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General Church
The Rev. Eunice Iliya (center) joins with hundreds of others attending the United Methodist Leadership Gathering in waving their glowing cell phones to the tune of “This Little Light of Mine,” at the close of morning worship on Oct. 23 in the sanctuary of Knox United Church in Calgary, Canada, which is hosting the global event. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.
The Rev. Eunice Iliya (center) joins with hundreds of others attending the United Methodist Leadership Gathering in waving their glowing cell phones to the tune of “This Little Light of Mine,” at the close of morning worship on Oct. 23 in the sanctuary of Knox United Church in Calgary, Canada, which is hosting the global event. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Ideas for the future church start to take shape
United Methodists at the Leadership Gathering began to imagine a church that, in the best Wesleyan tradition, connects passionate evangelism with prophetic witness that disrupts the global rise of tyranny.

Editor's Picks

Church Leadership
Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel (second from left) and other episcopal leaders try out the newly acquired motorcycles at a handover ceremony in Jalingo, Nigeria. Built to handle rugged terrain, the vehicles will make it possible to reach isolated villages to plant churches, win souls and support pastoral work more effectively. Photo by Joseph Dauda Idris Balasa, UM News.

Motorcycles strengthen ministry in rural Nigeria
United Methodist Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel presented 48 motorcycles to district superintendents in the Nigeria Episcopal Area to ease travel challenges.
General Church
The Council of Bishops Leadership Gathering is set to take place Oct. 20-24 at Knox United Church in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Logo courtesy of United Methodist Communications.

What to know about the Leadership Gathering
After many months of preparation, the Leadership Gathering is set to take place this week in Canada to help imagine The United Methodist Church of tomorrow. Here are answers to frequently asked questions.
Annual Conferences
Annual Conference Reports

2026 United Methodist annual conference reports
UM News posts the official summaries filed by annual conferences from around the connection. Find the latest reports on our archive page.

Latest News

General Church
A view of the sanctuary at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas. Highland Park’s church council is recommending its members vote to sever ties with The United Methodist Church in the wake of a civil lawsuit filed by the Horizon Texas Conference. Voting will take place Oct. 25-26 at the church. Photo courtesy of Highland Park United Methodist Church.

Emotions high as Highland Park vote looms
General Church
The Rev. Christopher T. McAlilly prays during morning worship Oct. 22 at the United Methodist Leadership Gathering at Knox United Church in Calgary, Canada. Participants spent their second full day together moving from naming the realities facing The United Methodist Church to reflecting on practices to help it thrive. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Gathering explores new practices for church
General Church
Ashlee Vitz (left) and Teri Watanabe raise their arms in praise during opening worship Oct. 21 at the United Methodist Leadership Gathering at Knox United Church in Calgary, Canada. The event, which continues through Oct. 24, brings lay and clergy from around the world together to imagine a new future for The United Methodist Church. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Gathering begins to imagine church yet to be
Immigration
Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi (from left), Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, the Rev. Erica Robinson-Johnson and other faith leaders participate in a public witness for immigrant justice near the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 25. United Methodist leaders are cheering an Oct. 20 U.S. federal appeals court ruling that allows faith groups, including United Methodists, to move forward with a lawsuit to stop a Trump administration policy that allows immigration enforcement within houses of worship. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Court revives suit to block ICE from churches
Theology and Education
This year marks the 25th anniversary of a special consultation in Bristol, England, focused on “Las Obras de Juan Wesley,” the Spanish translation of John Wesley’s works. The publication of “Las Obras” in 1998, and the 2001 consultation were both aimed at supporting Latino and Hispanic pastors and congregations. Photo courtesy of the Wesley Heritage Foundation.

Rediscovering the works of John Wesley, in Spanish
Mission and Ministry

Living the vision
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Local Church
The Rev. Roslyn Lee poses with a costumed Robert Festa, while the Rev. Won Tack Lee snaps a photo. Festa is a volunteer at the Restless Souls Haunted House, a ministry of West Hills United Methodist Church on Long Island, N.Y. Photo by Lilla Margiza, UM News.

