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Judicial Council
The Book of Discipline contains the rules that guide The United Methodist Church. The Judicial Council — the denomination’s top court — faces multiple questions related to how to interpret Disciplinary provisions about General Conference. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.
The Book of Discipline contains the rules that guide The United Methodist Church. The Judicial Council — the denomination’s top court — faces multiple questions related to how to interpret Disciplinary provisions about General Conference. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Church court deals with General Conference delay
Three United Methodist annual conferences, including one in Africa, have asked the denomination’s highest court to rule on the ramifications of General Conference’s third postponement since the onset of COVID. The Judicial Council also faces more questions about church disaffiliations.

Editor's Picks

Mission and Ministry
Annie Padhuze, headmistress of The United Methodist Church’s Clare Secondary School near Mutare, Zimbabwe, says many of her students do not have birth certificates. United Methodists are helping orphans and other vulnerable children obtain the documents they need to continue their education. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News.

Lack of birth certificate challenges children in rural areas
Representatives of five United Methodist-related primary and secondary schools reported an average 44% of students don’t have birth certificates.
Theology and Education
A group of Africa University scholarship recipients met to talk to donors and sponsors from the U.S. during the 30th anniversary celebration of Africa University in October. The school provides financial aid or scholarships for two-thirds of the students enrolled at the United Methodist-related university in Mutare, Zimbabwe. Photo by Kathy L. Gilbert, UM News.

Scholarships help students change Africa
Two-thirds of the students at Africa University receive financial aid or scholarships, according to Jim Salley, president and CEO of Africa University (Tennessee) Inc.
General Agencies
Dawn Wiggins Hare (right), top executive of the United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women, becomes emotional as she and Harriett Jane Olson, United Methodist Women (now United Women in Faith) chief executive officer, lament the failure of two amendments to the church's constitution focused on equality in the church for women and girls during the United Methodist Women Assembly 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. The Commission on the Status and Role of Women is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Women’s commission at 50, still a long way to go
The top executive of the agency advocating for women’s equality in the church reflects on how far they’ve come and what work still remains.

Latest News

For the first time since 2016, new bishops were elected in five U.S. areas or jurisdictions, Central and Southern Europe and the Central Philippines Central Conference. Original photo by Paul Jeffrey; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Episcopal Elections 2022
Mission and Ministry
United Methodist Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda prays for peanuts produced during the last growing season in Kindu, Congo. With an estimated 27 million people facing food insecurity in the country, the East Congo bishop has called for redoubling efforts to combat hunger through agriculture. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News.

Church responds as famine threatens Congo
General Agencies
Cynthia Bond Hopson leads a meditation for General Council on Finance and Administration board members and guests during a worship service at the Upper Room Chapel in Nashville, Tenn. Hopson called on the finance agency to be bold in a time of uncertainty. “Tomorrow is uncertain,” she said. “Today is all we have.” She serves as chief equity officer and assistant general secretary of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Amid church exits, work starts on record-low budget
Annual Conferences
The Rev. David Kassos, pastor of Amity United Methodist Church in Amity, Ark., speaks at the Nov. 19 special session of the Arkansas Conference. Photo by Rodney Steele, courtesy of the Arkansas Conference.

3 church disaffiliations blocked
Annual Conferences
Annual Conference Reports

2022 United Methodist annual conference reports
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Local Church
The Rev. Bryant Phelps speaks as part of a young clergy panel at “Space at the Table: Conversations of Hope for the UMC Future.” The Nov. 16 event was at Dallas’ Lovers Lane United Methodist Church. Photo by Sam Hodges, UM News.

Finding ‘God’s next’ for United Methodism
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Evangelism
Children dance in front of the stage at Booneville (Iowa) United Methodist Church’s annual music festival. What began as a small way for Booneville United Methodist Church to reach out to the community has blossomed into an annual event attracting hundreds. Photo by Courtney Levin, Iowa Conference.

Small church’s music festival draws big crowds
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Social Concerns
Bishops Cedrick D. Bridgeforth (left), Carlo A. Rapanut and Dottie Escobedo-Frank are consecrated during a service held Nov. 5 at Christ United Methodist Church in Salt Lake City. The Rev. W. Timothy McClendon has filed a complaint against all of the Western Jurisdiction’s bishops for the consecration of Bridgeforth, who is the denomination’s first openly gay man to be elected a bishop. Photo by Miya Kim for the Western Jurisdictional Conference.

Complaint filed against gay bishop's consecration
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Mission and Ministry
The Rev. Owen Ross (left) holds a banner alongside the Revs. Juliet Mwarumba and John Holler during a ceremony celebrating a $800,029 donation to Fairfield Children’s Home in Mutare, Zimbabwe. Ross and Holler, who are from the North Texas and South Carolina conferences, respectively, have personal connections to the school. Mwarumba is Fairfield’s administrator. Photo by Kathy L. Gilbert.

Pastor makes personal connection with orphans
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General Church
Newly elected Bishop Ruby-Nell Estrella receives her episcopal pin from College of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton (right) during the Philippines Central Conference at Wesleyan University-Philippines in Cabanatuan City, Philippines. Estrella is the first woman to be elected a United Methodist bishop in the Philippines. Photo by Gladys P. Mangiduyos, UM News.

Estrella elected Philippines Central’s first female bishop
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Commentaries

The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler. Photo by Dominque J. Allan, Create It Photography, LLC.

Hollering for Change: When it all falls down
Kendra Weddle. Photo courtesy of the author.

Paradox on the plains
Dr. David N. Field Photo courtesy of the author.

Book offers clarity on United Methodist doctrine
The Rev. D.G. Hollums. Photo courtesy of the author.

