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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. — Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS

Youth joyfully lead at Tongan United Methodist church

Young people have great influence over the life of a Tongan congregation in Utah.

Editor's Picks

Social Concerns

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

A December gathering at Claremont School of Theology featured a serious conversation on the church's division over human sexuality issues.

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

Small church with big heart supports missions at home and around the world.

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

Pipe organ restored with pennies, large cash donations and love from community

Latest

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

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

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

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

Seeing a Way Forward: Bishop Jones

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

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Multimedia

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

There is great anxiety as the special 2019 General Conference approaches, but the Rev. Kennetha Bigham-Tsai, chief connectional ministries officer for the Connectional Table, wants to remind all United Methodists that once the conference ends, God will still be calling them to mission in the world.

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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

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

Commentaries

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

The Rev. Bob Phillips. Photo by Timothy H. Wright.

Commentary: 'Cooperation without compromise' in a conflicted church

Ask The UMC

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?

Epiphany is the day Christians remember the coming of the Magi to visit Jesus, bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

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Theology and Education

Photo by Alex Ramos, courtesy of Pixabay

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

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?

(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?

Categories

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

Shelter director Araceli Aviles Lopez cries as she recalls praying for a way to feed the 500 mostly Central American migrants living at Hosanna Refugio Para Mujeres, in Mexicali, Mexico. She thanked God and the people of El Divino Redentor and La Santísima Trinidad Methodist Churches for providing a meal when she could not.

Churches learn to love migrants as family

Exterior of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of Google street view.

Updated: Conference, bishop sue for control of Glide

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

Social Concerns

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

Silvia Munjoma, vice chairwoman for St. John’s Church and Society committee, helps unload donations for inmates at Mutare Provisional Remand Prison in Zimbabwe. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UMNS.

Church helps with prison food shortage

Bishops pray with representatives from the unofficial advocacy group Love Prevails during the Council of Bishops meeting in November. The group asked the bishops to address the LGBTQ community. Pictured from left are Bishops Grant Hagiya and Linda Lee praying with the Rev. Amy DeLong and her wife, Val Zellmer. Photo by the Rev. Maidstone Mulenga, Council of Bishops.

LGBTQ churchgoers wary of bishops' letter

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

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

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

Bishop William B. Oden grew up on an Oklahoma farm, and would eventually travel the world as a representative for The United Methodist Church, advocating for ecumenical and interfaith cooperation. Photo courtesy of the Council of Bishops.

Bishop Oden, ecumenical leader, dies at 83