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Human Rights
Former President Jimmy Carter welcomes delegates to the Roundtable for Peace on the Korean Peninsula at The Carter Center in Atlanta. The event, which builds upon a growing momentum for peace in Korea, is hosted by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.
Former President Jimmy Carter welcomes delegates to the Roundtable for Peace on the Korean Peninsula at The Carter Center in Atlanta. The event, which builds upon a growing momentum for peace in Korea, is hosted by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Carter commends peace efforts for Korea
Former U.S. president addresses Methodists, Korean Christians and ecumenical representatives at a roundtable for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Editor's Picks

General Church
Bishops Scott Jones (right) and Kasap Owan (center) celebrate the closing worship at the Wesleyan Covenant Association’s global celebration Nov. 3 in Marietta, Ga. Photo by Kathy L. Gilbert, UMNS.

WCA plans new Methodist movement

The Wesleyan Covenant Association began working on a contingency plan for creating a new Methodist movement. The plan depends on decisions from the 2019 General Conference.
Connectional Table
The Connectional Table opens its Oct. 31-Nov. 2 meeting in Atlanta with Holy Communion. From left, the Rev. Mike Slaughter receives the sacrament from Bishop Christian Alsted, Connectional Table chair, and the Rev. Kennetha Bigham-Tsai, chief connectional ministries office. Photo by Emily Clemons, Connectional Table.

Leaders affirm move toward new U.S. structure
Connectional Table members are developing a two-step process they hope will help lead to a decision-making body that deals with exclusively U.S. issues.
Connectional Table
Connectional Table members talk about ways to strengthen relationships across all levels of the denomination. Pictured from left are the Rev. Ole Birch of Denmark, Benedita Penicela-Nhambiu of Mozambique and Michelle Hettman of the Virginia Conference. Photo by Heather Hahn, UMNS.

Some church leaders say rethink budget cuts
The Connectional Table sends letter to the United Methodist finance agency, raising concerns about changes that could slash agency funding.

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General Church
United Methodist and Episcopal leaders discuss the work toward full communion during the Council of Bishops meeting on St. Simons Island, Ga. From left are United Methodist Bishop Gregory V. Palmer of the West Ohio Conference, the Rev. Canon C.K. Robertson of the Episcopal Church and the Rev. Margaret Rose of the Episcopal Church. Photo by Heather Hahn, UMNS.

Bishops strengthen ties with Episcopalians
General Church
Filipino bishops worship with their colleagues during the United Methodist Council of Bishops November meeting on St. Simons Island, Ga. The Filipino bishops urged United Methodists in the Philippines to continue in holy conversation and prayer leading up to the 2019 General Conference. Photo by Heather Hahn, UMNS.

Filipino bishops call for unity
General Conference
Bishop Thomas Bickerton speaks during the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Seeing a Way Forward: Bishop Bickerton
Social Concerns
Immigrants who have just been released from a U.S. Border Patrol detention facility wait at the bus station in McAllen, Texas, in this photo from Aug. 1. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Bishops: Don't villainize migrants
Social Concerns
Bishops LaTrelle Easterling and Leonard Fairley present a statement that deplores the surge in racism in the U.S. Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe looks on. Photo by the Rev. Maidstone Mulenga, Council of Bishops.

Bishops sound alarm about surge in racism
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Multimedia

General Conference
The Rev. Gary Graves, secretary of the General Conference, shares some of the questions he’s been hearing about the special called General Conference taking place in February 2019. Graves spoke with UM News as part of “Seeing a Way Forward,” a video series featuring different perspectives of church leaders on the work of the Commission on a Way Forward. Video image courtesy of United Methodist News Service.
Video image courtesy of United Methodist News Service.

Seeing a Way Forward: The Rev. Gary Graves
How does GC2019 relate to GC2020? What are the differences? These are some of the questions addressed by the Rev. Gary Graves, secretary of the General Conference, for our video series.

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General Church
Bishop Ough announced a plan a General Conference 2016. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, United Methodist Communications.

Seeing a Way Forward: Bishop Ough
Immigration
People living on the street, many of them migrants, pray during a worship service and dinner provided by El Divino Redentor Methodist Church at Mariachi Plaza in Mexicali, Mexico.

Love of Christ extends to immigrants living on street
General Conference
Video image of Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball, courtesy of the West Virginia Conference.

Seeing a Way Forward: Bishop Steiner Ball
General Conference
Bishop John Yambasu gives the sermon during morning worship May 19 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. File photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Seeing a Way Forward: Bishop Yambasu
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Commentaries

Tim Tanton. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Commentary: How UMNS covers displaced peoples

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

Commentary: Misused words in church debates
Lonnie D. Brooks Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Commentary: Evaluating the GC2019 organizational plan
The Rev. Lovett H. Weems Jr. Photo courtesy of Wesley Theological Seminary.

Commentary: Should be hard to leave denomination
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Ask The UMC

Theology and Education
Pumpkins fill the grounds of the 12th South Farmers Market in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by Laurens Glass.
Pumpkins fill the grounds of the 12th South Farmers Market in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by Laurens Glass.

Ask The UMC: What is The United Methodist Church's view of Halloween?
Cultural celebrations for Halloween have evolved alongside church celebrations for All Saints but these activities need not define or limit our witness to what makes for holiness.

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Church History
(Left to right) Central United Methodist Church in Luanda, Angola, photo by Mike DuBose; food distribution site for the United Methodist Committee on Relief, Dagami, Philippines, photo by Mike DuBose; the Rev. Shalom Agtarap, photo by Paul Jeffrey; stained glass cross and flame, photo by Kathleen Barry.

