Navigation Back Search

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

Top Stories

Mission and Ministry
Participants of the Fourth Roundtable for Peace on the Korean Peninsula make a sign of love with their fingers. The event, hosted by the Korean Methodist Church, The United Methodist Church and the World Methodist Council, was held Aug. 28-29 at the Ambassador Hotel and Kwanglim Methodist Church in Seoul, South Korea. Photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.
Participants of the Fourth Roundtable for Peace on the Korean Peninsula make a sign of love with their fingers. The event, hosted by the Korean Methodist Church, The United Methodist Church and the World Methodist Council, was held Aug. 28-29 at the Ambassador Hotel and Kwanglim Methodist Church in Seoul, South Korea. Photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.

Faith leaders advocate for peace and reunification of Koreas
The Fourth Roundtable for Peace on the Korean Peninsula, hosted by the Korean Methodist Church, The United Methodist Church and the World Methodist Council, was held Aug. 28-29 in Seoul, South Korea.

Editor's Picks

Central Conferences
Bishop Ruby-Nell M. Estrella of the Manila Area speaks during the Philippines Central Conference’s Board of Laity forum Sept. 2 at Knox United Methodist Church in Manila. Estrella, who spoke on behalf of the incumbent bishops, expressed their commitment to preserving the unity of the church. Photo by the Rev. Edgardo L. Quinsayas.

Filipino lay leaders call for autonomy
The Board of the Laity in the Philippines held a forum to seek clarity on compounding church issues and called for autonomy, but the three newly elected bishops in the country emphasized their commitment to preserving the unity of the church.
Local Church
Oakdale United Methodist Church sits amid acres of farm fields near Deshler, Ohio. Rural United Methodist churches are contributing to the economies of their communities up to $735,000 annually per congregation, according to a study funded by The Duke Endowment of rural congregations in North Carolina. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Rural churches fuel economies
Rural churches and their leaders should look beyond the length of the membership rolls and the amount of donations collected to gauge their worth, a new study in North Carolina suggests.
Bishops
United Methodist Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño stands as the presiding bishop reads the jury verdict on Sept. 22, the fourth day of her church trial in Glenview, Ill. Carcaño was found not guilty on all four charges against her. At right is the Rev. Scott Campbell, who represented Carcaño during the trial. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

Church court finds bishop not guilty
After deliberating for more than five hours, a jury of fellow United Methodist clergy rendered a verdict acquitting Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño on all counts.

Latest News

Faith Stories
An enlarged replica shows the design of the United States Mint’s coin honoring Jovita Idár, a Methodist who through journalism and activism championed the rights of Mexican Americans and women in the early 20th century. The replica was on display at a Sept. 14 event in San Antonio, celebrating the Idár coin. Photo courtesy of the Rio Texas Conference.

Female Methodist reformer graces coin
Bishops
United Methodist Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño testifies in her defense on Sept. 21, the third day of her church trial in Glenview, Ill. The suspended bishop of the California-Nevada Conference is accused of disobeying the order and discipline of The United Methodist Church, undermining the ministry of another pastor and committing harassment and fiscal malfeasance. Carcaño has pleaded not guilty to all four charges. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

Trial sees defense of bishop, closing remarks
General Church
On Aug. 30-31, the General Board of Missions of the Korean Methodist Church and the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church held their second Mission Consultation at Kwanglim Methodist Church in Seoul, South Korea. Photo by Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.

Joint Mission Consultation welcomes regionalization
Bishops
Retired United Methodist Bishop Alfred W. Gwinn speaks quietly with counsel on Sept. 19, the first day of a church trial of Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño in Glenview, Ill. Gwinn is serving as the presiding officer, the equivalent of a judge, in the trial. Carcaño, the suspended bishop of the California-Nevada Conference, is accused of disobedience to the order and discipline of The United Methodist Church, the undermining of another pastor’s ministry, harassment and fiscal malfeasance. Carcaño pleaded not guilty to all four charges. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

Witnesses testify in bishop’s trial
Bishops
United Methodist Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño pleads not guilty during her church trial on Sept. 19, 2023, in Glenview, Ill. Carcaño, the suspended bishop of the California-Nevada Conference, faces four charges of violating church law. Beside her are her two counsel, the Rev. Scott Campbell and Judge Jon Gray. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

Trial of United Methodist bishop gets underway
Annual Conferences
Annual Conference Reports

2023 United Methodist annual conference reports
View More

Sign up for our newsletter!

