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Mission and Ministry
The Revs. Terra Amundson (left) and Catie Newman of the Iowa Conference discuss church response to flooding in the Missouri River basin in Hornick, Iowa. Amundson is superintendent of the Southwest District and Newman is disaster response coordinator for the conference. Photo by Arthur McClanahan, Iowa Conference.
Photo by Arthur McClanahan, Iowa Conference

Flood victims savor 'God moments'
Disaster response teams are making progress with flood relief in the northern central U.S., but some areas may still get more water if snow melts too fast.

Editor's Picks

General Church
The Rev. Heather Sinclair anoints Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton at the beginning of a time of healing prayer and anointing at the close of a special session of the New York Annual Conference at Purchase College, State University of New York. Photo by Stephanie Parsons.

New York, New Jersey conferences confer on GC2019
Inaugural conference special sessions address concerns over pain, distrust caused by denomination-wide vote.
General Conference
The Book of Discipline contains the rules that guide The United Methodist Church. Only General Conference can change the book, which is revised after each meeting of the conference. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

List of GC2019 petitions under court review
Downloadable PDF lists approved changes to the Book of Discipline that will be reviewed by the Judicial Council in April.
General Church
The Rev. Gary W. Graves, secretary of the General Conference, speaks to the press following the conclusion of the special session in St. Louis. To the right is Bishop Kenneth H. Carter. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Task force to investigate GC2019 voting
General Conference organizers have named a 12-member task force to look into potential voting irregularities at the special session.

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Mission and Ministry
A child is transported inside an empty refrigerator during floods after Cyclone Idai, in Buzi, outside Beira, Mozambique. The United Methodist Committee on Relief has allocated three $10,000 grants for immediate, emergency short-term funding to meet basic human needs of those affected in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. Photo by Siphiwe Sibeko, REUTERS

UMCOR grants aid initial cyclone response
General Church
Spare voting machines rest on a table at the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Some in the church are calling for an independent investigation into voting irregularities during the conference. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Questions about task force ricocheting around church
Global Health
Mike DuBose, UMNS

Photo Essay: 'John Wesley' sails the Amazon
Global Health
A fire smolders at a former Ebola treatment center in the Munguredjipa Health Zone west of Butembo, Congo. Photo by Justine Tchongo, UMNS.

Attacks hamper Ebola efforts in Congo
Mission and Ministry
Lydia Chimonyo Girls High School students carry buckets to gather water at a borehole in Chimanimani, Zimbabwe. There is no running water at the school since Cyclone Idai damaged the school’s water plant. Photo by the Rev. Duncan Charwadza.

Church mobilizes to help cyclone survivors
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Multimedia

General Conference
Cheryl Jefferson Bell, delegate (standing) from the Great Plains Conference, raises her hands in prayer during the Feb. 23 morning of prayer at the 2019 Special Session of the United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

General Conference in pictures
Follow General Conference through the lens of our award-winning photographers.

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Audio waves are displayed in an editing program.

Listen in each day: GC2019 audio stories
General Conference
Illustration by Kathleen Barry, UMNS

Perspectives on a Way Forward
General Church
The Reverend Chris Ritter. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Seeing a Way Forward: The Rev. Chris Ritter
General Church
Dave Nuckols. Video image by United Methodist News Service.

Seeing a Way Forward: Dave Nuckols
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Commentaries

Photo of retired Bishop Michael J. Coyner, courtesy of the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church website.

Opinion: ‘What’s next for our United Methodist Church?’
The Rev. John Yeaman.

Commentary: Are United Methodists ignoring Wesley?
The Rev. Althea Spencer Miller. Photo courtesy of Drew University.

Commentary: The plan of 'gracious inclusion'
The Rev. Edgar De Jesus. Photo courtesy the Rev. Edgar De Jesus.

Commentary: Keep the main thing the main thing
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Ask The UMC

General Church
Bishop Kenneth H. Carter gives the sermon during opening worship for the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.
Bishop Kenneth H. Carter gives the sermon during opening worship for the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Ask The UMC: What Happened at General Conference?
Amid growing concerns for the denomination’s future, the 2016 General Conference authorized the formation of a commission to deal with church teachings on homosexuality and find ways to help the church stay together. The Commission on a Way Forward submitted proposals that were considered by the delegates at the 2019 special called General Conference.

