Church promotes COVID-19 vaccines in Africa
December 08Zimbabwe congregations and church-related clinics offer COVID-19 vaccines and testing. Similar efforts are underway in Malawi, Mozambique and Congo.
UMC National News
UMC National News
For complete United Methodist News Service coverage, visit UMNews.org.
Making sure all are mourned
December 07A United Methodist pastor with a ministry for people who are homeless has organized some of his peers to help ensure that everyone put to rest in Nashville, Tennessee, is respectfully mourned during a funeral service.
Trees symbolize a reformed denomination
December 07Setting a new tree for every member of The United Methodist Church is a positive way to announce the church’s reformation to the world, writes retired pastor.
Tornado destroys church, but not its ministry
December 06Though a tornado destroyed Dodson Chapel United Methodist Church in 2020, its child care ministry lives on at nearby Hermitage United Methodist Church.
Church exits, COVID lead to steep budget cuts
December 03United Methodist financial leaders are trying to estimate what a proposed church split and ongoing pandemic mean for the denomination’s bottom line.
AU theology graduate returns to serve in East Congo
December 02The United Methodist Church in the East Congo Conference recently welcomed home the first student from the conference sent to Africa University for theological studies.
Churches advised to oppose BSA bankruptcy plan
December 02A United Methodist legal team is still negotiating but says the current Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy plan doesn’t adequately protect churches that sponsored Scouting troops and could be liable in sex-abuse claims.
Kenyan orphans find hope in vocational education
December 01Participants, ages 17 to 22, learn life skills to support themselves financially and overcome poverty and insecurity.
Spanish-language hymnal turns 25
November 30Mil Voces Para Celebrar was no mere imitation of the United Methodist Hymnal, offering new tunes, texts and rhythms for worship.
Inspiration, expertise for Black churches
November 24Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century will offer tips on innovative ministries and better use of technology at its 2021 conference in Houston, which will be a hybrid live and virtual event.
Storms destroy two church institutions in Zimbabwe
November 24Heavy rains and strong winds wipe out classrooms, offices, a clinic and teachers’ residences in both East and West annual conferences.
5 theses for The United Methodist Church
November 23Deeply rooted problems plaguing the denomination will not be solved by legislation but by repentance and a return to radical obedience to Scripture, says one United Methodist pastor.
Group gets immersion in Native history, concerns
November 23Invisibility is a problem for indigenous communities today, and United Methodists from nine states resolved to help raise awareness and support Native American ministries.
Programs support, develop Native American youth
November 23An Oklahoma church and a public charter school are focused on teaching Native youth about their culture and equipping them to thrive.
COVID sparks interest in BeADisciple courses
November 22BeADisciple, which offers online courses and certification in many ministry specialties, reports an increase in students and courses that coincided with the coronavirus pandemic
Judicial Council to review church-exit rules
November 22The United Methodist Church’s top court faces multiple questions related to the deadline for General Conference legislation and a new law allowing congregations to exit with property.
Church joins fight against river pollution
November 19The Council of Churches in Sierra Leone urges government to reduce health risks to 150,000 to 200,000 people who live along rivers where diamond and gold mining occur.
Encountering racism but extending love
November 19Whether in school or the workplace, the Rev. Margret Powell experienced hostility and ridicule as a person of color, but she persevered.
Setting criteria for a 2022 General Conference
November 19Organizers named the values that will guide their decision on whether the denomination’s legislative assembly goes forward as scheduled.
Connectional Table aims to restructure
November 18The United Methodist leadership body that coordinates denomination-wide ministries is looking to shrink its size and become more global in membership.
Video of church incident goes viral, causes fallout
November 17An Oklahoma City United Methodist church focused on prison and addiction recovery ministry faces criticism for telling a visitor to leave after volunteers suspected she might be bringing in drugs.
German pastor sentenced for providing asylum
November 16A United Methodist pastor faces a penalty of 1,500 Euros (more than $1,700 U.S.) for “aiding and abetting unauthorized residence,” a sentence upheld in a Nov. 8 court hearing.
