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Human Sexuality

In a skit for Do No Harm 2018, Paul Ballard plays "Pastor John" and the Rev. Sally Bevill plays "Sally," two fictional characters whose counseling session crosses into romance. Ballard and Bevill joined others from the Mississippi Conference in staging the short drama, aimed at prompting discussion about sexual misconduct in the church. Do No Harm is The United Methodist Church's every-few-years sexual ethics summit, and this year's was held in San Antonio. Photo by Sam Hodges, UMNS.

Timing right for sexual ethics summit

With #MeToo movement as backdrop, The United Methodist Church's Do No Harm conference draws engaged crowd.

Editor's Picks

Mission and Ministry

An early response team from Pierce Chapel United Methodist Church in Midland, Ga., pauses from their work in cleaning up storm debris left by Hurricane Michael at Cooks Union United Methodist Church in Colquitt, Ga. Photo courtesy of the South Georgia Conference.

'Long road' for recovery from Hurricane Michael

In response to Hurricane Michael, South Georgia bishop says church’s mission work “really builds up compassion and strength over time.”

General Conference

Alabama-West Florida Bishop David Graves answered questions in the packed sanctuary at First United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Ala. The gathering was one of many held in churches around the globe to hear the three main legislative options that emerged for special General Conference 2019. Photo by Luke Lucas, AWF Communications Specialist.

Big crowds for meetings on denomination’s future

United Methodists coming with questions and opinions to conference gatherings before special General Conference to address divisions over homosexuality.

General Conference

Video image of Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball, courtesy of the West Virginia Conference.

Seeing a Way Forward: Bishop Steiner Ball

West Virginia Conference’s Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball talks about the Way Forward process and offers brief overviews of the three plans being considered by the 2019 special General Conference.

Latest

General Church

The Rev. Brian McLaren urges churches to align around a common objective during the 50th anniversary gathering of Christians Engaged in Faith Formation in Des Moines, Iowa. Photo by the Rev. Arthur McClanahan.

McLaren urges churches to get in alignment

General Church

The Rev. Mary Scifres helps lead the 50th anniversary gathering of Christians Engaged in Faith Formation meeting in Des Moines, Iowa. Photo by the Rev. Arthur McClanahan.

Embracing curiosity can help church, educators say

Social Concerns

Rebecca Tendai Gurupira, speaker during an outreach program against violence and childhood marriages in Zimbabwe, stands surrounded by young people at the Nyambeya Camping site in the Chimanimani District. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UMNS.

Church launches campaign against early childhood marriages

Mission and Ministry

Ganta United Methodist Hospital in Liberia is among the agencies and programs that will be receiving new grants from the United Methodist Committee on Relief. The hospital will receive $431,042 for the second phase of renovations. 2017 file photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

New UMCOR grants target crisis areas, basic needs

Mission and Ministry

The Rev. Chebon Kernell walks through the sanctuary at Grace United Methodist Church in Atlanta offering incense during the closing worship service for Global Ministries. Photo by Hector Amador.

Expanding partnerships with Native Americans

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Multimedia

Disaster Relief

Construction work on a building in Hatíllo, Puerto Rico, is part of efforts by UMCOR to rebuild and renew after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in September of 2017. Photo by Michelle Maldonado, United Methodist Communications.

Video: Puerto Rican bishop gives thanks to UMCOR

In the year since Hurricane Maria swept across Puerto Rico, UMCOR has contributed more than $20 million to help “Renew, Rebuild and Reconstruct.”

Immigration

Miriam Magdalena Verdugo Lopez plays with her daughter Maria, 2, at the Movimiento Juventud 2000 shelter for migrants in Tijuana, Mexico.

Struggling families find temporary shelter in small tents

Immigration

U.S. Border Patrol agents run down a dirt road amid swirling dust stirred up by a helicopter during a search for people who had crossed into the United States illegally and were hiding in heavily wooded areas and sugar cane fields near McAllen, Texas. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Paths collide for immigrants, border agents

Congregations

The Rev. Alan Ashworth (right) visits with Appalachian Trail thru-hikers at a free hiker feed sponsored by New Hope Union United Methodist Church near Bastian, Va. Volunteers set up a temporary shelter where the trail crosses a gravel parking area and offered hot sandwiches, salads and cold drinks to weary hikers. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Small churches, big ministry

Global Health

Ernest Tokpah recalls the toll Ebola took on his family during 2015 and 2016 in Ganta, Liberia. "Ganta was on fire because of the Ebola," he said. "We stopped eating together, we stopped shaking hands, and people practically stopped talking to each other.” Tokpah, a faculty member at Ganta United Methodist School, is raising four children left orphaned when his sister and her husband died of the disease. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Church institutions continue to aid post-Ebola Liberia

Commentaries

Commentary: Evaluating the GC2019 organizational plan

Commentary: Should be hard to leave denomination

Commentary: Officially or unofficially, church will separate

Simon Mafunda is the Zimbabwe East Conference lay leader, a two-time General Conference delegate and a member of the Africa Initiative. Photo by Evelyn Chikwana, UMNS.

Commentary: African delegates informed, ready for GC2019

Ask The UMC

Church History

(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. — Photos by Mike DuBose, Paul Jeffrey and Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Ask The UMC: Has The United Methodist Church always had an official symbol like the cross and flame?

The official insignia of The United Methodist Church has been the Cross and Flame since its founding in 1968. The symbols and seals for other predecessor denominations were generally varied in form and use.

General Conference