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Human Rights
The late Chinese dissident Lin Zhao wears a “Monkey Cap” in this painting by artist Hu Jie. The Monkey Cap is a punishment designed to make it difficult for the wearer to communicate. Courtesy of Hu Jie.

Chinese martyr inspires 50 years after execution
The life and legacy of Methodist-educated writer and political dissident Lin Zhao is the subject of a new book by a Duke Divinity School professor.

Editor's Picks

Local Church
The Rev. Josh Beaty, pastor of discipleship at Christ United Methodist Church, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was among many United Methodists who participated in the March for Our Lives rally held March 24 in Parkland, Fla. As mass shootings increase in the U.S., churches are considering how far they are willing to go to ensure security. Photo by Kathy L. Gilbert, UMNS.

Churches balance safety and maintaining piety
In this era of mass shootings, pastors and other church officials are deciding how far they are willing to go to ensure security.
Mission and Ministry
The Rev. Matthew Richard Schlimm, author of "70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know," uses a light board to write two Hebrew words. At top is the word that transliterates to "shalom," meaning "peace" or "well-being." The bottom word is "khesed," meaning "love" or "loyalty." Schlimm is a United Methodist elder and professor of Old Testament at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. Photo by Nick Story, the University of Dubuque.

Advice to Christians: Learn a little Hebrew
United Methodist scholar makes case for knowledge of Hebrew in new book “70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know.”
Mission and Ministry
A satellite image shows smoke pouring from a wildfire that broke out in the early morning hours of Nov. 8, just outside Paradise, Ca. The Camp Fire, named for its proximity to Camp Creek Road in Feather River Canyon, has overtaken and nearly burned out the town of 30,000 residents located in northern California. NASA Earth Observatory image by Joshua Stevens, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey.

Churches coping with California fires
California Methodists hit by wildfires can expect the full support of the local and national United Methodist Church.

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Social Concerns
This is a view of the border fence in El Faro Park in Tijuana, Mexico, after the arrival of the first members of the migrant caravan. Photo courtesy of Rubén Velarde de la Congregación Nuevo Pacto de Playas de Tijuana.

Members of migrant caravan seeking better lives
Mission and Ministry
Zimbabwe West Conference auditor Douglas Mudzingwa teaches students about financial management during skills training in Harare, Zimbabwe, provided by The United Methodist Church and the nonprofit Global Fund. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UMNS.

Church offers young women alternative to early marriage
General Church
Bishop Minerva Carcaño asks a question during the board meeting of the General Council on Finance and Administration held at Providence United Methodist Church in Mount Juliet, Tenn. on Nov. 16, 2018. Pictured (from left) are Kenneth Ow, Carcaño, and the Rev. Anthony Tang. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Finance board moves ahead with budget cuts
Local Church
Edward Shanyurai, 80, holds an old United Methodist hymnal during outdoor worship in Muzarabani, Zimbabwe. Photo by Taurai Emmanuel Maforo, UMNS.

Worshipping without walls in rural Zimbabwe
General Conference
Bishop Kenneth H. Carter answers questions during a press conference about the United Methodist Church's Way Forward plan to address how the denomination ministers with LGBTQ individuals at the conclusion of the church's Council of Bishops meeting in Chicago in May 2018. File photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Seeing a Way Forward: Bishop Carter
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Multimedia

General Conference
The Rev. Gary Graves, secretary of the General Conference, shares some of the questions he’s been hearing about the special called General Conference taking place in February 2019. Graves spoke with UM News as part of “Seeing a Way Forward,” a video series featuring different perspectives of church leaders on the work of the Commission on a Way Forward. Video image courtesy of United Methodist News Service.
UM News

Seeing a Way Forward: The Rev. Gary Graves
How does GC2019 relate to GC2020? What are the differences? These are some of the questions addressed by the Rev. Gary Graves, secretary of the General Conference, for our video series.

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General Church
Bishop Ough announced a plan a General Conference 2016. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, United Methodist Communications.

Seeing a Way Forward: Bishop Ough
Immigration
People living on the street, many of them migrants, pray during a worship service and dinner provided by El Divino Redentor Methodist Church at Mariachi Plaza in Mexicali, Mexico.

Love of Christ extends to immigrants living on street
General Conference
Video image of Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball, courtesy of the West Virginia Conference.

Seeing a Way Forward: Bishop Steiner Ball
General Conference
Bishop John Yambasu gives the sermon during morning worship May 19 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. File photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Seeing a Way Forward: Bishop Yambasu
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Commentaries

The Rev. René P. Lawson. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Lawson.

Commentary: Navy reserve chaplain decries church polarization
The Rev. Sam Royappa addresses the Pre-General Conference Briefing in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Commentary: Wisconsin pastor prepares for GC2019
The Rev. Elaine A. Robinson. Photo by Shevaun Williams.

Commentary: Thoughts upon GC2019 via Methodist history
Andrew Ponder Williams. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ponder Williams.

Commentary: 5 reasons millennials like United Methodism
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Ask The UMC

General Church
Bishop Sharma Lewis shares a moment with Bishop Lindsey Davis, her former bishop in North Georgia Conference, during her consecration on July 15, 2016, at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center at Lake Junaluska, N. C. File photo by Burt Williams, Western North Carolina Conference.
J_Burton_Williams

Ask The UMC: How are bishops chosen in The United Methodist Church?
United Methodist bishops are ordained elders elected and consecrated for a ministry of servant leadership and supervision.

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Theology and Education
Pumpkins fill the grounds of the 12th South Farmers Market in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by Laurens Glass.