Ask The UMC: Has The United Methodist Church always had an official symbol like the cross and flame?
General Conference
Overhead view of the 1976 General Conference. Photo by John C. Goodwin, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

Ask The UMC: How often has there been a special called General Conference?

Mission and Ministry
Young adults pass the collection plate during the contemporary worship at McKendree United Methodist Church in Lawrenceville, Ga. 2016 file photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Ask The UMC: What does The United Methodist Church teach about tithing?
Theology and Education
Painting of Jesus and his Disciples on the Sea of Galilee dated 1833 by Carl Wilhelm Friedrich Oesterley courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. German art historian, painter and university teacher. Private collection. Wikimedia Commons.

Ask The UMC: What is the difference between an apostle and a disciple?
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Categories

Local Church
Karen A. Henry, an attorney at Crossroads United Methodist Church, Compton, Calif., explains how she helped her pastor and congregation start expungement clinics during a workshop at the 2018 National Prison Summit in Nashville, Tenn. Expungement refers to the process of sealing arrest and conviction records to help ex-offenders find employment and housing. Photo by Kathy L. Gilbert, UMNS.

Small church helps ex-offenders return to society
Mikayla Jaissle (center, wearing pink shirt) stands in line with other students while teacher Nicholas Chidzikwe checks her work at Hartzell Primary School in Mutare, Zimbabwe. The 10-year-old from Lakewood, Ohio, accompanied her mother, the Rev. Laura Jaissle, on the trip and attended class at the United Methodist school for two days. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah.

Young visitor makes impact on Zimbabwe students
Charlie Moore, a member of Community United Methodist Church in Crofton, Maryland, and team leader of the Zimbabwe Volunteers in Mission, hands shoes to a student at Hanwa Mission School in Zimbabwe. For over 20 years, the U.S. church has been working with United Methodists in the Zimbabwe West Conference to improve lives in the rural Murewa District. Photo by Chenayi Kumuterera, UMNS.

Two-decade partnership pays off in Zimbabwe
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Evangelism
Babangida Ibrahim laminates a document at the Northern Nigeria Conference’s computer training center in Gombe, Nigeria. The center has a new solar energy system that is helping the conference and its students save money. Photo by Daniel Garba.

Solar power a game changer for Nigeria computer center
Church members in the Shapure community of Nyanga, Zimbabwe, celebrate the new sanctuary donated to their community by United Methodists from Flekkefjord, Norway. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UMNS.

Norwegians build bridge with Zimbabwe United Methodists
The congregation of Finnsnes United Methodist Church in Finnsnes, Norway, joins passengers from the Hurtigruten commercial ferry in lighting candles in memory of loved ones to celebrate All Saints’ Day. Photo by Lise Løvland.

Norwegian church provides communion at the harbor
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Social Concerns
Anna Lakeh, 90, of the Gompa District, attends a free annual health screening organized by The United Methodist Church in Liberia. Photo by E Julu Swen, UMNS.

Seniors seek increased attention from church in Liberia
Bishop John K. Yambasu, president of the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone, delivers his presidential address in Kabala, Sierra Leone, in September. He said the church has engaged in research and dialogue to minimize the practice of female genital mutilation. Photo by Keziah Kargbo.

Religious leaders break silence on female genital mutilation
Bishop Felipe Ruiz Aguilar of the Methodist Church of Mexico (front) and Roberto Casares of El Divino Redentor Methodist Church help serve dinner to migrants and others living on the street at Mariachi Plaza in Mexicali, Mexico, in August 2018. Ruiz was among six bishops of the Methodist Church of Mexico who signed a statement urging better treatment of refugees. File photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Mexican bishops urge better treatment of migrants
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Mission and Ministry
Disabled children test out five of the wheelchairs distributed by Raphael Bareyi (in background) in Stoneridge, Zimbabwe. The children are Tanaka Jokonia, Rodrick Ngwaru, Tsitsi Dzengu, Natasha Dziva, Kerry Musana. Standing to the right is Rachel Kaziti Madzana. Photo by Chenayi Kumuterera, UMNS.

United Methodist focuses on others with disabilities
Members and guests of Malhangalene United Methodist Church exercise in Peace Plaza in Maputo, Mozambique, during a citizenship and health fair offered by the church and the city government. Photo by Joao Filimone Sambo, UMNS.

Church helps people obtain IDs in Mozambique
Families gather at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Manila, Philippines, to pay tribute to victims of drug-related violence during a memorial service on All Saints’ Day. Photo courtesy of Juliet Solis.

Filipinos call for justice at All Saints' Day gathering
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General Church
Bishop Kenneth H. Carter Jr. delivers his first address to his episcopal colleagues as Council of Bishops president. At a time of stress in the church, the bishops meet at United Methodist retreat center Epworth by the Sea on St. Simons Island, Ga. Photo by Heather Hahn, UMNS.

Bishops called to 'scriptural imagination'
The United Methodist Judicial Council will consider items deferred from its October meeting during a special session just prior the 2019 General Conference in St. Louis. Submissions for the top court’s special session are limited to bodies authorized to file petitions by The United Methodist Book of Discipline. 2017 file photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Judicial Council sets special session
Panelists at the Nov. 2 Connectional Table meeting speak about the impact a divided church would have on fulfilling the church’s mission. Pictured from left are Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, Benedita Penicela Nhambiu, the Revs. Beverly Jones, Lyssette N. Perez and Kim Cape. Photo by Heather Hahn, UMNS.

Gauging the Way Forward's impact on mission
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