UMNEWS-SUBSCRIPTION

More Headlines

Local Church
The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler (right) speaks with the Rev. Martha Orphe who contracted sarcoidosis from breathing contaminated air while cleaning out dozens of churches after Hurricane Katrina. Zoom video image courtesy of the Rev. Butler via YouTube.

Hollering for Change: Self-care and the “ministry of rest”
View More
Evangelism
Ashley Boggan D., top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History, gifts Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, with a John Wesley bobblehead Sept. 6 while in Italy for the European Methodist Historical Conference. Seated from left are the Rev. Matthew Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome; Boggan D., Ulrike Schuler with the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and Lara Herrmann, a student and Schuler’s granddaughter. Photo courtesy of Vatican Media.

Pope delighted with John Wesley bobblehead
View More
Social Concerns
United Methodists gathered and prayed at a 2018 event leading up to a national rally in Washington, D.C., to end racism. The prayer witness was organized by the United Methodist Council of Bishops. Members of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society and Commission on Race and Religion spoke to the group about the work the agencies do to fight racism. File photo by Kathy L. Gilbert, UM News.

Leaders, scholars confront racism in the church

View More
Mission and Ministry
Members of the Mutare District’s women’s organization celebrate the group’s unwavering commitment to education during their district conference at Hilltop United Methodist Church in Mutare, Zimbabwe. Representatives from urban and rural circuits highlighted their accomplishments in establishing scholarship programs and providing educational opportunities to underprivileged children. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa, UM News.

Empowering marginalized children through education
View More
General Church
Children from the Congo lead the recession of bishops from the Memorial du Centenaire Cathedral in Lubumbashi, Congo, following the opening worship service for the Africa Colleges of Bishops retreat that took place Sept. 2-7. Over 3,000 people attended the service where Council of Bishops president Thomas J Bickerton preached about the power of love in troubling times. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

African bishops tackle regionalization
View More

Commentaries

The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler. Photo by Dominque J. Allan, Create It Photography, LLC.

Black Clergywomen meet for fellowship, mentorship, empowerment
The Rev. Mel West. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Mel West.

‘… and compassion for all.’
Mary Brooke Casad. Photo courtesy of Mary Brooke Casad.

A Methodist mother-in-law for the ages
The Rev. Christopher P. Momany. Photo by Kristen Schell.

Wesleyan theology demands that we be antiracist
The Rev. Dr. H. Ward Greer. Photo courtesy of the author.

Black United Methodists strive for a better future
Dave Zellner. Photo courtesy of Wespath.

Sustainable investing is smart, not political
Chase Crickenberger. Photo courtesy of the author

What we can learn from ‘Ted Lasso’
Dr. John Tures. Photo courtesy of the author.

United Methodists really are better together
VIEW MORE

News From UMC Partners

Social Concerns
Duke Divinity alumni are honoring their commitment to creation care by working with populations impacted by climate change. Image courtesy of Duke Divinity School.
Duke Divinity alumni are honoring their commitment to creation care by working with populations impacted by climate change. Image courtesy of Duke Divinity School.

A calling to creation care
The effects of climate change on the small community of Ocracoke, on Ocracoke Island, has shaped the ministry of the local church pastor. Rebekah Ramlow profiles six Duke Divinity School alumni who are practicing creation care in different contexts.

Additional Headlines

Poverty
A group of old Singer sewing machines sit in the pews at Bethlehem Methodist United Methodist Church in Hutchinson, Minn. Photo courtesy of Bethlehem Methodist United Methodist Church.

Sewing machine collection surpasses goal
Local Church
Memorial United Methodist Church’s bike ministry helps furnish children and adults in the community with bicycles. Image by bOred, courtesy of Pixabay.