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Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. Although Ash Wednesday has ancient roots, it does not appear in the rituals of The United Methodist Church or our predecessor denominations until the 20th century.

Ask The UMC: When did Ash Wednesday begin and why do we celebrate it?
Mission and Ministry
More than 350 United Methodist missionaries serve in more than 65 countries around the world.

Ask the UMC: How many missionaries are there?
Mission and Ministry
A Bible coated in mud lays outside Fenwick (W. Va.) United Methodist Church following heavy flooding. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Ask The UMC: How should we dispose of Bibles?
Mission and Ministry
The Adoration of the Magi tapestry dating from 1894 from the Manchester Metropolitan University, England. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Ask The UMC: How do United Methodists understand Epiphany and Three Kings Day?
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Categories

Local Church
Matt Henson, prayer room volunteer, creates a “stained-glass” wall out of prayers offered by attendees of the 2019 General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Reaction to GC2019 remains strong
Deaconesses pray during the commitment time and dedication of gifts and pledges to sustain the deaconess program at Harris Memorial College in Taytay, Philippines. Photo by Gladys Mangiduyos, UMNS.

Amid struggles, deaconess movement flourishes in the Philippines
The Rev. Jisun Kwak. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Kwak.

Church courts finds clergywoman not guilty
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Evangelism
Victor Pastel (left) and Scott Gilpin after Gilpin sought shelter in Pastel’s home during March 10-11 flooding and landslides in Brazil. Photo courtesy of Scott Gilpin.

Turning to God in the middle of a disaster
A local agriculture extension officer teaches members of the Odzani Swarm Charm how to separate honey and wax using a honey separator. As part of the United Methodist Women project, the women manage beehives and sell the honey and its by-products to provide for their families and local church. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UMNS.

Church empowers rural women in Zimbabwe
The Rev. Sergei Nikolaev (l), president of Moscow Theological Seminary of The United Methodist Church, enjoyed a close friendship with the Rev. Bruce Weaver (r), and this photo shows a visit they had in the Dallas area two years ago. Weaver was the first leader of the Russia Initiative, which began with United Methodist relief work in Russia, and expanded to support for pastors and churches. Photo courtesy Sergei Nikolaev.

Texas pastor helped revive Methodism in Russia
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Social Concerns
Bishop Karen Oliveto (right) shares bread with a delegate during a February 23, 2019, worship service in the special session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. Oliveto leads the Mountain Sky Area of The United Methodist Church. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Resources, prayers offered for LGBTQ youth
The United Methodist Women Association Cameroon hosts a workshop in Obala, Cameroon, to address gender-based violence in the country. Photo by Collette Ndobe.

Cameroon UMW confront gender-based violence
"Bishop Kenneth H. Carter speaks to the news media after adjournment of the 2019 General Conference in St. Louis. In a March 1 webinar for the Florida Conference, Carter said, 'Our interest is in the healing of the church.' Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS."

Beginning to look ahead after GC2019
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Mission and Ministry
Saint Paul School of Theology, based at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kans., is celebrating that it's no longer on probation with its accrediting agency. Photo courtesy Saint Paul School of Theology.

Better report cards for 2 UM seminaries
Artwell Chidhakwa, a driver at United Methodist Nyadire Mission Hospital, holds hands with Maduni Jangamu at an eyeglasses clinic in Dindi, Zimbabwe. Photo by Chenayi Kumuterera, UMNS.

Improving vision and lives in Zimbabwe
Seminary students ask questions during a briefing at the 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. A new study looks at the sustainability and contributions of the 13 United Methodist seminaries in the U.S. File photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Study asks: Are 13 seminaries sustainable?
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General Church
Bishops process into worship on Feb. 24, 2019, at the special session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS

Denials, charges fly in GC2019 voting credentials review
The opening day of the special session of the 2019 General Conference of The United Methodist Church. An investigation into voting irregularities at the denomination’s top lawmaking assembly is underway. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

GC2019 voting credentials under review

2019 Sierra Leone Annual Conference
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