Haunted ministry welcomes ‘Restless Souls’
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Evangelism
A multigenerational choir and praise band help lead worship Oct. 4 at the 100th anniversary celebration of First United Methodist Church in Portland, Texas, a city on the Gulf Coast. The church offers an example of the growing number of professions of faith through confirmation that U.S. United Methodist churches saw last year. Photo by George Banda, Rio Texas Conference.

Amid decline, US professions of faith rise
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Social Concerns
Giovanni Tapang, a scientist and spokesperson of Advocates of Science and Technology for the People, speaks to an ecumenical gathering in Quezon City about the proposed Pax Silica development in New Clark City, Tarlac, and its possible implications for communities, Indigenous Peoples, natural resources and Philippine sovereignty. Photo by Donna Mae Delfin, National Council of Churches in the Philippines.

Filipino United Methodists question AI hub
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Mission and Ministry
Hakim Erezenious Kwenyo (standing) helps a student during a session of the Youth Digital Literacy Project at Ariaze United Methodist Church’s women’s training center in the Rhino Camp Settlement of Uganda’s Siripi Zone. The project is supported by The United Methodist Church’s South Sudan Children Ministry and the Holston Foundation. Photo by Mudomo Joseph, UM News.

Computer training empowers South Sudanese refugees
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General Church
From left, Bishop Chungsuk Kim, president bishop of the Korean Methodist Church; the Rev. Byung-bae Hwang, general secretary of its General Board of Missions; Roland Fernandes, top executive of United Methodist Board of Global Ministries; and Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, an ecumenical officer of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, mark the signing of a mission cooperation covenant Oct. 14 in Sokcho, South Korea. The agreement commits the churches’ mission agencies to annual consultations and deeper cooperation. Photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.

United Methodists, Korean church renew ties
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Commentaries

The Rev. Paul Seay. Photo courtesy of the author.

Leadership Gathering should focus on local church
The Rev. Dr. Luan-Vu “Lui” Tran. Photo courtesy of author.

A vision for funding regional conferences
The Rev. Dr. Lloyd T. Nyarota and The Rev. Albert Otshudi Longe. Photos courtesy of the authors.

An invitation to reflect on the denomination’s future
Ännä White. Photo courtesy of the author.

Be brave enough to let the light find you
The Rev. Lindsey B. Freeman. Photo by Adam Bowers.

Walking the journey of calling
This blog appears in the Blogs and Commentaries section of UM News. UM News is a ministry of United Methodist Communications.

Suicide is a public health crisis. How can faith communities respond?
James H. Salley. Photo courtesy of the author.

James Laney had big impact on Africa University
Jay Cardwell. Photo courtesy of the author.

Remembering 9/11 at John Street church
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Multimedia

Mission and Ministry
A member of a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Disaster Response Team from Virginia works to clear a flood-damaged home in Western North Carolina during the days following Hurricane Helene in 2024. Photo by Lilla Marigza, UM News.
A member of a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Disaster Response Team from Virginia works to clear a flood-damaged home in Western North Carolina during the days following Hurricane Helene in 2024. Photo by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

50 years of turning faith into action
From disaster zones to mission fields around the world, United Methodist Volunteers in Mission marks a half-century of making a difference.

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Social Concerns
Graphic by Ben Ward, photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Atlanta: Connection across difference
Graphic by Ben Ward, photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

UM News Podcast Season One
Discipleship
Pastor Dean Roush (right) and volunteers from Mora United Methodist Church in Minnesota sing with residents of a nursing home as part of the church’s community outreach. A free bread giveaway and weekly coffee chat also provide opportunities for church members to be in fellowship with their community. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Church finds joy in bread, coffee and communion
Faith Stories
The Rev. Andrea Byer Thomas makes therapeutic soaps and creams to soothe skin allergies. Photos courtesy of Handmade Luxuries.

A ministry of healing
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