Bike ministry on a roll
Church History
St. Paul United Methodist Church, built from 1913 to 1927, is the only predominantly African-American church left in a part of downtown Dallas that was a center of black life during segregation. Photo by Sam Hodges, UM News.

Church celebrates 150 years of faith, resilience
Disaster Relief
At their 2023 Jamboree in West Virginia, Boy Scouts put together 5-gallon flood buckets, also known as UMCOR Cleaning Kits, equipped with laundry detergent, household cleaner, insect repellent, other cleaning supplies, N95 masks, and more. Photo courtesy of the West Virginia Conference.

Scouts assemble 5,000 flood buckets
View More

Multimedia

Church Leadership
The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler (right) speaks with the Rev. Martha Orphe who contracted sarcoidosis from breathing contaminated air while cleaning out dozens of churches after Hurricane Katrina. Zoom video image courtesy of the Rev. Butler via YouTube.
The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler (right) speaks with the Rev. Martha Orphe who contracted sarcoidosis from breathing contaminated air while cleaning out dozens of churches after Hurricane Katrina. Zoom video image courtesy of the Rev. Butler via YouTube.

Hollering for Change: Self-care and the “ministry of rest”
The Rev. Martha Orphe, a United Methodist clergywoman from the Louisiana Conference, shares with Rev. Dr. Tori Butler how prioritizing her ministry over her wellbeing led to a serious health condition.

More

Faith Sharing
The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler (top right) speaks with the Revs. Romal Tune, Joe Daniels and Vance P. Ross about fathers and sons in the latest installment of the “Hollering for Change” series. Zoom video image courtesy of the Rev. Butler via YouTube.

Hollering for Change: Why are men discouraged from being vulnerable?
Mission and Ministry
Light spills from the doorway and stained glass windows of Central United Methodist Church of Quéssua, part of the Quéssua Mission in east Angola. Established in the late 1800s by Methodist missionaries and destroyed by almost three decades of civil war that ended in 2002, the mission is being rebuilt, bringing education, healthcare and food security to people in a rural valley near the provincial capital of Malanje. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Lighting the way in Angola
Local Church
“Brother Jean” Aime Ratovohery, founding leader of the congregation, participates in a congregational conference to officially organize the first United Methodist church in Madagascar. Photo by the Rev. Gustavo Vasquez, UM News.

A snapshot of United Methodism in Madagascar
Theology and Education
The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler (right) speaks with the Rev. Candace Lewis, president-dean of Gammon Theological Seminary — the first woman to hold that position — in the latest installment of the “Hollering for Change” series. Zoom video image courtesy of the Rev. Butler, via YouTube.

Hollering for Change: Conversation with the Rev. Candace Lewis
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

General Church
The website for the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry has resources for developing new congregations and addressing pertinent social issues. Screengrab courtesy of the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry by United Methodist Communications.
The website for the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry has resources for developing new congregations and addressing pertinent social issues. Screengrab courtesy of the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry by United Methodist Communications.

Ask the UMC: What is the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry?
The National Plan for Hispanic/Latino ministry provides leadership and resourcing to support and expand the ministries of Hispanic/Latino people and ministries in The United Methodist Church.

Additional Headlines

Worship
Bishop Joel Martínez blesses the elements of Holy Communion during opening worship at the 2011 MARCHA meeting at the Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, Texas. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Ask The UMC: What belongs on the Lord's table?
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 12
The sun provides us with heat energy, light energy and solar energy and is a renewable source of energy. Wind energy is also renewable and does not generate greenhouse gases. Photo by Pexels, courtesy of Pixabay.

Ask the UMC: Our Living World, Part 6: Energy
Mission and Ministry
A flock of egrets flies over the Amazon River near Manaus, Brazil. The air in the Earth's atmosphere is made up of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. Facts courtesy of NASA; photo by Mike DuBose, United Methodist Communications.

Ask the UMC: Our Living World, Part 5: Air
view more

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2023 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved