Church aids flood survivors in Congo
June 02Donations from Switzerland Methodist Church, Wespath also help pastors and their families struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.
UMC National News
UMC National News
For complete United Methodist News Service coverage, visit UMNews.org.
Pastor connects through protest hymn
June 02Sparked by the death of George Floyd and others, the Rev. R. DeAndre Johnson shares his own anguished song and finds an internet audience.
Collection rates plunge as COVID-19 rises
June 01Giving to general church ministries plummeted in April as the denomination focused on slowing the disease and supporting local churches.
Statements against racism
June 01Since protests against police brutality and violence triggered by the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others, United Methodist bishops and others have been speaking out.
The risk the white church must take to address racism
June 01“The single greatest obstacle for the white church’s response to racism isn’t silence, it’s being lukewarm. It’s being shallow and timid in how we address racism in the church,” writes The Rev. Eric Mayle.
United Methodists preach, protest and decry racism
June 01Many United Methodists participated in protests in support of Black Lives Matter, calling for an end to police brutality and violence against people of color after the death of George Floyd in police custody.
From children’s song to church anthem
May 29“We Are the Church” is a song for Pentecost, yet the popular hymn almost didn’t make it into The United Methodist Hymnal.
Preaching can highlight climate crisis
May 29United Methodists spoke about environmental justice at an online gathering devoted to the art of preaching.
Chance meeting leads to understanding about reparations
May 28A chance meeting between two women leads a white woman whose ancestors owned a rice plantation to think concretely about reparations.
Churches practice caution before reopening
May 28United Methodist bishops are setting guidelines and recommending times for the churches in their conference to reopen — recommendations that are not necessarily the same as what their state governments are allowing.
COVID-19 fund grants help fill the gaps
May 28From Louisiana to the Philippines, United Methodists are finding ways to assist those affected by the coronavirus pandemic and asking for support from the UMCOR COVID-19 Response Fund.
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month during pandemic
May 27Blaming and harassment of Asian Americans recalls the World War II internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans, writes the Rev. John Oda.
Bishop Jones removed from SMU board
May 27The Texas Conference leader was ousted by fellow trustees after he joined the South Central Jurisdictional Conference’s lawsuit against the school.
Filipinos on the margins hurt by COVID-19
May 27United Methodists from the three episcopal areas have come together to provide food and other assistance during the pandemic.
Celebrating Asian/Pacific American heritage
May 26This month offers a chance to counter rising violence and affirm Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders belong in the U.S. and the church.
Churches extend helping hands to homeless
May 26United Methodists keeping in touch with homeless, vulnerable while staying safe during pandemic.
New General Conference dates announced
May 26General Conference, postponed by pandemic, is scheduled for late summer 2021, despite requests those dates be changed.
Reclaiming more food to fill pandemic gaps
May 21The Society of St. Andrew, which has always tackled food waste, is trying to help with increased demand during the coronavirus pandemic.
Share your audio to help preserve United Methodist history
May 21A wealth of church history is contained in audio files in local churches, seminaries and annual conferences. We must act now to save those treasures.
United Methodist ministry aids Navajo Nation
May 21The Four Corners Native American Ministry is among those helping tribal members and front-line workers as COVID-19 cases continue to rise on the reservation.
African churches ease pandemic’s hunger blow
May 20United Methodist congregations continue to support church members and communities struggling with hunger amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Advocating for more aid
May 19While the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act included many important provisions to help people affected by COVID-19, more is needed, say advocacy groups. A sidebar to a story about food insecurity during the pandemic, first in a ...
COVID-19 shines spotlight on racial health care disparities
May 19Health care disparites make childbirth a dangerous experience for many and COVID-19 is bringing that and other inequities to light.
Tackling food insecurity caused by pandemic
May 19Food-related ministries are a mainstay for United Methodists. Now churches are ramping up efforts in response to COVID-19.
Clergywoman also is nurse on COVID-19 front line
May 18The Rev. Diane Dyson, a United Methodist deacon, experiences fear and fulfillment as health care worker in the pandemic.
