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The Rev. Andy Oliver (center), pastor of Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Fla., poses with other protesters outside of the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz,” a detention center in the Everglades where suspected undocumented immigrants are being held. Oliver says his goal is to “raise awareness and help amplify the stories of people that I think our city is treating with cruelty.” Photo courtesy of the Rev. Andy Oliver.

Pastors push back in Florida

The Revs. Andy Oliver and Roy Terry, both United Methodists, are committed to continue protesting in response to what they see as government overreach in Florida.

Editor's Picks

Mission and Ministry

Bishop David Bard, who leads the Michigan and Illinois Great Rivers conferences, talks to Volunteers in Mission leaders about the theology behind regionalization, a package of amendments to the denomination’s constitution up for possible ratification this year. Joining Bard in discussing regionalization were Mountain Sky Conference Bishop Kristin Stoneking (left) and Bishop Robin Dease, who leads the North Georgia and South Georgia conferences. Photo by Heather Hahn, UM News.

What regionalization means for mission

Three United Methodist bishops discussed what regionalization would mean for the denomination’s global mission work if ratified.

Global Health

Staff with the Zimbabwe Entomological Support Program in Malaria stand inside the insectary at Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe, during a rededication of its research lab on Aug. 27. The program was shut down earlier this year after funding from USAID was suspended. From left are Sungano Mharakurwa, Vuyisile Mthokozisi Mathe, Joseph Makanda, Fanuel Toto, Hieronymo Masendu, Petros Kawadza and Violla Chimwayi. Photo by Ben Smith, UM News.

Africa University restarts malaria program

With funding support from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, Africa University reopened a research lab after the U.S. aid withdrawal left life-saving work in jeopardy.

Bishops

African bishops celebrate growth, affirm unity

The 17 bishops at the 2025 Africa Colleges of Bishops meeting pledged their support for regionalization as “a faithful and strategic path forward.”

Latest News

Faith Stories

The Rev. Andy Oliver (left) of Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Fla., prays with Luis Blanco in front of the Tampa immigration office on Jan. 30, 2018. The congregation supported Blanco and his family during his deportation proceedings. Oliver continues to be in ministry with marginalized communities in Florida, including helping to lead weekly protests at detention centers in the state that are housing suspected undocumented immigrants. File photo courtesy of the Rev. Andy Oliver.

Pastor emulates Wesley in Florida

Worship

Taking worship into the wild

Theology and Education

The Union Theological Seminary choir, under the direction of Deborrah Reyes, helps lead closing worship for The United Methodist Church’s Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters meeting in Manila, Philippines, in 2019. Bishops are planning a one-time special offering next year to support the endowment fund for theological education in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. File photo by Heather Hahn, UM News.

Big push planned to fund pastoral education

Violence

An American flag waves at half-staff in 2018 after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Flags are standing at half-staff again after the Sept. 10 assassination of an activist on a university campus. United Methodist bishops are urging members to act as peacemakers to help put an end to the violence. Photo by Bryan Roschetzky, iStock.

After assassination, bishops urge peacemaking

Mission and Ministry

Bishop Jeremiah J. Park (right) congratulates the Rev. R. Jargaltsetseg during the ordination service at the United Methodist Mongolia Mission Initiative’s annual meeting, held at Gerelt United Methodist Church in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Aug. 30. Jargaltsetseg was ordained as a mission elder. Photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.

Mongolia Mission marks milestones, maps future

Mission and Ministry

Sandi Goodman (right) visits with residents of Mufongo village, part of the United Methodist Quéssua Mission in Angola. Goodman was part of a Volunteers in Mission team from the Florida Conference. Volunteers in Mission leaders met Sept. 2-3 outside Chicago to discuss how their disciple-making ministry can last for years to come. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Volunteers in Mission embark on new chapter

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Local Church

The Rev. Jesse Baker preaches at First United Methodist Church of Elon, N.C. A poet as well as a pastor, Baker writes a sonnet based on the Scripture he intends to preach on each week, then uses the sonnet to inspire his sermon. His new book, “Clarity and Light: Meditations on Scripture,” is a collection of his sonnets. Photo by Patrick Abbott, courtesy of First United Methodist Church.

Grasping Scripture using poetry

Evangelism

Bishop Knut Refsdal, who leads the Nordic-Baltic-Ukraine Area, baptizes Aksel, as the baby’s parents, Håkon and Astri Helen Madland, look on. The newly elected bishop chose Flekkefjord, Norway, as his first visit in a strong sign of solidarity with the United Methodists there. Photo by Karl Anders Ellingsen, UM News.

After division, church sees new life and local honor

Social Concerns

Rumbidzai Munetsi of Divine Grace Bakery separates freshly baked buns into batches for sale at Hunyani United Methodist Church in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. Munetsi is a member of the church, where group members meet to bake on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

Bakery ministry empowers Zimbabwe women

Mission and Ministry

The Rev. Sunny Brown Farley, coordinator of the United Methodist Global AIDS Committee, helps cut the ribbon on a new house built for a mother living with HIV in Rwanda. Joining in the festivities are neighboring women and the Rev. Donald E. Messer, a member of the United Methodist Global AIDS Committee. Photo courtesy of Donald E. Messer.

Global AIDS addresses needs in Africa

General Church

Shirley Watkins, a member of Travis Park United Methodist Church in San Antonio, Texas, addresses the 90th anniversary celebration of The Upper Room on Aug. 21 at The Loveless Cafe in Nashville, Tenn. Watkins was one of three representatives from Travis Park, where the idea for The Upper Room devotional was born. Photo by Laura Buchanan, UM News.

The Upper Room devotional celebrates 90 years

Commentaries

Honoring our differences while celebrating unity

Love more, fear less, in cross-cultural ministry

The Rev. Joelle Henneman. Photo courtesy of the author.

Church can be sanctuary for trans lives

Silence is complicity: Responding to racist mascots

The Rev. Christopher P. Momany. Photo by Kristen Schell.

Troubled times call for revival of personalism

Trust clause stands as connectional cornerstone

Hannah Buchanan. Photo courtesy of the author.

United Methodist pastor: I believe Jesus weeps with us

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

Multimedia

Disaster Relief

Photo courtesy of the Louisiana Conference.

Louisiana Conference: Hope Beyond the Storm podcast series

A special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices and pastoring from church leaders, volunteers and neighbors who rebuilt together twenty years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Disaster Relief

Sunlight streams through the stained-glass windows as the choir sings during worship at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in New Orleans in July 2025. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Members rallied to save church after Katrina

Church History

“A boy at Gulfside Waveland, Miss.” is the original description of this undated photo taken at Gulfside Assembly in Waveland, Miss. The historic African American camp, founded in 1925, was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Photo courtesy of Gulfside Assembly.

Gulfside Assembly 20 years after Katrina

Faith Stories

Youth attending Wilderness Week at Camp Glisson in the summer of 2000 sit on top of the camp van in Dahlonega, Ga. Photo by J. Paul Manion, former Camp Glisson staff photographer.

100 Years of Camp Glisson

Disaster Relief

Atha Brown (left, front) joins with other communion stewards in praise during worship at Hartzell Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Slidell, La. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Hurricane Katrina survivors remember storm

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