Helping people ‘from womb to tomb’
November 16A ministry of United Methodist Women, Bethlehem Centers offer programs to people of all ages, from child care to senior clubs.
Pastor found 'treasures' in depression battle
November 15The Rev. Juanita Rasmus of Houston will offer a five-hour “Learning to Be: Immersive” workshop, drawing on insights she gained in coming back from major depression.
Big day for United Methodist school, guest house
November 12Northern Nigeria Conference celebrates graduation at school named for late Ron Wilmot, missionary, and dedicates new guest house for visiting volunteers.
Bishops take on climate, finances, vaccines
November 10In an eventful final day of their fall meeting, United Methodist bishops took multiple actions related to church life and global challenges.
'It was very hard': Haitians risk lives to migrate
November 09Violence, insecurity and poverty drive Haitians across Latin America and into the U.S., in search of safe living conditions.
Haitian migrants bring vitality to declining church
November 09Congregation changes from being a traditional church to a ministry center and opens its doors wide to those in need.
What I have learned from Harry
November 09Taking in a homeless Haitian child taught Pastor Bill Jenkins three lessons about life.
Bishops offer framework for inclusive church
November 08As the denomination edges toward some form of separation, bishops offer a narrative to describe their hopes for the continuing United Methodist Church.
Zimbabwe churches reopen to vaccinated, unvaccinated
November 05The decision was met with mixed emotions, but church representatives stress that the church is a welcoming place of God’s grace.
Group seeks bishops grace in church exits
November 04As the Council of Bishops begins its fall online meeting, a group of United Methodists is urging the leaders to allow churches that so desire to depart with property.
McClain’s ashes nourish tree at Wesley Theological Seminary
November 04Wesley Theological Seminary is the final resting place for longtime professor and “Songs of Zion” champion the Rev. William Bobby McClain, following a service of the interment of his ashes.
Why does Wespath care about sustainable investing?
November 04As world leaders discuss climate change, Wespath’s chief investment officer explains how the agency prioritizes socially responsible investing.
Bishops urged to embrace ‘more loving way’
November 03As plans for denominational separation ramp up, bishops start their fall meeting focused on the continuing United Methodist Church and anti-racism work.
Boise church pushes for global COVID shots
November 03First United Methodist Boise/Cathedral of the Rockies sparks interfaith effort for vaccine equity.
Group seeks bishops’ grace in church exits
November 02As the Council of Bishops begins its fall online meeting, a group of United Methodists is urging the leaders to allow churches that so desire to depart with property.
Global Ministries, UMCOR approve $10M in grants
November 01Migrants, natural disaster survivors and others around the globe can count on help from The United Methodist Church in 2022, after more than $10 million in grants were approved.
Women clergy still paid less
October 27A new study commissioned by the United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women follows up on a similar study in 2017 and shows that while some progress has been made, women clergy are still underpaid when compared to their male ...
Asbury's travels
October 26Bishop Francis Asbury played a key role in organizing Methodism in the U.S. What you may not know is that he logged 130,000 miles on horseback to do so.
Texas Conference takes on 'child care deserts'
October 22Texas Conference partners with local churches to start child care centers in underserved areas, with a focus on literacy, health and discipleship.
Sermons revived 25 years after pastor’s death
October 21The Son of a Preacher Podcast refashions vintage sermons by United Methodist pastor the Rev. Wallace A. Stark as bite-size podcasts, with commentary from his son, GW Stark.
Ministry connects seniors with today’s tech
October 20Seniors are making strides into the computer age at a north Nashville church, thanks to classes made possible by a grant from United Methodist Discipleship Ministries.
Kenyan church provides clean, safe water
October 15Today, some 2,000 community members, including 500 pupils at Moheto Primary School, benefit from a borehole project in rural Kenya.
Center helps rape survivors restart lives
October 13Once-vulnerable women who learned trades at the United Methodist Church of East Congo’s Mama Lynn Center are supporting themselves and becoming indispensable to their families.
Hartzell school embraces new technology
October 13Thanks to a United Methodist Global Ministries grant, 10 desktop computers enhance teaching and learning for 173 young students.