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General Church
The Rev. Jasmine Smothers, lead pastor of Atlanta First United Methodist Church, has been among the conveners of recent meetings by centrists and progressives to discuss the denomination's future. Photo by Les Scarbrough, Atlanta First United Methodist Church.
The Rev. Jasmine Smothers, lead pastor of Atlanta First United Methodist Church, has been among the conveners of recent meetings by centrists and progressives to discuss the denomination's future. Photo by Les Scarbrough, Atlanta First United Methodist Church.

Centrists, progressives to discuss church's future
Unhappiness with General Conference 2019 prompts plan for big meeting, with dissolution and ‘gracious exit’ among the options.

Editor's Picks

Mission and Ministry
Vibrant worship was a key part of the celebration of 200 years of Methodist mission, sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries and Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, which drew some 250 participants to Atlanta. Photo by Jennifer Silver, Global Ministries.

200 years of answering the call to mission
From a salute to a pioneer among the Wyandotte to a call to engage global youth, a United Methodist event re-considers the nature of mission.
General Church
An empty collection plate. Photo illustration by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Conference offers guidance on apportionment alternatives
California-Pacific Conference leaders advise churches on giving options including withholding or redirecting apportionment contributions in protest of 2019 General Conference.
General Church
Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey observes the results from a Feb. 26 vote for the Traditional Plan, which affirms the church’s current bans on ordaining LGBTQ clergy and officiating at or hosting same-sex marriage. The vote came on the last day of the 2019 General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Outcome of General Conference bittersweet
United Methodist traditionalists say General Conference vote was best way forward for denomination, but it probably means a split is coming.

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General Church
A United Methodist deaf choir signs the words of a hymn during worship in the Baguio Area in northern Philippines. Across the country, an assessment team saw evidence of church vitality. Photo courtesy of the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters.

Creative spirit lifts Philippines’ churches
Mission and Ministry
Bishop LaTrelle Easterling leads a report on the 2019 General Conference during the Black Methodists for Church Renewal meeting in Atlanta. Easterling raised a concern about LGBTQ African Americans in the church, calling them “the marginalized of the marginalized.” Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Bishops discuss GC2019 outcomes with black caucus
Church Growth
Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi urges members and guests of Black Methodists for Church Renewal to "stay woke" during her sermon at Ben Hill United Methodist Church in Atlanta. "Stay woke" is a call to be aware of racial and social justice issues and is closely associated with the Black Lives Matter movement.

BMCR explores ‘reset’ from past to future
Mission and Ministry
The sanctuary of Lynn Haven United Methodist Church in Panama City, Fla., stands open to the sky following Hurricane Michael in October 2018. A grant from the United Methodist Committee on Relief to the Alabama-West Florida Conference for hurricane recovery is among $27.6 million approved by the relief agency for disaster response, sustainable development, global migration and Global Health support. File photo courtesy of Lynn Haven United Methodist Church.

UMCOR assists with 2018 hurricane recovery
General Church
Bishop John K. Yambasu prays with the Rev. Byron Alexander, a conference page, during the 2019 General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

How will denominational divide affect mission?
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Multimedia

Global Health
Program director Caitlin Sussman (left) joins in singing with the Voices of Hope choir at Friendship House, a mental health drop-in center in Morgantown, W.Va. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.
Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Relationships key for churches to help addicts
It’s said the opposite of addiction is connection, and making connections is helping West Virginia churches be in ministry with substance abuse sufferers.

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Global Health
Mike DuBose, UMNS

Photo Essay: 'John Wesley' sails the Amazon
General Conference
Cheryl Jefferson Bell, delegate (standing) from the Great Plains Conference, raises her hands in prayer during the Feb. 23 morning of prayer at the 2019 Special Session of the United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

General Conference in pictures
Audio waves are displayed in an editing program.

Listen in each day: GC2019 audio stories
General Conference
Illustration by Kathleen Barry, UMNS

Perspectives on a Way Forward
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Commentaries

Photo of retired Bishop Michael J. Coyner, courtesy of the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church website.

Opinion: ‘What’s next for our United Methodist Church?’
The Rev. John Yeaman.

Commentary: Are United Methodists ignoring Wesley?
The Rev. Althea Spencer Miller. Photo courtesy of Drew University.

Commentary: The plan of 'gracious inclusion'
The Rev. Edgar De Jesus. Photo courtesy the Rev. Edgar De Jesus.

Commentary: Keep the main thing the main thing
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Ask The UMC

Theology and Education
A wreath and draped cross symbolize the crucifixion of Christ during Good Friday service. Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications.
Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications

Ask The UMC: How do we understand the timing of the Great 3 Days?
The timing of the events of Holy Week have been understood by Christians since at least the third century.

