth Books for Children
The UM Board of Church and Society has developed a reading list for children. The Sacred Worth Books database suggests books that honor the dignity and sacred worth of all God's children, to emphasize that we are all important because God loves us. Use this resource to search for children's books with a diversity of main characters. More
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As World Cup excitement reaches a fever pitch, the UMC is scoring health goals on soccer fields in Eastern Africa.
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The Kick Out HIV campaign uses soccer tournaments to attract refugees and members of their host communities to voluntary HIV testing. The goal is to break barriers, reduce stigma and build healthier communities.
The campaign, supported by a $60,000 grant from the UM Board of Global Ministries, is part of the denomination’s HIV and AIDS efforts focused on prevention and self-care at refugee settlements.
“The reason why we have chosen soccer is that the rate of HIV among youths is high,” said the Rev. Faustino Duku Stephen, dean of superintendents for the Uganda-South Sudan Conference, at a recent tournament. “Youth are the most vulnerable, and we have to mobilize them.” More
Organizers of the church’s Kick Out HIV campaign arrange uniforms to be distributed to players participating in a soccer tournament at Imvepi Settlement in Arua, Uganda. Photo by Juma Denis Daniel, UM News.
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Around the Conference
Immigration 101 training: Aug. 8, 9 a.m. to noon, UMC of Libertyville. Gain a deeper understanding of immigration issues and practical ways to support immigrant communities.
United Voices for Children Fifth Sunday Appeal, Aug. 30
UM Men Spiritual Congress, Sept. 12-13, Conference Point Center, Williams Bay, Wis.
Conference-Wide Faithful Action Day, Sept. 13. NIC churches will step out of their sanctuaries to march, pray, and sing in a large-scale show of support for our immigrant brothers and sisters.
Mission u One-Days, July 25 and Aug. 8: One-day Mission u events are still open for registrations. Korean Language Day takes place July 25 at Woori Naperville UMC, Naperville. The session on Aug. 8 at Euclid Avenue UMC in Oak Park offers content in Spanish and English, and for youth and children. More
NIC Youth Retreat, Sept. 25-27, Camp Timber-lee, East Troy, Wis. For sixth through twelfth graders.
Safe Sanctuaries® Training, Sept. 26, 9 a.m. to noon, online
NIC Disability Education Summit, Sept. 26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Bethany of Fox Valley UMC, Aurora. Accessible worship, workshops and panel discussion. Free event with optional $10 lunch. Hosted by the NIC Committee on Accessibility.
School of Leadership, Sept. 29-Oct. 1, Green Lake, Wis. Learn from Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean about innovation in ministry. NIC clergy are eligible for a $100 registration subsidy.
United Voices for Children Fifth Sunday Appeal, Aug. 30
Around the Connection
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Sunday: observe in July or August.
SCD 2026, "Rise Up: Love, Serve, and Lead," Aug. 2-5, Columbus, Ohio. Gain practical tools, processes, and frameworks for discipleship formation; hear hands-on insights from episcopal leaders, ministry cultivators, and practitioners across the worldwide UM connection; and get to know ministry leaders, share experiences, and build lasting relationships.
AI & Church Summit, August 24-27, online. Hosted by Discipleship Ministries and UM Communications, this year's summit is planned by representatives from multiple mainline denominations and will focus on “Human Agency in the Age of AI.” It will examine preserving human dignity, moral responsibility, faithful discernment, and meaningful human participation in a world increasingly shaped by automated systems.
Hispanic School of Ministry, Sept. 11-13, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
United Voices for Children's Raising Our Voices Advocacy and Awards event, Sept. 24, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Grace UMC, Rockford. Focus will be on youth mental health and anti-bullying. More
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Explore UMRC Resources #4
The United Media Resource Center has many kinds of resources for group and individual study. Here are two DVDs and two books of interest:
“Becoming Heart Sisters: A Bible Study on Authentic Friendships,” six-session DVD study
“Difficult Words of Jesus: A Beginner’s Guide to His Most Perplexing Teachings,” six-session DVD study
Connected Life: Small Groups that Create Community, by Jacob Armstrong
Story Continues: The Acts of the Apostles for Today, by J. Ellsworth Kalas
The United Media Resource Center has books, DVDs, and more to lend to your church's Christian education, faith formation, and book club ministries for children, youth, and adults. Borrow a resource of your own interest as well. Check their online catalog.
List of resources
Online catalog
Contact the center
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