Is this a time for innovation within The United Methodist Church?

The Rev. Derrek Belase. Photo courtesy of the author.

A church closing that hits home
The Rev. David Maldonado. Video image courtesy of IMU Latina (Iglesia Metodista Unida Latina) via YouTube by UM News.

United Methodists are called to care for the vulnerable
Holly Fugate. Photo courtesy of the author.

United Methodists should support Dobbs decision
The Rev. Duane Anders. Photo courtesy of the author.

Getting to a pro-choice and pro-life position
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News From UMC Partners

Faith Stories
The Rev. Telley Lynnette Gadson speaks while taking part in a four-city wellness and education tour organized by Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century titled “Build a Better You.” Photo courtesy of the South Carolina Advocate.
The Rev. Telley Lynnette Gadson speaks while taking part in a four-city wellness and education tour organized by Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century titled “Build a Better You.” Photo courtesy of the South Carolina Advocate.

Pastor shares health journey to inspire others
People with weight issues should take charge of their own health in order for God to use them as God needs. The Rev. Telley Lynnette Gadson spoke during a four-city wellness and education tour organized by Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century titled “Build a Better You.”

Additional Headlines

Church History
For Halloween, the Virginia Conference communications office has put together an animated video on Facebook that tells the tale of Old Jeffrey. Screengrab of animated video courtesy of the Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church by UM News.

A spooky John Wesley story for Halloween
Church History
The Methodist Foundation of Ohio hosted clergy and laity on a pilgrimage to Turkey and Greece. Participants were able to follow in the footsteps of Paul and other sites mentioned in scripture. Photo courtesy of the East Ohio Conference.

Video from Turkey, Greece trip
Disaster Relief
Family photos show a four-generation Alaskan fish camp before it was destroyed by typhoon. Photos courtesy of the Rev. Bertha Koweluk, Greater Northwest Conference.

Responding to wreckage of Alaskan typhoon
Theology and Education
Burundi's head of state, Evariste Nadayishimiye, inaugurated two primary schools and a technical school in the Gitega District of the Burundi Conference."The UMC has shown a good example by fulfilling what the word of God teaches them." Graphic by UM News.

Head of state inaugurates new UM schools
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Multimedia

Bishops
The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler (right) interviews the Rev. Wanda Bass about historic episcopal election in the South Central Jurisdiction. Zoom video image courtesy of the Rev. Butler, via YouTube.
The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler (right) interviews the Rev. Wanda Bass about historic episcopal election in the South Central Jurisdiction. Zoom video image courtesy of the Rev. Butler, via YouTube.

Hollering for Change: Reflections on Bishop Williamston’s historic election
The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler interviews the Rev. Wanda Bass, who was present to witness the first Black woman being elected bishop in the South Central Jurisdiction.

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A woman pushes her daughter in a stroller past the monastery for the Church of the Assumption in Cornești, Romania. The United Methodist Church in Romania is providing support for refugees from the war in Ukraine who are staying at the monastery. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Video: Romanian church’s hotel ministry houses Ukrainian refugees
Violence
The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler (right) speaks with the Rev. Dr. Jalene Chase, former Metro Transit police officer in Washington and current pastor of Goshen United Methodist Church in Gaithersburg, Md., about practical ways clergy can maintain their safety. Screengrab from ZOOM via YouTube by UM News.

‘You can holler for your safety because you matter’
Immigration
United Methodist Bishop Christian Alsted prays with Alexandre, who is living in the gymnasium at the Onokivtsi Secondary School near Uzhhorod, Ukraine, after fleeing his home due to the war with Russia. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Photo essay: United Methodists stand with Ukraine
Immigration
A guide using a raft made from inner tubes ferries people across the Suchiate River from Guatemala into Mexico near Ciudad Hidalgo. Migrants routinely cross the border into Mexico here, many of them hoping to eventually make their way to the United States. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Photo essay: Strangers and sojourners
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World Press Freedom Day - Learn More
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Ask The UMC

Theology and Education
Detail from the Second Coming of Christ window at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Charleston, S.C. Window created by Franz Mayer & Co. of Munich, Germany, represented by the studios of George L. Payne of Patterson, New Jersey, 1966. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Detail from the Second Coming of Christ window at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Charleston, S.C. Window created by Franz Mayer & Co. of Munich, Germany, represented by the studios of George L. Payne of Patterson, New Jersey, 1966. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Ask The UMC: Is Advent about preparing for baby Jesus?
The focus of Advent is preparing for the return of Christ at the culmination of all things.

Additional Headlines

Theology and Education
Graduation image by Elly, Pixabay; graphic by Laurens Glass, United Methodist Communications.

Ask The UMC: How does United Methodist Student Day help students?
Faith Stories
The Rev. Martinez, a founding member of the National Hispanic Caucus in The United Methodist Church and a denomination-wide advocate with Hispanic/Latino people, was elected as bishop in the South Central Jurisdiction in 1992, retiring in 2008. Photo courtesy of the Council of Bishops; graphic by Laurens Glass, United Methodist Communications.

Ask The UMC: Pioneers in Methodism — Bishop Joel Martinez
General Church
With some congregations considering leaving The United Methodist Church or just wondering about its future, Ask The UMC offers a series of questions and answers to help clear up some common misperceptions or misinformation around disaffiliation. Graphic by Laurens Glass, United Methodist Communications.

Ask The UMC: Is The United Methodist Church really... ? (Part 5)
Social Concerns
Participants in a vigil for environmental justice at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore., hold signs highlighting the struggle for clean water around the world. The Vigil was sponsored by United Methodist Women. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

Ask The UMC: What does the church say and do about climate change?
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