Ask The UMC: What is The United Methodist Church's view of Halloween?
Church History
(Left to right) Central United Methodist Church in Luanda, Angola, photo by Mike DuBose; food distribution site for the United Methodist Committee on Relief, Dagami, Philippines, photo by Mike DuBose; the Rev. Shalom Agtarap, photo by Paul Jeffrey; stained glass cross and flame, photo by Kathleen Barry.

Ask The UMC: Has The United Methodist Church always had an official symbol like the cross and flame?
General Conference
Overhead view of the 1976 General Conference. Photo by John C. Goodwin, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

Ask The UMC: How often has there been a special called General Conference?

Mission and Ministry
Young adults pass the collection plate during the contemporary worship at McKendree United Methodist Church in Lawrenceville, Ga. 2016 file photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Ask The UMC: What does The United Methodist Church teach about tithing?
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Categories

Local Church
Karen A. Henry, an attorney at Crossroads United Methodist Church, Compton, Calif., explains how she helped her pastor and congregation start expungement clinics during a workshop at the 2018 National Prison Summit in Nashville, Tenn. Expungement refers to the process of sealing arrest and conviction records to help ex-offenders find employment and housing. Photo by Kathy L. Gilbert, UMNS.

Small church helps ex-offenders return to society
Mikayla Jaissle (center, wearing pink shirt) stands in line with other students while teacher Nicholas Chidzikwe checks her work at Hartzell Primary School in Mutare, Zimbabwe. The 10-year-old from Lakewood, Ohio, accompanied her mother, the Rev. Laura Jaissle, on the trip and attended class at the United Methodist school for two days. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah.

Young visitor makes impact on Zimbabwe students
Charlie Moore, a member of Community United Methodist Church in Crofton, Maryland, and team leader of the Zimbabwe Volunteers in Mission, hands shoes to a student at Hanwa Mission School in Zimbabwe. For over 20 years, the U.S. church has been working with United Methodists in the Zimbabwe West Conference to improve lives in the rural Murewa District. Photo by Chenayi Kumuterera, UMNS.

Two-decade partnership pays off in Zimbabwe
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Evangelism
Dusty Knisley (left) of Calvary United Methodist Church in Dillsburg, Pa., shares her family story and photos with the Rev. Daisy Gbloh from Sierra Leone. Knisley hosted a team from the Sierra Leone Conference at her home. Photo by Phileas Jusu, UMNS.

Sierra Leone Initiative builds relationships, cultivates mission
Babangida Ibrahim laminates a document at the Northern Nigeria Conference’s computer training center in Gombe, Nigeria. The center has a new solar energy system that is helping the conference and its students save money. Photo by Daniel Garba.

Solar power a game changer for Nigeria computer center
Church members in the Shapure community of Nyanga, Zimbabwe, celebrate the new sanctuary donated to their community by United Methodists from Flekkefjord, Norway. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UMNS.

Norwegians build bridge with Zimbabwe United Methodists
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Social Concerns
Bishops Scott Jones of the Texas Conference and Sue Haupert-Johnson of the North Georgia Conference celebrate Holy Communion during the closing worship of the Council of Bishops meeting. Bishops discussed their role at the special General Conference during their meeting at Epworth by the Sea on St. Simons Island, Ga. Photo by Heather Hahn, UMNS.

Bishops urge trust in GC2019 delegates
Delegates and guests sing during closing worship at the Roundtable for Peace on the Korean Peninsula at Grace United Methodist Church in Atlanta. Front row, from left are: Bishop John Higon Eun, American Conference of the Korean Methodist Church; the Rev. Chongho James Kim, First United Methodist Church of Flushing, N.Y.; the Rev. Kim Sei Hwan, Korean Church of Atlanta United Methodist Church; and Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Wisconsin Conference of The United Methodist Church. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Finding new urgency in quest for peace in Korea
Former President Jimmy Carter welcomes delegates to the Roundtable for Peace on the Korean Peninsula at The Carter Center in Atlanta. The event, which builds upon a growing momentum for peace in Korea, is hosted by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Carter commends peace efforts for Korea
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Mission and Ministry
Mark W. Stamm is professor of Christian Worship at Perkins School of Theology.

Commentary: Baptism brings us into God’s Church, relationship with others
The Rev. Beth Galbreath is a deacon in the Northern Illinois Conference, an instructor with BeADisciple.com and founder of Galbreath Digital Culture Ministries. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Galbreath.

Commentary: Our understanding of baptism — What’s at stake?

David Bukar leads a class at the Beverly Nolte Communication Center in Gwaten-Bambur, Nigeria. The Central Nigeria Conference center provides computer training and other services to people of all faith backgrounds. Photo by Richard Fidelis for UMNS.

Computer center connects communities in central Nigeria
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General Church
United Methodist and Episcopal leaders discuss the work toward full communion during the Council of Bishops meeting on St. Simons Island, Ga. From left are United Methodist Bishop Gregory V. Palmer of the West Ohio Conference, the Rev. Canon C.K. Robertson of the Episcopal Church and the Rev. Margaret Rose of the Episcopal Church. Photo by Heather Hahn, UMNS.

Bishops strengthen ties with Episcopalians
Filipino bishops worship with their colleagues during the United Methodist Council of Bishops November meeting on St. Simons Island, Ga. The Filipino bishops urged United Methodists in the Philippines to continue in holy conversation and prayer leading up to the 2019 General Conference. Photo by Heather Hahn, UMNS.

Filipino bishops call for unity
Bishop Thomas Bickerton speaks during the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Seeing a Way Forward: Bishop Bickerton
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