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Theology and Education
The Rev. Esther Kachiko Furaha prays during worship at New Jerusalem United Methodist Church in Uvira, Congo, in 2015. Christians understand prayer as spiritual communication with God. File photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Ask The UMC: What is the difference between prayer and meditation?
General Church
Bishop Kenneth H. Carter gives the sermon during opening worship for the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Ask The UMC: What Happened at General Conference?
Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. Although Ash Wednesday has ancient roots, it does not appear in the rituals of The United Methodist Church or our predecessor denominations until the 20th century.

Ask The UMC: When did Ash Wednesday begin and why do we celebrate it?
Mission and Ministry
More than 350 United Methodist missionaries serve in more than 65 countries around the world.

Ask the UMC: How many missionaries are there?
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Categories

Local Church
A federal appeals court has ruled that clergy can continue receiving tax-free housing allowances. Photo illustration by Nattanan Kanchanaprat, Pixabay.

Appeals court backs tax-free clergy housing
Matt Henson, prayer room volunteer, creates a “stained-glass” wall out of prayers offered by attendees of the 2019 General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Reaction to GC2019 remains strong
Deaconesses pray during the commitment time and dedication of gifts and pledges to sustain the deaconess program at Harris Memorial College in Taytay, Philippines. Photo by Gladys Mangiduyos, UMNS.

Amid struggles, deaconess movement flourishes in the Philippines
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Evangelism
A fire partially destroyed Hartzell High School, a United Methodist school at Old Mutare Mission in Zimbabwe on April 6. Photo by Sengurayi Mashiri.

Fire destroys part of United Methodist school
Women from Morningside United Methodist Church in Salem, Oregon, wear red shawls they helped to create during a dance to honor murdered and missing indigenous women at Chemawa Indian Boarding School. Photo by A. Wolf.

Grant challenge leads to new ministry with Native students
Filipino-Americans attend the launch of the Global Filipino United Methodists Movement Feb. 22 in St. Louis. The initiative will assist churches in diaspora. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Edgar De Jesus

Global Filipino movement focuses on mission
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Social Concerns
Hanwa Mission School in Hanwa, Zimbabwe, is now a registered United Methodist school. The designation means students can now take exams at the primary and secondary school rather than being forced to travel long distances. Photo by Chenayi Kumuterera, UMNS

Church takes reins at Hanwa Mission School
Tendai Musandaka, 20, holds a box of chicks that she and other women and girls will raise to generate income in Marange, Zimbabwe, which has been affected by drought. The farming program is led by The United Methodist Church’s Ministry with Women, Youth and Children and funded by the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UMNS.

Zimbabwe farming project empowers women, girls
Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr. preaches the closing sermon during the Liberia Annual Conference meeting in Harper, Maryland County, Liberia, in 2018. Quire said The United Methodist Church in Liberia is ready to welcome home its members living in the United States if they are deported after losing their temporary protection status when it expires March 31. File photo by E Julu Swen, UMNS.

Future uncertain for Liberians living in US
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Mission and Ministry
Manila Area Bishop Ciriaco Q. Francisco (left) presides at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters in Manila, Philippines. At right is the Rev. Deanna Stickley-Miner, the committee’s secretary. Photo by Heather Hahn, UMNS.

Feedback sought on global Discipline effort
Cyclone Idai survivor Geshem Makufa, 55, is being treated at United Methodist Mutambara Mission Hospital in the Chimanimani District of Eastern Zimbabwe. He is pictured with his wife, Tandiwe Makufa. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UMNS.

Church embraces cyclone survivors in Zimbabwe
A new student at The United Methodist Church Primary School in Sayllu, Sierra Leone, receives a backpack, uniform, shoes, books and other learning materials in preparation for the start of the 2019 school year. Photo by Phileas Jusu, UMNS.

Sierra Leone Conference helps kick-start new school
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General Church
Judi Kenaston, Northeastern Jurisdiction, talks with Michelle Hettman, Southeastern Jurisdiction, during the meeting of the Connectional Table held at United Methodist Discipleship Ministries in Nashville, Tenn., April 2. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS

Leaders pursue plan for new US structure
The Rev. Adilson De Almeida of Luanda, Angola addresses fellow members of the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters, as the Rev. Kimberly Reisman looks on. He and other church leaders at the meeting talked about the fallout of the special General Conference during a March meeting in Manila, Philippines. Photo by Heather Hahn, UMNS.

Global church wrestles with post-GC2019 pain
Bishops Mike McKee and Christian Alsted discuss the process for voting on budget proposals during a joint meeting of the General Council on Finance and Administration board and Connectional Table in Nashville, Tenn. McKee is president of the finance agency board and Alsted is chair of the Connectional Table. Photo by Heather Hahn, UMNS.

Groups approve plan to divvy up slashed budget
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