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General Church
The Rev. Judy Zabel speaks during the 2016 General Conference in Portland, Oregon. She again chairs the Minnesota Conference delegation as it prepares for the special called session of General Conference, set for Feb. 23-26 in St. Louis. File photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.
Maile Bradfield

Delegation chairs look toward General Conference
As crucial meeting looms, 'team captains' of conference delegations are well aware of church's hopes, fears.

Editor's Picks

Social Concerns
Ron Blanton plays the Rev. Charles Moore in a re-enactment segment of the new documentary “Man on Fire.” Moore, a retired United Methodist elder, set himself on fire in a suicidal protest of racism in 2014. Film image courtesy of “Man on Fire” film.

PBS film looks at pastor's fatal protest
The 2014 self-immolation of retired United Methodist clergyman Charles Moore, and its effect on his East Texas hometown, is the subject of "Man on Fire."
General Church
Bishops who support the One Church Plan debut a website with information on the proposal, which will be among other legislation submitted to the 2019 special General Conference. Image of home page courtesy of onechurchplan.org.

Bishops' website spotlights One Church Plan
Bishops say they want to provide information to help General Conference delegates. The new site is getting pushback but also support.
General Church
Members of the 2016-2020 Judicial Council. (From left) Front row: Deanell Reece Tacha, N. Oswald Tweh Sr., the Rev. Luan-Vu Tran. Back row: Lydia Romão Gulele, Ruben T. Reyes, the Rev.Øyvind Helliesen, the Rev. Dennis Blackwell, and the Rev. J. Kabamba Kiboko. (Not pictured, Beth Capen) Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications

Judicial Council sets February docket
Docket items include the first administrative appeal to come before the denomination's top court, but no reconsideration of Traditional Plan ruling.

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Social Concerns
Ashley Loring Heavy Runner, seen here in a file photo from the family’s Facebook page, went missing from the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Browning, Montana, on June 12, 2017. Photo courtesy of the Loring family.

Church helps family tell missing Native woman's story
General Church
Bishops and leaders of the United Methodist Korean Caucus gather to discuss the current issues of the special General Conference. The meeting took place Dec. 2 at Calvary Korean United Methodist Church in East Brunswick, N.J. Photo by Thomas Kim, UMNS.

Korean United Methodists and bishops struggle to find a way forward
Global Health
Since the start of a mobile medical clinic in 2018, mothers in Gilgil, Kenya, are able to get their children vaccinated and receive other medical services. Angela Miloti walked 15 miles to have her child vaccinated at the clinic, which is a collaboration between Trinity Mission Dispensary, a Trinity United Methodist Church project, and the Rotary Club of Gilgil. Photo by Faith Wanjiru.

Mobile clinic saves lives in rural Kenya
Local Church
Exterior of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of Google street view.

Updated: Conference, bishop sue for control of Glide
Mission and Ministry
As part of a cultural tradition, delegates from the Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches of Venezuela, left, and the Christian Methodist Community of Venezuela, right, aligned themselves in a "V" shape to symbolize "Venezuela in victory" at the end of their dialogue. Photo by Gustavo Vasquez, UMNS.

Methodists in Venezuela look forward to unity
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Multimedia

General Conference
Patricia L. Miller is executive director of the United Methodist Confessing Movement and also served on the Commission on a Way Forward. She submitted the legislation for the Connectional Conference Plan to General Conference. Miller 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 by United Methodist News Service

Seeing a Way Forward: Patricia L. Miller
Patricia L. Miller submitted the legislation for the Connectional Conference Plan to General Conference. She explains why it’s meant to provide the “most space between theological differences” while maintaining unity.

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General Conference
Rev. Tom Berlin is a native of Winchester, Virginia, and is a graduate of Virginia Tech and the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. In his current appointment, Tom serves as the Lead Pastor of Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, Virginia. Headshot from his blog.

Seeing a Way Forward: The Rev. Tom Berlin
General Conference
The Rev. Thomas Lambrecht addresses the Wesleyan Covenant Association at its April 28-29, 2017, meeting at Christ United Methodist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Lambrecht, a member of the association’s leadership council and vice president of the Good News renewal group, served as emcee for the gathering. Photo by Tim Tanton, UMNS.

Seeing a Way Forward: The Rev. Tom Lambrecht
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
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.

Seeing a Way Forward: The Rev. Gary Graves
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Commentaries

Dawn Wiggins Hare. Photo courtesy of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women of The United Methodist Church.

Commentary: 'Being equal on paper is not being equal in life'
Gilbert Hanke, top staff executive of United Methodist Men. 2012 file photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Commentary: There is danger when there is gender imbalance
Darryl W. Stephens is director of United Methodist studies at Lancaster Theological Seminary and a clergy member of the Texas Conference. Photo courtesy of Lancaster Theological Seminary.

Commentary: A simple majority is a foundation of sand
Colette Ndobe Photo by Ndobe Ebeneza Mosima.

