Navigation Back Search

UM News: Your official source of comprehensive information and news about The United Methodist Church.

Top Stories

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.
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.

Editor's Picks

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.
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
The Philippines Central Conference elected three new bishops Nov. 24-26. Find these stories, coverage of the U.S. and Central and Southern Europe elections and more from United Methodist News.
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
United Methodist Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda, East Congo Episcopal Area, calls for amplifying agricultural activities to fight food insecurity.

Latest News

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
Bishops
Newly elected Bishop Stefan Zürcher addresses delegates and guests at the Central and Southern Europe Central Conference. Zürcher was elected Nov. 18 at the conference, which met in Basel, Switzerland. The central conference comprises United Methodist churches in 13 countries in Europe and North Africa. Photo by the Rev. Joerg Niederer.

Central and Southern Europe elects Stefan Zürcher bishop
Church Leadership
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
Annual Conferences
Annual Conference Reports

2022 United Methodist annual conference reports
View More

Sign up for our newsletter!

UMNEWS-SUBSCRIPTION

More Headlines

Local Church
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
View More
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
View More
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
View More
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
View More
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
View More

Commentaries

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
The Rev. Mel West. Photo courtesy of the author.

A plan to re-church rural America
VIEW MORE

 

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
View More

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.

More

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
View More
World Press Freedom Day - Learn More
These efforts require financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to support the essential work of UM News and other ministries of United Methodist Communications.

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?
view more