United Methodist News Service

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Ann Hammond tells the Rev. Barry Steiner Ball of her plans for creating a recovery house for women living with addiction in an older home on the grounds of United Methodist Temple in Clarksburg, W.Va. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS. — Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Conference asks ‘What If’ the church confronted the opioid crisis

Constant media coverage of opioid epidemic makes it seem hopeless, but churches in West Virginia are offering hope instead.

Editor's Picks

Mission and Ministry

Lydia Chimonyo Girls High School students carry buckets to gather water at a borehole in Chimanimani, Zimbabwe. There is no running water at the school since Cyclone Idai damaged the school’s water plant. Photo by the Rev. Duncan Charwadza.

Church mobilizes to help cyclone survivors

Cyclone Idai left a path of destruction in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, killing at least 180 people and damaging United Methodist schools, churches, hospitals and homes.

General Church

The Rev. Heather Sinclair anoints Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton at the beginning of a time of healing prayer and anointing at the close of a special session of the New York Annual Conference at Purchase College, State University of New York. Photo by Stephanie Parsons.

New York, New Jersey conferences confer on GC2019

Inaugural conference special sessions address concerns over pain, distrust caused by denomination-wide vote.

General Conference

List of GC2019 petitions under court review

Downloadable PDF lists approved changes to the Book of Discipline that will be reviewed by the Judicial Council in April.

Latest

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

Evangelism

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

Mission and Ministry

The Revs. Terra Amundson (left) and Catie Newman of the Iowa Conference discuss church response to flooding in the Missouri River basin in Hornick, Iowa. Amundson is superintendent of the Southwest District and Newman is disaster response coordinator for the conference. Photo by Arthur McClanahan, Iowa Conference.

Flood victims savor 'God moments'

Mission and Ministry

A child is transported inside an empty refrigerator during floods after Cyclone Idai, in Buzi, outside Beira, Mozambique. The United Methodist Committee on Relief has allocated three $10,000 grants for immediate, emergency short-term funding to meet basic human needs of those affected in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. Photo by Siphiwe Sibeko, REUTERS

UMCOR grants aid initial cyclone response

General Church

Spare voting machines rest on a table at the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Some in the church are calling for an independent investigation into voting irregularities during the conference. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Questions about task force ricocheting around church

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Multimedia

Global Health

Photo Essay: 'John Wesley' sails the Amazon

Since 2001, the “John Wesley” Methodist Medical Boat has sailed the waters of the Amazon River providing faith, hope, love and health to indigenous communities living in northern Brazil. United Methodist News Service traveled with the medical team to document this vital ministry.

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

Perspectives on a Way Forward

General Church

The Reverend Chris Ritter. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Seeing a Way Forward: The Rev. Chris Ritter

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?’

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

Ask The UMC

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?

Amid growing concerns for the denomination’s future, the 2016 General Conference authorized the formation of a commission to deal with church teachings on homosexuality and find ways to help the church stay together. The Commission on a Way Forward submitted proposals that were considered by the delegates at the 2019 special called General Conference.