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Bishop Elaine J.W. Stanovsky presides as delegates hone their electronic voting skills during a practice election at the 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. In response to the Commission on the General Conference’s decision to further postpone the 2020 General Conference until 2022, the Council of Bishops has called a special session of the General Conference to be convened online on May 8, 2021. File photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

General Conference postponed until 2022

Organizers have postponed the full General Conference, including proposals for a church split, until 2022 when delegates can meet in person. A special one-day, virtual General Conference is planned for May 8.

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Mission and Ministry

The Rev. Clement Kingombe Lutala, Bukavu District superintendent, shares COVID-19 prevention information on Radio Iriba in Bukavu. With the help of the United Front Against Riverblindness, The United Methodist Church in East Congo has led awareness campaigns via community radio in 10 health zones in North and South Kivu. Photo By Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UM News.

Church grapples with resurgence of Ebola

As Ebola, COVID-19, malaria and other diseases threaten lives and livelihoods, church leaders in Congo offer assistance.

Mission and Ministry

People seeking shelter from snow and bitter cold are offered Holy Communion in the gymnasium at First United Methodist Church in Hot Springs, Ark. The church is operating the warming shelter in cooperation with the local Red Cross. Photo by Cindy English.

Churches serve as warming centers, shelters

With nearly 3 million homes without electricity in subfreezing temperatures, United Methodists come together to provide shelter, food, charging stations and other help.

General Church

Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi of the Western Pennsylvania Conference facilitates the U.S. General and Jurisdictional Conference Information Webinar hosted by the United Methodist Council of Bishops on Feb. 13. Screengrab courtesy of United Methodist Communications by UM News.

Scrutinizing the proposed hold on new bishops

United Methodist bishops explained why they recommend delaying U.S. bishop elections until 2024. However, their proposal already faces some pushback.

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General Church

The Rev. Junius B. Dotson records a segment of the “Soul Reset” study series for the Upper Room at United Methodist Communications in Nashville, Tenn., in 2019. Dotson, the top executive of Discipleship Ministries, died Feb. 24, 2021. He was 55. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Discipleship's top executive dies of cancer

Evangelism

The Rev. Tom Berlin (left) presents a copy of his book, “Courage,” to Massachusetts National Guard Chaplain Chad McCabe in the chapel at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington. McCabe, whose unit was assigned to help provide security at the U.S. Capitol after the January riot, contacted Wesley Seminary asking for Bibles, novels and board games for troops stationed there. Photo by Lisa Helfert for Wesley Theological Seminary. Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Church responds to chaplain's call to help soldiers

General Church

The pace of groups and individuals issuing statements and opinion pieces about the future of The United Methodist Church has picked up in recent weeks. Globe by OpenClipart-Vectors/Pixabay; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Church’s future again a hot topic

Mission and Ministry

Vivian Chigweshe sheds tears as she expresses appreciation for her new home in Bikita, Zimbabwe, sponsored by the Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church. Nearly two years after Cyclone Idai left catastrophic damage and a humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe, four families received new homes through the program. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa, UM News.

Cyclone survivors receive new houses

General Church

An international group of General Conference delegates invited fellow United Methodists to envision a better way to be the church. Based in part on that feedback, the group is unveiling a new vision map offering ways to make room for all at God’s table. Graphic courtesy of Out of Chaos, Creation.

Delegates map out vision for church future

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Local Church

The Rev. Juhee Lee, Kate Kim and Christine Song on violin, Cheongmoo Kang on bass clarinet, Beverly Rathbun on organ and Da Eun Ryu on piano record free hymns and special music for the Lenten season. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Yohan Go.

Commentaries

The Rev. Paul T. Stallsworth. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Paul T. Stallsworth

Ask The UMC

Church History

United Methodist Bishop Leontine Turpeau Current Kelly. Sepia photo by Mike DuBose, UM News. Graphic by Laurens Glass, United Methodist Communications.

Ask The UMC: Who are Black women pioneers in US Methodism? (Part 2)

Sally A. Crenshaw and Leontine T. C. Kelly are 20th century clergywomen who paved the way for women and Black Methodists in local and churchwide leadership.