2020 annual conference meeting list
May 15United Methodist Communications has compiled a list of 2020 annual conference postponements and plans. The list is incomplete and additions will be made as further details are finalized.
Plans vary to get annual conference business done
May 15Some annual conferences are going virtual. Others are determined to meet in person, and some are doing a bit of both.
Pastors guide members through pandemic
May 14Although churches are closed, United Methodist pastors in Africa and the Philippines are reaching out to members with devotional guides for at-home worship and daily words of encouragement.
Talented 10-year-old inspires others during pandemic
May 13Young United Methodist leader Britney Sadete, who released her first album just days before Zimbabwe’s lockdown, connects with the isolated through her music.
Methodists led response in earlier epidemic
May 12When yellow fever sickened thousands in 18th century Philadelphia, a U.S. founding father turned to two pioneering African American church leaders for help.
Churches have much to consider before reopening
May 11As many states’ shelter-in-place orders are being lifted, churches contemplate how — or whether — to return to in-person worship.
Georgia shooting sparks call to end racism
May 11United Methodist church leaders are calling for the eradication of racism after the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed black man who was killed in Georgia.
Coronavirus hampers malaria efforts in Africa
May 08The United Methodist Church’s mission hospitals in Zimbabwe all report sharp increases in malaria cases over the past few months.
COVID-19 testing czar gets home church support
May 07As a top federal official in the fight against the coronavirus, Admiral Brett Giroir appreciates emails, texts from Dallas’ Lovers Lane United Methodist Church.
Bishops look at financial sustainability
May 06The fund that supports bishops’ work is at risk of depletion in four years. The bishops plan to form a strategy to prevent that.
Bishops urge attention to GC2021 date request
May 05The Council of Bishops pushes consideration of a petition drafted by young adult General Conference delegates. The Commission on General Conference sets the dates for the lawmaking assembly.
Pandemic tests church’s justice commitments
May 05Bishops discussed how COVID-19 is exacerbating already existing injustices and offered ways the church can help.
Helping out creatively during the pandemic
May 04United Methodists are finding unusual ways to serve while waiting out the coronavirus.
Native caucus sounds alarm over tribal land dispute
May 04Native American International Caucus releases letter in support of Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, calls on United Methodists to raise awareness of the issue.
Publishing house laying off about 70 workers
May 01The United Methodist Publishing House predicts a loss of up to 50% in sales partly due to congregations suspending regular activities during the coronavirus.
Both green light, red light for online communion
April 30COVID-19-related meeting restrictions have prompted debate about and experimentation with online communion in The United Methodist Church. Bishops have offered varying instructions.
Church clinic offers lifeline to impoverished community
April 30Many women travel long distances to access maternity care at United Methodist health center, which also has been designated as an anti-retroviral clinic for HIV patients.
Bishops told connection key in pandemic fight
April 29COVID-19 has put proposals to split the church on hold. The Council of Bishops president urged leaders use this time to claim the church’s strengths.
Church members among dead in Congo flooding
April 28Thousands of families have been displaced and United Methodist homes, schools and other buildings have been destroyed by flooding in the East Congo Episcopal Area.
In Europe, closing church can mean opening to others
April 28The coronavirus crisis brings far-flung United Methodists in Eurasia together for worship; stimulates community contact in Norway; allows for new ways to carry on old traditions in Germany and propels a home-bound mask-making venture in Slovakia.
Pandemic threatening ministry with migrants
April 27United Methodists are helping but are hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which separates them from face-to-face interaction with migrants.
UM university in Angola to be used in COVID-19 fight
April 24The church has turned over its Cacuaco campus of the Methodist University of Angola for use as a coronavirus testing and treatment center.
Helping Native communities amid COVID-19 crisis
April 23United Methodists provide protective gear, money for food ministries as Native Americans struggle during pandemic.
Keeping church property safe amid closures
April 23United Methodist Insurance offers five tips to help keep people and property safe at a time church buildings are largely unoccupied.
Church hospitals race to prepare for the coronavirus
April 21United Methodist hospitals in Africa and the Philippines gear up to treat patients with COVID-19, including setting up isolation areas and gathering protective gear.