Commentary: The power of pencils in Cameroon
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Ask The UMC

General Conference
Nativity set from Peru, photographed at the Upper Room Museum in Nashville, Tenn. Photo by Mike DuBose, United Methodist Communications.
Mike DuBose

Ask The UMC: Does Christmas have roots in pagan beliefs?
A look at the long history of celebrating Christmas on December 25 and how the early church arrived at that date.

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Theology and Education
Photo by Alex Ramos, courtesy of Pixabay

Ask The UMC: Why do we baptize at different ages?
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.

Ask The UMC: How are bishops chosen in The United Methodist Church?
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?
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Categories

Local Church
Russell Alexie and 45 other residents of Karluk Manor took shelter at St. John United Methodist Church after the Nov. 30 earthquake. Photo by Anne Hillman, courtesy of Alaska Public Media.

Church steps up after earthquake
13-year-old Ngaakudzwe Katsvairo displays her medals from both local and international track and field competitions. Katsvairo attends The United Methodist Church’s Mashambanhaka Central Primary School in Zimbabwe. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UMNS.

Teen pushes through obstacles to become star athlete
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
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Evangelism
Orphan children receive a goat as part of a project in Mahenye, Zimbabwe. The recipients must return the first female progeny from their goat to the project, which is then given to a new orphan. The program is one of many self-help projects for disadvantaged communities in Zimbabwe funded by three Florida United Methodist churches. Photo by Chenayi Kumuterera, UMNS.

In Zimbabwe, self-help projects spark evangelism

Six students from Murewa United Methodist High School in Zimbabwe have been selected to play in the International Blind Soccer Association’s women’s match in Japan in 2019. Front row, from left, are students Fadzai Kimberley Nyakudya, Chengetai Chipanga and Monalisa Makoma; back row, from left, are Teresa Mharadzirwa, teacher/guide Constance Tendere Munemo, Tanisha Zonde, goalkeeper Gellie Mawarire, Tarumbidzwa Taruvinga, sports director Pilani Nyanhanda and Titus Tsiga. Photo by Chenayi Kumuterera, UMNS.

Blind soccer players have opportunity of a lifetime
Members of the choir welcome visitors to the newly constructed United Methodist church in Gouabo, Côte d'Ivoire.

Growing the church in West Africa
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Social Concerns
U.S. Border Patrol agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security advance toward United Methodists leaders and organizers of a march calling for migrant justice as the marchers kneel on the beach at the fence between the U.S. and Mexico in San Diego.

Faith leaders struggle to bring message of hope to migrants
Bishop Rodolfo A. Juan poses with the Rev. Eller Ordeniza, a United Methodist pastor in the Philippines, after Ordeniza was released from jail. The local pastor was among those arrested and detained for two and a half days after trying to rescue tribal children who were fleeing from a village that has been a target of military operations. Photo courtesy of Bishop Rodolfo A. Juan.

Filipino pastor arrested ‘rescuing’ Lumad children
Bishop Felipe Ruiz-Aguilar (center) and United Methodist Global Ministries missionary Yabes Manokaran (left) share communion with migrants during a worship service at El Faro: The Border Church. Photo by Misael Ruiz Lara, Methodist Church of Mexico.

Mexican church helping migrants in Tijuana, Apaxco
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Mission and Ministry
Students at the Guinter Memorial Secondary school write notes in their classroom. Photo by Richard Fidelis.

Central Nigeria Conference opens new secondary school
Barnabas Mutonga, left, music director for the Zimbabwe East Conference, and Walter Mujuru, music director for the Zimbabwe West Conference, attend the Harare West District’s Men’s Music Festival in the Mabelreign South United Methodist Church circuit in Zimbabwe. Photo by Chenayi Kumuterera, UMNS.

Zimbabwe music director focuses on human rights
The congregation at Inner-City United Methodist Church in Harare, Zimbabwe, has recommitted to helping stop the AIDS epidemic by taking part in the Common Voice Initiative advocacy program. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa for UMNS.

Zimbabwe church vows to halt AIDS epidemic
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General Church
The special called session of the General Conference — set for Feb. 23-26 in St. Louis — will attempt to find common ground on the issue of same-sex marriage and ordination of homosexuals. Image by United Methodist News Service.

Opinions still vary on the Way Forward
The Central African Republic-Kenyan mission team prays over the Rev. Lucien Dokpa, district superintendent of the Bangui East District in the Central Africa Republic. Six members of the Council of Bishops and three staff members of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, took part in the Nov. 12-18 visit. Photo by E Julu Swen, UMNS.

Bishops urge peace talks on trip to war-torn region of Africa
Bishop Janice Riggle Huie leads a session at the recent Texas Methodist Foundation-sponsored Courageous Leadership Initiative launch in St. Louis. Huie joined the foundation staff after retiring from the active episcopacy. Photo courtesy Texas Methodist Foundation.

From ʽchurch bank’ to change agent
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