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General Church
Bishop Judith Craig was the first woman bishop to be assigned to the West Michigan and Detroit Conferences, serving from 1984 to 1992. UMNS file photo.
Designed by Cindy Caldwell

Judith Craig, pioneering woman bishop, dies at 82
Bishop Judith Craig, the third woman elected as a United Methodist bishop, died Jan. 18 at 82 in Columbus, Ohio.

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General Church
Agencies are looking at what planned cuts to apportionments will mean for their work, their staff and the people they serve. Photo illustration by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Deciding what budget cuts mean for ministry
United Methodist general agencies are looking at how they can tighten their belts as they face plans to cut the general church budget by more than 20 percent.
General Church
The Rev. Traci C. West speaks about why the Simple Plan matters during a meeting hosted by Drew University Theological School in Madison, N.J. West is a professor of ethics and African-American studies at Drew. Photo by Heather Hahn, UMNS.

Simple Plan supporters talk strategy
Supporters discuss how legislation that would eliminate all restrictions related to homosexuality could be part of General Conference consideration.
General Church
The Committee on Reference manages to retain a sense of humor while undertaking the challenge of deciding which petitions can be considered by the special session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. The panel met Jan. 11-12 near Dallas. Photo by Sam Hodges, UMNS.

Panel clarifies options for special General Conference
Reference committee meets to decide which petitions are ‘in harmony’ for legislative gathering to address unity amid conflict over homosexuality.

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General Church
Faith leaders from around Washington, D.C., stood in the cold Thursday afternoon, Jan. 17, calling for lawmakers and President Donald Trump to end the almost four-week government shutdown. Photo by Melissa Lauber, Baltimore-Washington Conference.

Furloughed government workers turn to the church
General Church
The Rev. Maxie Dunnam speaks Jan. 12, 2014, in Atlanta at the inaugural gathering of the Wesleyan Covenant Network. Photo by Steve Beard/Good News Magazine.

Seeing a Way Forward: The Rev. Maxie Dunnam
Social Concerns
Bishops and leaders of different religious denominations pray while holding the Congolese flag. The Integrity and Electoral Mediation Commission, chaired by United Methodist Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda (second from right), organized a service to promote peace before, during and after the elections. Photo by Chadrack Londe, UMNS.

Church urges civility after Congo election
Local Church
Sepi Lokotui dances during the Sunday service of the Tongan United Methodist Church in West Valley City, Utah, where the youth in high school and junior high worship actively through music and dance.

Youth joyfully lead at Tongan United Methodist church
Social Concerns
People run at a protest as barricades burn during rainfall in Harare, Zimbabwe. United Methodists are calling for prayers for peace amid clashes between protesters and security force following a spike in fuel prices. Photo by Philimon Bulawayo, Reuters. Do not reuse. One time use.

Updated: Zimbabwe faces violence, record fuel prices
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Multimedia

General Church
Bishop Scott Jones speaks during an oral hearing of the Judicial Council on May 22, 2018, in Evanston, Ill. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.
Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Seeing a Way Forward: Bishop Jones
As we head toward special General Conference 2019, UM News is highlighting church leaders’ perspectives on where we are as a denomination. This series continues with Texas Conference Bishop Scott Jones.

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General Church
The Rev. Kennetha Bigham-Tsai takes part in a panel discussion during the Pre-General Conference Briefing in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Seeing a Way Forward: The Rev. Kennetha Bigham-Tsai
General Church
The Rev. Alex da Silva Souto is a co-author of the Simple Plan, which eliminates all restrictions in The United Methodist Church’s Book of Discipline related to the practice of homosexuality, and Karen G. Prudente is a co-signer.

Seeing a Way Forward: The Rev. Alex da Silva Souto and Karen Prudente
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.

Seeing a Way Forward: Patricia L. Miller
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
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Commentaries

Andrew Ponder Williams. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ponder Williams.

Commentary: 3 realities facing GC2019
The Rev. Sean C. Turner. Photo courtesy North Carolina Annual Conference.

