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The Rev. Øyvind Helliesen, a member of The United Methodist Church’s top court since 2016, died Nov. 25, 2025. At the time of his death, he was the Judicial Council’s vice president. Photo by Kristine Helliesen.

Øyvind Helliesen mourned as ‘sage’ amid tumult

The Rev. Øyvind Helliesen served on The United Methodist Church’s top court — providing crucial guidance to the denomination in a time of division and disaffiliations. He died at age 69.

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Social Concerns

Barbara Braided Hair, left, teaches members of First United Methodist Church in Sheridan, Wyo., how to make fry bread. Barbara is the late wife of Otto Braided Hair Jr., a Sand Creek Massacre descendants representative of the Northern Cheyenne tribe in Lame Deer, Mont., who helped educate church members about the 1864 massacre led by Methodists. The dialogue sparked a two-decade relationship between the church’s Native American Committee and the Northern Cheyenne tribe. File photo courtesy of First UMC Sheridan.

Church forges ties with Sand Creek Massacre descendants

Being a consistent presence has helped the Native American Committee of First United Methodist Church in Sheridan, Wyoming, gain acceptance.

Social Concerns

The Rev. Isaac Ibrahim, Dar es Salaam District superintendent, preaches during worship Nov. 9 in Tanzania. The United Methodist Church in the region has stepped up efforts to promote prayer, peace education and reconciliation following post-election violence in October. “No development is possible without peace,” Ibrahim said. Photo by Asaph Sungura Ally, UM News.

Seeking peace after Tanzania's election violence

Through outreach and teachings on peace and justice, United Methodist leaders are supporting affected communities and encouraging the nation to find a path to healing.

Faith Stories

Bishop Violet L. Fisher, the first Black woman elected bishop in the Northeastern Jurisdiction, died Nov. 17 at the age of 86. Photo courtesy of the Council of Bishops.

Bishop Violet L. Fisher remembered as trailblazer

The United Methodist, who made history as the first Black woman elected bishop in the Northeastern Jurisdiction, also earned admiration across the church for her powerful preaching and tender pastoral care.

Latest News

Local Church

Karen Ririe hands a plate to a student during a Thanksgiving Day meal at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. Ririe is the international student coordinator at the college. She also is a member of Oak Park United Methodist Church in Bartlesville, Okla. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Giving international students a taste of Thanksgiving

General Agencies

Delegates participate in the Central Conference Pension Forum held Nov. 17-21 at the Diamond Hotel in Manila, Philippines. The forum, hosted by Wespath Benefits and Investments, brought together United Methodists from Africa, Europe and the Philippines to collaborate on strengthening clergy pension plans provided through The United Methodist Church. Photo by Gladys P. Mangiduyos, UM News.

Forum tackles pension sustainability outside US

Evangelism

The Rev. Joe Graves (left) baptizes a baby Sept. 21 at Cityview Church. The rest of the McKinley family also were baptized during the service. Graves helped launch Cityview, a merger between his 2017 church start Central City Church and the more traditional St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. He’s also written a book on church planting, a priority of the East and West Ohio conferences. Photo by Jim Patterson, UM News.

Ohio United Methodists aim to plant 100 churches

Church Growth

Members of Second Chance take a selfie in the courtyard of Franklinton High School in Columbus, Ohio, on Sept. 21. Second Chance is a new United Methodist faith community focused on people recovering from addictions. It frequently worships in the building, which previously housed a United Methodist church. Photo by Jim Patterson, UM News.

2 church plants bloom on different paths

Social Concerns

Danny Fisher selects some canned goods at the Rhea House, a free grocery store in Tennessee operated by United Methodist Reelfoot Rural Ministries and Dyersburg First United Methodist Church. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Food pantry digs deeper to overcome challenging year

Church Leadership

The Rev. Young Min Paik, Lead Hub director for South Korea for the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, delivers a lecture during ASCEND 2025. The Nov. 3-7 Asian young adults leadership training brought together Methodist young adults from Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia and Vietnam for a week of study, worship and hands-on learning. Photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.

Asian young adults seek new vision of servant leadership

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Local Church

Darlene Marquez-Caramanzana (second from left), a Global Ministries area liaison for Asia and the Pacific, leads “A Conversation on Power and Decolonization” during the Asia Mission Leaders’ Summit on Oct. 21 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The session focused on leadership, sustainability and decolonizing mission practices. Photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.

Asian mission leaders reimagine future together

Evangelism

Matthew 3:11. Photo by Philipp Hubert / Unsplash; editing and graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Social media graphics from UM News

Social Concerns

Josélyne Kubwimana, a graduate of the Burundi Conference’s tailoring school at Nyabugogo United Methodist Church in Gitega, sews a clerical stole. Kubwimana completed three months of training and now sews clergy attire and school uniforms to support herself and raise funds for the United Methodist Women’s Center. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

Income projects empower women in Burundi

Mission and Ministry

Bishop Nelson Kalombo Ngoy of the Tanganyika Episcopal Area (center, in blue suit) and the Rev. Alpher K. Sylvester of the New York Conference (right, in light jacket) stand amid a group of clergy and community members with hands raised in prayer during an outreach visit in Kalemie, Congo. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News.

New bishop brings big dreams to Tanganyika

General Church

Board members of The United Methodist Church’s finance agency sing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” during opening worship at their meeting Nov. 14 in Nashville, Tenn. During the meeting, the board reckoned with the denomination’s financial difficulties while approving spending for denomination-wide ministries in 2026. The board also heard a report on alternative sources of revenue beyond the offering plate. Photo by Heather Hahn, UM News.

Bishop warns of financial troubles ahead

Commentaries

The Rev. Dr. Don Messer. Photo by David Stucke, Dakotas Conference.

On World AIDS Day, church called to bold action

After regionalization, church must prioritize unity

The Rev. Dr. Tércio B. Junker Photo courtesy of the Northern Illinois Conference.

Reclaiming faith beyond fear and ideology

Remembering who we are amid US budget fight

Deacons serve diverse, specialized roles

Religious trauma affects clergy too

Honoring our differences while celebrating unity

Love more, fear less, in cross-cultural ministry

Multimedia

Connectional Table

Connectional Table lives into new vision at Philippines gathering

The October meeting provided a time for fellowship as a worldwide community and space to celebrate and discern the denomination’s new vision.

Disaster Relief

Volunteers prepare trees for planting as part of a reforestation project on the island of Palawan in the Philippines. The flood relief project is sponsored by UMCOR and the Manila Episcopal Area. Jhoanna Ragasa reports.

UMCOR supports tree-planting project in Philippines

Mission and Ministry

Volunteers with the Canaveral Port Ministry welcome cruise ship workers on leave while their ships are docked in Port Canaveral, Fla. The ministry provides respite for homesick seafarers far from their home countries. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Port ministry offers seafarers home away from home

Disaster Relief

Members of Floris United Methodist Church help Barbara Douglas remove debris from her home in Spruce Pine, N.C., following Hurricane Helene. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Volunteers still rebuilding 1 year after Helene

Worship

Taking worship into the wild

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