Disciple Bible Study goes digital

Since its launch in 1987, Disciple Bible Study has drawn more than 3 million participants.

Weeping tears of grief, gratitude

Despite closing, a local church’s legacy will live on, thanks to the lives that it shaped through the years.

From girlhood activist to denominational leader

Harriett Jane Olson embraces retirement as she recalls rewarding career as lawyer, publisher and top executive of United Women in Faith.

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Henry-Crowe reflects on almost 50 years of ministry

Retired from the United Methodist Board of Church and Society since December, Henry-Crowe says a United Nations seminar at age 16 launched a career focusing on peace and justice.

Bishop Meadors remembered as ‘giant of justice’

Friends say Bishop Marshall L. “Jack” Meadors Jr., who died May 25, was a compassionate leader and dedicated activist on issues like child poverty, war and women’s rights.

Knitting bonds of love and hope all over the world

Methodist education is all about transforming lives. Being part of the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities is a way of feeling a part of something bigger than one’s own institution.

Tackling a petitions conundrum

The General Conference commission spent time grappling with what to do about petitions submitted by people who, for whatever reason, are no longer part of The United Methodist Church.

Wesley’s vision of education alive and well today

Meeting in the United Kingdom, Methodist school leaders commemorate the founding of Kingswood School in Bath 275 years ago.

What to expect at the next General Conference

The group that plans The United Methodist Church’s big legislative assembly is putting together the final details for holding the long-delayed General Conference next year in Charlotte, North Carolina. The group is as changed as the denomination it ...

2023 Hungary Annual Conference

April 13-16, Szeged, Hungary and Com?e?ti (Romania)

Remembering United Methodism’s maestro

The Rev. Carlton R. “Sam” Young edited The United Methodist Hymnal but also stood out as a composer, arranger, conductor and scholar. He died May 21 at age 97.

2023 Austria Provisional Annual Conference

May 18-21, 2023, Linz, Upper Austria

Korean churches hope to continue shared mission work in Mongolia

The United Methodist Mongolia Mission Initiative Summit gathered May 10-13 at Christ United Methodist Church in Honolulu with participants from Mongolia, South Korea and mainland America to discuss the ministry’s future and direction.

A whirlwind pilgrimage through Methodist history

Race, social justice and the role of the church in politics all played a role in the first Social Justice Pilgrimage, a day of visiting and learning about United Methodist-associated locales in Baltimore and Washington.

As church exits rise, proposed budget drops

In the wake of projected losses from church closures and disaffiliations, The United Methodist Church’s finance agency continues to shrink the proposed budget heading to General Conference.

What’s in the budget?

The United Methodist Church will look and operate very differently going forward.

Amid policy changes, church keeps faith with migrants

No surge so far of asylum-seekers into the U.S. after the recent end of a COVID-related restriction. But United Methodists remain busy assisting those already here.

2023 Czech Republic Annual Conference

May 12-14, 2023, Prague

Judge lifts North Georgia disaffiliation pause

A judge ruled from the bench that 185 North Georgia churches can proceed with The United Methodist Church’s disaffiliation process. Meanwhile, the Rio Texas Conference has filed suit against churches seeking to circumvent that process.

Alaskan church reaches out to Native community

Every Nation United Methodist Church in Anchorage was designed to support and minister to Alaska Natives.

Church gives hope to people living with HIV in Congo

With funding from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, the church supports a program for more than 100 women living with HIV in the Kivu Conference.

Black caucus draws closer to African partners

Convening in Pittsburgh, Black Methodists for Church Renewal members gathered in person for the first time since 2020, after two years of virtual meetings due to COVID-19.

Collier had impact at denominational, personal levels

The Rev. Karen Y. Collier led the way for Black clergywomen and helped create The United Methodist Church’s Women of Color Scholars program.

Bishops call for General Conference in 2026

United Methodist bishops see a need for the denomination’s top lawmaking body to hold an additional meeting to deal with changes resulting from church disaffiliations. Meanwhile, the denomination’s finance agency has its own concerns.

Historian urges bishops: Reclaim ‘vile’ heritage

In presenting the history of the episcopacy in Methodism, a United Methodist historian challenged bishops to take a page from John Wesley’s playbook and submit to be “more vile.”

United Methodists killed in Congo flooding

Over 175 people, including 15 United Methodists, died after torrential rains overflowed the Chibira River in South Kivu. One church family lost 13 members.

Korean leaders voice hope for church, despite exits

More than 200 Korean United Methodists met to discuss the church’s future and consider the likely impact of disaffiliations.

Suspended bishop moves toward church trial

The Western Jurisdiction announced that a committee has determined enough evidence exists to bring charges against Bishop Minerva Carcaño to trial. Carcaño has been suspended for more than a year.

United Methodists join fight against drug abuse

The United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe is helping raise awareness about the harms of drug and substance abuse and the importance of rehabilitation.

Conflicting actions sought on bishop’s suspension

As the United Methodist Council of Bishops meets this week, different groups are advocating for their hoped-for response to Bishop Minerva Carcaño’s suspension. She has been suspended with pay for more than a year.

New caucus supports African bishops, regionalization

United Methodist Africa Forum holds inaugural meeting, elects leadership and addresses key issues.

Legal forum offers guidance for time of schism

United Methodist bishops, conference legal advisers and other church leaders met to share insights on dealing with church disaffiliations. They also discussed how to work toward a future with hope.

Amid rupture, bishops called to renew church

In his presidential address to the first in-person Council of Bishops meeting in three years, Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton urged his episcopal colleagues to take time to grieve disaffiliations but then work for renewal.

Consultation charts way for missional church

The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries met in Maputo, Mozambique, to listen and to engage partners in Africa on mission programs.

Leadership body reconsiders restructuring plan

The United Methodist Church’s Connectional Table, which has stewardship of the denomination’s mission, ministry and resources, is now re-examining its proposed restructuring.

Poetry helps seminary professor ‘stay awake in the gospel’

Harold “Hal” Recinos, a faculty member at Perkins School of Theology, started early reading poetry and has become a published poet himself, influenced by William Carlos Williams and Langston Hughes.

Ethicist speaks to disaffiliation struggle

The Rev. Dr. David P. Gushee, a Baptist and author of many works on Christian ethics, says clergy and churches leaving The United Methodist Church and those staying should strive to “let each other go in peace.”

Global Ministries meetings focus on mission in Africa

The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries met this month in Mozambique to collaborate with African United Methodists on mission work and the shared goal of helping the church in Africa become self-sustaining.

Court rules on exiting clergy and churches

The United Methodist Church’s Judicial Council weighed in on whether withdrawing clergy must surrender their credentials and other questions related to church disaffiliations.

Court: Bishops can intercede in complaints

The United Methodist Church’s top court upheld the constitutionality of a relatively new church law that allows the Council of Bishops to be involved in adjudicating complaints against its members.

Parish nurses can play a role in health care deserts

Since John Wesley’s day, Methodists have strived to address a variety of social concerns, including health care. The parish nurse program can play a vital role in continuing ministries of healing, writes the Rev. Mel West.

Rulings address LGBTQ resolution, Congo special session

The Judicial Council released rulings April 25 stemming from last fall’s jurisdictional conferences, including one dealing with a resolution on LGBTQ inclusion adopted by all five jurisdictions.

Why church should care about press freedom

World Press Freedom Day is a time to reflect on the importance of newsgathering and the ties that connect freedom of expression and religion.

Missionary remembered as a light for vulnerable children

Innocent P. Afful, a missionary with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, died April 17 at age 49. Friends and colleagues say he had a passion for social ministry and a welcoming spirit.

Differing trajectories of separation

Even as they vote to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church, some congregations and conferences show interest in maintaining some connectionalism with The United Methodist Church.

Joint church effort in Zimbabwe addresses climate change

A $3,000 grant from the All Africa Conference of Churches kickstarts tree-planting program at United Methodist Murewa Mission.

Exiting Florida churches’ lawsuit dismissed

A Florida judge dismissed a lawsuit originally filed by 106 churches seeking to leave The United Methodist Church without paying exit fees. However, the judge’s ruling opened the way for an appeal.

United Methodists join march for gun reform

A large rally in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, held in the wake of a deadly school shooting, had strong representation from United Methodist clergy and laity. The agenda was to support stricter gun laws and other social justice goals that the ...

Church food pantry helps Alaskans ‘on the edge’

In a small, rural Alaska town, Willow United Methodist Church runs a community food pantry that is a lifeline for many living off the grid.