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Workers search through debris at Louise Hays Park in Kerrville, Texas, on July 6 after catastrophic floods over the Fourth of July weekend killed at least 95 people, including 27 campers and counselors at nearby Camp Mystic. Photo by the Rev. Amanda Banda, Rio Texas Conference.

Grieving church brings comfort in Texas floods

As the floodwaters rose, Kerrville First United Methodist Church quickly opened as a shelter. Since then, the church has provided respite for families waiting to hear about loved ones.

Editor's Picks

General Church

The Kenya Prison Service band leads procession at the start of the Africa Methodist Council’s heads of Methodist conferences summit on May 14 in Nairobi, Kenya. Wesleyan episcopal leaders had the opportunity to discuss regionalization of The United Methodist Church and its impact on all Methodist denominations as well as migration and other issues affecting the church. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

Methodism emerges stronger in Africa

A United Methodist bishop and other church leaders met to chart a way forward for Methodism in Africa. Regionalization was a big topic of conversation.

Mission and Ministry

Members of the Harare (Zimbabwe) Inner-City United Methodist Church’s junior Sunday school class pose with some of their gifts for the local hospital’s pediatric unit. The children and teachers donated medical supplies, stoves and gifts for children. Appliance salesperson Roper Chakava stands second from right. Photo by Chenayi Kumuterera, UM News.

Children team up to help sick kids in Zimbabwe

Youth ages 4-12 at Harare Inner-City United Methodist Church raised $2,500 to provide gifts for children in the local hospital’s pediatric ward.

Annual Conferences

2025 United Methodist annual conference reports

UM News posts the official summaries filed by annual conferences from around the connection. Find the latest reports on our archive page.

Latest News

Mission and Ministry

The Rev. Birgitte French (second from right) of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference addresses a class at the Mama Lynn Center in Kindu, Congo. The center provides training to vulnerable women and girls. During a visit with other members of a United Methodist delegation from the U.S. in September, French expressed her joy at strengthening the conference’s partnership with eastern Congo. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News.

Center provides hope for women in Congo

Immigration

US Supreme Court rulings challenge church

Worship

Collins Kwasi Prempeh preaches at King Solomon United Methodist Church in Mutare, Zimbabwe, on May 18. Prempeh, the first Deaf Global Missionary, will work with communities in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Burundi, Zambia, Congo and other parts of East Africa for the next three years. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News.

Deaf missionary welcomes, inspires community

Central Conferences

Tafadzwa Chingosho works in his fields in Hanwa, Zimbabwe, to keep the crops free from weeds. Chingosho, who left school to pursue his dream of being a farmer, gained skills through United Methodist programs including Zimbabwe Volunteers in Mission and the Yambasu Agriculture Initiative. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News.

Church programs help young farmer pursue dream

Disaster Relief

Community representative Janvier Murhula (left) thanks The United Methodist Church during the distribution of food supplies in Bukavu, Congo. The United Methodist Committee on Relief provided a solidarity grant that supported 100 households in the city. At right is the Rev. Esther Furaha Kachiko, Bukavu District superintendent. Photo by Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UM News.

United Methodists provide vital aid in Congo

Theology and Education

A lawsuit over United Methodist control of Southern Methodist University in Dallas has reached the Texas Supreme Court. The South Central Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church filed the lawsuit in 2019 after the university’s board of trustees voted to change the university’s articles of incorporation without the jurisdictional conference’s approval. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons.

High court: Church can sue for SMU control

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Local Church

The Rev. Dr. Richard Huskey died one day after being ordained an elder in full connection in The United Methodist Church. He is pictured at left upon his seminary graduation in 1974. At center, Huskey attends a 1977 rally to support an ordinance that banned discrimination in employment and housing in St. Paul, Minn. He had selected the photo to represent his time in ministry. At right is Huskey in 2014. Photos are courtesy of Huskey; the 2014 photo is via the LGBTQ Religious Archives Network.

LGBTQ activist ordained on deathbed

Evangelism

John 1:1. Trinity Sunday. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Social media graphics from UM News

Social Concerns

From left, the Rev. Frank Wulf, the Rev. Allison Mark, Monalisa Tui’tahi, the Rev. Hannah Adair Bonner and the Rev. David Farley pose for a photo during a June 9 vigil outside the Los Angeles federal building to pray for immigrants detained inside. California-Pacific Conference Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank also was in attendance. United Methodist ministries, including the Council of Bishops and the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, are among 215 nongovernmental organizations that received a letter from a congressional committee probing their ministries with immigrant communities. Mark is president of Church and Society. Photo courtesy of California-Pacific Conference.

United Methodist ministries named in House probe

Mission and Ministry

The Rev. Mark Salvacion (right center), pastor of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Bryn Mawr, Pa., holds the hands of Ahmad Abdel-Hamid, president of As-Salaam Islamic Society, after a fellowship feast March 15 at the church, during the holy month of Ramadan. Photo by John W. Coleman, UM News.

Church embraces its Muslim tenants as neighbors

General Church

Members of the 2024-2028 Judicial Council are (front row, from left) the Rev. Jonathan Ulanday; the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, president; the Rev. Angela Brown, secretary; and Molly Hlekani Mwayera; (back row, from left) Bill Waddell; Andrew Vorbrich; the Rev. Øyvind Helliesen; the Rev. Luan-Vu Tran; and Harriett Olson. The Judicial Council publicly released a decision on June 3 related to the Mississippi Conference’s process for allowing congregations to leave with property. Photo by Linda Bloom, UM News.

Ruling: Stop alternative church-exit plans

Commentaries

Affirmation at last: Remembering the Rev. Dr. Rick Huskey

We need a new table where all are welcome

‘Not-so-obvious introvert’ on church’s new vision

The Rev. Gabriel Banga Mususwa. Photo courtesy of the author.

An appeal to hold General Conference outside US

When the shepherd strays: Addiction and clergy wellness

Bishop Julius C. Trimble. Photo by Tessa Tillett for the Indiana Conference.

Love demands compassionate response, prophetic witness

Why our church is in trouble

Anna Riddle. Photo by Heather Gaydeski Photography.

Carrie Parrish's legacy holds lessons for today

Multimedia

Mission and Ministry

Mary Ellis and Steve Richardson conduct a free church disability audit. Steve is chair of the Holston Conference’s Disability Concerns Committee. Photo from video by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Accessibility audits ensure church’s doors are open to all

The Richardson family’s desire for their son Powell to become a full member of the UMC led to a change in the Book of Discipline that paved the way for others with disabilities to join.

Mission and Ministry

Sister Alegría (right) and Sister Confianza, members of the Amigas del Señor (Women Friends of the Lord) Monastery in Limón, Honduras, pray during evening compline. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

United Methodist nuns blend spiritual traditions

Evangelism

People gather around a laptop during a “Tell Your Church’s Story” training event for churches in the Rizal Philippines Annual Conference East (RPACE) on March 22. The event was sponsored by the Taytay Philippines Communications team and United Methodist Communications. Image courtesy of the Taytay Philippines Communications team.

Philippines church communicators develop new skills

Church Growth

The Rev. Alexander von Wascinski receives a blessing from his congregation at Peace Church United Methodist in Munich, Germany. Photo courtesy of Peace Church United Methodist, via Facebook. Facebook.

Peace Church offers ‘home for everyone’

Mission and Ministry

The Rev. John Collett and his wife, Rita Collett, rent a bedroom in their home in Nashville, Tenn., to a college student through a program called Nesterly, Through this intergenerational home sharing, senior citizens can receive rent money and help with home services in exchange for housing young people. Photo by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Couple says intergenerational home sharing works

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