Commentary: Pastor urges GC2019 delegates to 'be open'
The Rev. Sungho Lee. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Sungho Lee.

Commentary: The best scenario for the Korean church
United Methodist Bishop Gary Mueller. Photo by Patrick W. Shownes.

Commentary: Taking a fresh look at the Connectional Conference Plan
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Ask The UMC

General Church
Photo courtesy of Bridwell Library Special Collections, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.
Photo courtesy of Bridwell Library Special Collections, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

Ask The UMC: When was the first Book of Discipline created?
Since the first Book of Discipline was adopted, revisions over its history have dramatically changed its scope and format.

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Mission and Ministry
The Adoration of the Magi tapestry dating from 1894 from the Manchester Metropolitan University, England. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Ask The UMC: How do United Methodists understand Epiphany and Three Kings Day?
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?
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Categories

Local Church
The Rev. Cynthia Abrams, a United Methodist clergywoman and social justice advocate, is pictured in her office at the Board of Church and Society in 2012. Abrams died Jan. 11 at the age of 58. File photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Native American clergywoman took justice to heart
Scott Mills demonstrates the power of the restored pipe organ at First United Methodist Church in Salt Lake City.

Historic organ sets tone for Utah church
United Methodists in 2018 marked the deaths of multiple trailblazers and a world-changing evangelist who transcended denominational lines. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

2018: Remembering influential Christians
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Evangelism
The Rev. Elizabeth McVicker, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Salt Lake City, visits and prays with the homeless during the Sunday Fellowship Breakfast. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Utah church welcomes homeless, loves diversity
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
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Social Concerns
Christina Schmidt, a volunteer with the Malawi Conference women’s organization, teaches young women how to make meatballs during training in Blantyre, Malawi. Photo by Francis Nkhoma, UMNS.

Young underprivileged women gain hope in Malawi
Maria Chavalan Sut is living at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Charlottesville, Va., to avoid being deported to Guatemala. Photo by Richard Lord, UMNS.

Prayer at Virginia legislature written by woman in sanctuary

A cattle dip tank in the village of Nyamacheni, built with funding from Norwegian United Methodists, is saving cattle in Gokwe, Zimbabwe. A dip tank is a plunge bath designed to immerse livestock in water with pesticides in order to kill ticks. Photo by Everisto Gumbo.

Cattle dip tank revitalizes village
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Mission and Ministry
“Baby Betty” is one of United Methodist Mercy Hospital’s success stories. Mohamed Khadar, the hospital’s outreach manager, says the child was severely malnourished and sick with pneumonia when she was first seen at the clinic but is now healthy. Photo by Phileas Jusu, UMNS.

Bo hospital reaches out to Sierra Leone's poorest
Joppa Muzokomba has his blood pressure checked by Killia Jena at a mobile clinic in Marange District sponsored by the Harare East District-Chisipiti Circuit in Zimbabwe. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UMNS.

Church helps fight ageism in Zimbabwe
Dolo Boamou and Denise Kpoghomou pump water from a well as adults look on in Yassata, Guinea. The United Methodist Church in Liberia is building five wells in the country as part of its Water for Life project. Photo by E Julu Swen, UMNS.

Water for Life project expands to Guinea
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General Church
Sierra Leone Bishop John K. Yambasu speaks during the United Methodist Africa agricultural summit Jan. 13-16 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UMNS.

Agriculture a ‘game changer’ for church in Africa
Bishop Grant Hagiya of Cal-Pacific Conference explains the three plans submitted by the Commission on Way Forward at the pacific islanders’ gathering at the School of Theology at Claremont, CA on Dec 10-11 to have a serious conversation on the “Hard Conversation on Human Sexuality and a Divided UMC.” Photo by Thomas Kim, UMNS.

Pacific Islanders focus on divide over sexuality
Members of the Commission on a Way Forward converse as they complete their final commission meeting on May 23, 2018, at the Upper Room chapel in Nashville, Tenn. Photo courtesy of Maidstone Mulenga, Council of Bishops.

Unity struggle is major story of 2018
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