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General Church
After a Feb. 26, 2019, vote to strengthen church policies about homosexuality, delegate Ian Urriola from New York speaks to other delegates who, in protest, formed a large circle in the center of the plenary floor. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.
Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS

Church continues grappling with GC2019 vote
The decision of the 2019 General Conference is being met with both resistance and reinforcement.

Editor's Picks

General Church
Bishop Minerva Carcaño speaks to her fellow episcopal leaders about the work of the Immigration Task Force during the Council of Bishops meeting near Chicago. Photo by the Rev. Todd Rossnagel, Louisiana Conference.

Bishops seek special offering for migrants
The Council of Bishops wants to do more to help the record number of people around the world who have been forced from their homes.
General Church
Bishop Gregory V. Palmer urges fellow bishops to support asking General Conference to approve full communion with the Episcopal Church. Palmer, who leads the West Ohio Conference, is co-chair of the United Methodist-Episcopal dialogue committee. Photo by Heather Hahn, UMNS.

Bishops move toward Episcopal Church accord
Bishops are asking the 2020 General Conference to approve a full-communion agreement with The Episcopal Church.
General Church
Bishop Grant Hagiya, at right, blesses retired Bishop David Yemba as part of the bishops’ renewal of their baptism vows at the conclusion of the spring Council of Bishops meeting. Hagiya leads the California-Pacific Conference and Yemba serves in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo by Heather Hahn, UMNS.

Bishops plan to explore 'new forms of unity'
During the May 4-9 meeting, bishops talked about the fallout of GC2019 and how they can walk alongside conversations about the church’s future.

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Mission and Ministry
People wade through floodwaters following Cyclone Kenneth, which hit the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique in late April. Photo by Saviano Abreu, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Cyclone relief efforts continue in Mozambique
Mission and Ministry
An educator from the Alliance Biblique de Côte d'Ivoire conducts a public health lesson on AIDS in the sanctuary at Jerusalem Parish United Methodist Church in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire in this November 2008 file photo. Preventive education is among the topics that will be discussed during the United Methodist Global HIV/AIDS Committee West Africa Summit May 19-21 in Abidjan. File photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Dealing with AIDS in West Africa
Annual Conferences
Clockwise from top left: Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr., 2018 Liberia Annual Conference, photo by E Julu Swen; worship team at 2015 California-Nevada Annual Conference, photo by Koua Vang; chalices and bread at 2015 Dakotas Annual Conference, photo courtesy of the conference; Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, 2015 Germany South Annual Conference, photo by Klaus Ulrich Ruof; attendees of 2017 Kentucky Annual Conference, photo by Kathleen Barry.

Church future focus of annual conferences
Social Concerns
Local activists, religious leaders, and family members gather on the steps of the Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Paul, Minn., in support of Nelson Pinos, who has been living in sanctuary at First and Summerfield United Methodist Church in New Haven, Conn. Photo by Mary Elizabeth Smith.

Church awaits decision on sanctuary guest appeal
Social Concerns
Sithembiso Nyoni, Zimbabwe’s Women and Youth Affairs minister, visits a booth at a recent economic expo hosted by The United Methodist Church in Marange, Zimbabwe. Nyoni was the guest of honor at the event, which aimed to offer business opportunities to people living in rural communities. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa, UMNS.

Church aims to empower Zimbabwe’s poorest
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Multimedia

Disaster Relief
Isabel João (right) and Maria Lidia António salvage what they can of their corn crop, which was killed before it matured when their field was flooded by Cyclone Idai in Buzi, Mozambique. “Hunger is the number one problem now,” Joao said. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.
Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

After the cyclone, faith abides
The United Methodist Church helps people pick up the pieces of their lives after Cyclone Idai killed hundreds and displaced thousands.

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Global Health
The Rev. Paula Napier lost her 32-year-old son, Lincoln Nutter, to a drug overdose in June 2018. Napier, who pastors Canaan United Methodist Church in Charleston, W.Va., says she lives in the midst of the opioid crisis. “I think people need to know it hits everybody,” she said.

Pastors cope with sons’ overdose deaths
Global Health
Andy, a recovering addict, gets a smooch from guard dog Tundra while feeding chickens at Brookside Farm, part of the Jacob's Ladder rehabilitation program in Aurora, W.Va.

Churches walk with addicts on recovery journey
Global Health
Program director Caitlin Sussman (left) joins in singing with the Voices of Hope choir at Friendship House, a mental health drop-in center in Morgantown, W.Va.

Relationships key for churches to help addicts
Church Growth
Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi urges members and guests of Black Methodists for Church Renewal to "stay woke" during her sermon at Ben Hill United Methodist Church in Atlanta. "Stay woke" is a call to be aware of racial and social justice issues and is closely associated with the Black Lives Matter movement.

BMCR explores ‘reset’ from past to future
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Commentaries

The Rev. Melissa Meyers. Photo by Moriah Safford.

Remembering Rachel Held Evans
Photo of The Rev. William B. Lawrence by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications.

Commentary: Two decisions, one a danger
The Rev. Jeffrey Edwards. Photo by Joanne Rich.

Commentary: Pastor details pain of false arrest
Photo of retired Bishop Michael J. Coyner, courtesy of the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church website.

