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Violence

Nurse on duty Bienfait Kabeya Ntumba (right) recounts how he was beaten during an attack on the United Methodist Irambo Health Center on the night of March 18 in Bukavu, Congo. Dr. Jimmy Kasongo (center), medical director of the health center, listens during a staff meeting. It is the second time in a month that armed gunmen invaded the hospital. Photo by Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UM News.

United Methodist hospital staff attacked in Congo

Armed men invaded two church health centers in eastern Congo, leading to violence and looting.

Editor's Picks

A young family attends St. Luke Community United Methodist Church in Dallas in February. Founded in 1933, the large, predominantly Black but diverse congregation gathers for traditional and contemporary worship services, small groups and social justice ministries. Photo courtesy of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church.

Spirit of service helps Black churches thrive

Two Texas churches celebrate their venerable histories, while continuing to serve their communities through creative ministries and outreach.

Bishops

The Rev. Moisés Bernardo Jungo (right) receives the episcopal pin from Bishop Thomas Bickerton after being elected a United Methodist bishop on March 15 at the Africa Central Conference in Johannesburg. The pastor from Angola was the second bishop elected at the conference. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

Moisés Bernado Jungo elected as bishop

The pastor from Angola was elected a United Methodist bishop on the ninth ballot of the Africa Central Conference.

UM News special series spotlights legacy Black churches. Clockwise from top left: St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Montclair, N.J. (now The Mark Montclair), photo courtesy of St. Mark’s via Montclair Local; Mother African Zoar United Methodist Church in Philadelphia (location 1883-2020), photo courtesy of Mother African Zoar United Methodist Church; Central United Methodist Church in Atlanta, photo courtesy of Central United Methodist Church; and a family at St. Luke Community United Methodist Church in Dallas, photo courtesy of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church.

Special series: Legacy Black churches

UM News special report spotlights Black churches with rich histories and vibrant ministries.

Latest News

Central Conferences

United Methodists at the Central and Southern Europe Central Conference stand together outside Winterthur United Methodist Church in Winterthur, Switzerland, where they met. Photo by the Rev. Jörg Niederer, Central and Southern Europe Central Conference.

Amid war, central conference practices ‘shalom’

United Methodist deaconesses Norma Dollaga (right) and Rubylin Litao talk with Bienvenido and Estrella Nonay in Caloocan, Philippines. The Nonays’ son Bernardo was assassinated in 2018, one of thousands of extrajudicial killings carried out as part of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial "war on drugs." The deaconesses are founders of Rise Up for Life and for Rights, which unites family and friends of victims and advocates in demanding an end to the violence and punishment for those responsible. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

United Methodists react to Duterte arrest

Christine Ntamubano expresses gratitude to The United Methodist Church in Burundi for providing clean drinking water closer to her home. Around 5,000 people in the region now have access to drinking water, thanks to a borehole installed by the church. Photo by Jérôme Ndayisenga, UM News.

Borehole offers hope to Burundi town

Bishops

Bishop Daniel Wandabula (center), Africa Central Conference College of Bishops president, congratulates the Rev. Emmanuel Sinzohagera of Burundi after he was elected a United Methodist bishop on the first ballot March 15 at the Africa Central Conference in Johannesburg. At left, Bishop Joaquina F. Nhanala of the Mozambique Episcopal Area looks on. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

Emmanuel Sinzohagera elected as bishop

Bishops

The Rev. João Filimone Sambo of Mozambique receives the United Methodist episcopal pin from Bishop LaTrelle Easterling. Sambo was elected bishop March 15 by the Africa Central Conference. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa, United Methodist Communications.

João Sambo elected as bishop

Bishops

The Rev. Gift Machinga (right), newly elected as bishop, receives greetings from Bishop LaTrelle Easterling as Bishop Thomas Bickerton looks on. The Africa Central Conference elected Machinga of Zimbabwe as bishop on March 15. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa, United Methodist Communications.

Gift Machinga elected as bishop

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More Headlines

United Methodists stand in front of the new Mont Morija United Methodist Church in Golf Plateau III, a fast-growing district of Lubumbashi, Congo. The new building can accommodate 800 worshippers. Photo courtesy of the Jerusalem District.

Family donates funds to build South Congo church

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The Rev. Michael Adam Beck leads The United Methodist Church’s Fresh Expressions movement. In his new book, “Never Alone,” the pastor of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Ocala, Fla., says Fresh Expressions can help create community for people suffering from loneliness. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Michael Adam Beck.

From prisoner to pastor

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Social Concerns

Members of the United Women in Faith Program Advisory Group celebrate the announcement of Assembly 2026, scheduled for May 15-17, 2026, in Indianapolis. Board and program advisory group members met in person March 6-9 at Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville, Tenn., the organization’s first in-person meeting since early 2020. Pictured in the foreground are board member Marilyn Sanchez Reid of the Western Jurisdiction and Vice President Heidi Careaga of the North Central Jurisdiction. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Women’s group plans assembly, calls for justice

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Mission and Ministry

Leaders with the Association of the Korean United Methodist Church of the California-Pacific Conference visit and pray at Altadena United Methodist Church on Feb. 24. The historic African American church in Altadena, California, was destroyed by wildfire in January. Photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.

Korean-led campaign raises funds for wildfire relief

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Episcopal Elections of the Central Conference of The United Methodist Church. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Africa Central Conference Balloting 2025

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Commentaries

Anna Riddle. Photo by Heather Gaydeski Photography.

Carrie Parrish's legacy holds lessons for today

The Rev. Dr. Tércio B. Junker Photo courtesy of the Northern Illinois Conference.

In the Wesleys’ footsteps: Reflecting on justice, faith

The Rev. Paul W. Chilcote. Photo courtesy of the author.

A refreshed Wesleyan vision is emerging

The Rev. April Casperson. Courtesy of Otterbein University.

Amendment would make church more open

The Rev. Dr. Jean Claude Masuka Maleka. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Mission can revitalize United Methodism

Churches build bridges to counter hate

The Rev. Mel West. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Mel West.

World news becomes family news

The Rev. Christopher P. Momany. Photo by Kristen Schell.

Resistance is not enough

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Multimedia

Psalm 63:7. Photo by NoName_13 / Pixabay; graphic by Laurens Glass.

Social media graphics for Lent and Easter

Download art for Lent and Easter from United Methodist to share on social media.

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Mission and Ministry

“Hope this letter finds you in the best of health and spirits.” Books requested by an inmate have been carefully packaged for shipping by Books to Prisons volunteers in Birmingham, Ala. Photo by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Ministry sends Books to Prisons

Photo by Charity Ponter; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News. Luke 6:31

Social media graphics from UM News

The history of Pickett Chapel United Methodist Church in Lebanon, Tenn., goes back almost 200 years. Pickett Chapel is believed to be the oldest African American church building in the state of Tennessee. Photo from video by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Historic church tells story of slavery, triumph

A portion of Hong Kong at night as seen from Victoria Peak. More than 400,000 migrant domestic workers live in Hong Kong, about five percent of the total population. They cook and clean and care for children, pets, and the elderly. They also at times endure horrible treatment. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

United Methodists support migrant workers in Hong Kong

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