Mission and Ministry

Social Concerns
Holly Petti and her dog Paisley chat with people entering the Sanctuary at Pinnacle View United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Ark. The church has a designated dog greeter every Sunday in addition to numerous pet outreach ministries the congregation offers. Image from video by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Dog church welcomes people and pets

A United Methodist church in Little Rock celebrates Earth Day by recognizing God’s care for his people and the pets they love.
Mission and Ministry
An activist speaks April 23, 2024, during a prayer vigil at the Bank of America headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., to protest the bank’s investments in fossil fuels. Fossil Free UMC and the UM Creation Justice Movement held the rally with local activists during the first day of General Conference 2024 in Charlotte. File photo courtesy of UM Creation Justice Movement.

Faith and hope fuel the EarthKeepers

The EarthKeeper movement within The United Methodist Church celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, with about 450 graduates of its training program doing their best to make the environment safer for future generations.
Faith Stories
Raquel Martínez, editor of “Mil Voces Para Celebrar,” the Spanish United Methodist hymnal, is being remembered for her musical contributions and leadership in The United Methodist Church. She died April 12 at the age of 86. She is pictured at right at the launch of the hymnal in 1996, and at left, at the celebration of its 25th anniversary in 2021. Photos courtesy of the Martínez family; photo composition by the Rev. Gustavo Vásquez, UM News.

Remembering Raquel Martínez, editor of Spanish hymnal

With a ministry deeply rooted in music, Martínez helped to communicate the Gospel beyond language barriers. She died April 12 at age 86.
Worship
Dr. Brett McKinley Pardue. Photo courtesy of the author.

Grace doesn’t grab: Why consent belongs in worship

If a sanctuary cannot honor a boundary, it cannot credibly preach liberation, writes Dr. Brett McKinley Pardue, artist-theologian in residence at North Raleigh United Methodist Church.

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