Opinion: ‘What’s next for our United Methodist Church?’
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Ask The UMC

Theology and Education
Public domain image from the National Child Labor Committee collection by Lewis Wickes-Hine, courtesy of the U.S. Library of Congress.

Ask The UMC: Why do we have Social Principles? Where did they come from?
The Methodist Social Creed, predecessor to the Social Principles, originated over a century ago to express concern over the exploitation of millions of workers.

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General Conference
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

Ask The UMC: What did the Judicial Council decide about the Traditional Plan?
Theology and Education
Claudia Teli N'guessan sings during worship at Temple Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Man, Côte d'Ivoire, in this 2015 file photo. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Ask The UMC: When is Easter over? What comes next?
Theology and Education
A wreath and draped cross symbolize the crucifixion of Christ during Good Friday service. Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications.

Ask The UMC: How do we understand the timing of the Great 3 Days?
Theology and Education
The Rev. Esther Kachiko Furaha prays during worship at New Jerusalem United Methodist Church in Uvira, Congo, in 2015. Christians understand prayer as spiritual communication with God. File photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Ask The UMC: What is the difference between prayer and meditation?
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Categories

Local Church
Sen. Richard Lugar (right) and University of Indianapolis president Robert Manuel announce the planned launch of the United Methodist-related school’s Richard G. Lugar Academy. Lugar, a long-time member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, died April 28, 2019. File photo courtesy of the University of Indianapolis.

Faith laid foundation for Lugar's public service
The Rev. Happymore Chipere observes budding nartjies (South African tangerines) at his tree nursery in Mujukuya, Zimbabwe. Chipere is preparing for retirement by growing fruit. Photo by Chenayi Kumuterera, UMNS.

Citrus farming to help clergy retirements
The Rev. Jasmine Smothers, lead pastor of Atlanta First United Methodist Church, has been among the conveners of recent meetings by centrists and progressives to discuss the denomination's future. Photo by Les Scarbrough, Atlanta First United Methodist Church.

Centrists, progressives to discuss church's future
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Evangelism
Bishop Daniel Wandabula of the East Africa Episcopal Area called on communicators to “unite the church (rather) than perpetuate divisions” while speaking at the United Methodist Radio Network annual meeting, April 25-27, in Kampala, Uganda. Photo by the Rev. Taurai Emmanuel Maforo.

Radio can help unite divided church, bishop says
Members of the United Methodist Women Association in Cameroon learn about organic farming during a hands-on session at the group’s annual conference March 11-13 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Photo by Ebeneza Mosima.

Cameroon UMW group aims to empower displaced women
Women from the Tabita Group in the Uvira district of the East Congo use song to raise awareness about the need for local church donations to support a program that helps widows and orphans. Photo by Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UMNS.

East Congo women reach out to widows, orphans
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Social Concerns
Nelson Pinos sits with his son, Brandon Pinos, age 6, in the fellowship hall of First and Summerfield United Methodist Church in New Haven, Conn. Pinos, who has lived in the U.S. for 26 years, is currently living in sanctuary at the church. Image courtesy of the "Keep Nelson Home" Facebook page.

Hearing set for church's sanctuary guest
The Rev. Jessica Rooks, pastor at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch, Co., speaks during a candlelight vigil following the school shooting on May 7. Photo by Ken Fong, St. Luke's United Methodist Church.

United Methodist churches offer aid after shootings
Bibiche Ohanga, right, learns to sew at the Mama Lynn Center, a United Methodist sanctuary for sexual violence survivors in Kindu, Congo. Ohanga received a scholarship from The United Methodist Church to attend the Higher Institute of Nursing Sciences in Kindu. Photo by Judith Osongo Yanga, UMNS.

Church provides scholarships for rape survivors
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Mission and Ministry
Leaders of the Reform and Renewal Coalition, a group of unofficial traditionalist advocacy groups, pose with bishops from Africa and Europe, after a closed-door meeting in which the leaders and central conference bishops discussed the denomination’s situation and possible future. Photo by Heather Hahn, UMNS.

Traditionalists, bishops talk church future
Edwin Joseph Amadu, a United Methodist teacher in the Panguma community in Sierra Leone, shows members of Camp Hill United Methodist Church in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, how he uses backyard agriculture to augment his income to take care of his family. Photo by Phileas Jusu, UMNS.

US church transformed by Sierra Leone community
This photo, taken in 2010, shows Bennett College, a women-only school in Greensboro, N.C. Photo courtesy of United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

Black colleges and universities face challenges, too
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General Church
Bishop Ken Carter, president of the Council of Bishops, delivers the opening sermon that begins a week in which the bishops will discuss how they can walk alongside discussions about the denomination’s future. Carter also leads the Florida Conference. Photo by Heather Hahn, UMNS.

Bishops begin meeting in 'chaotic' moment
A summary of the top court's rulings on GC2019 legislation on petitions 1378 and 1379 passed during the special called General Conference. Downloadable PDF. Graphic by United Methodist News Service.

Chart of top court's rulings on GC2019 legislation
This is an overview of the plenary hall and stage of the Feb. 24 opening worship service for the special called 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Court rulings escalate talk of church split
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