Church History

Panelists discuss Methodism’s record on race during a livestreamed denominational town hall meeting. The gathering was moderated by Erin Hawkins (bottom right) of the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race. Panelists included (clockwise from bottom left): Alison Collis Greene, The Revs. Alfred T. Day III, William Bobby McClain and Lisa Dellinger. UM News screenshot via YouTube.

Unsnarling U.S. and church racial history

Town hall explored Methodism’s complicated and sometimes suppressed record on race to help United Methodists turn away from past sins.

Church History

Share your audio to help preserve United Methodist history

A wealth of church history is contained in audio files in local churches, seminaries and annual conferences. We must act now to save those treasures.

Mission and Ministry

Artist interpretation of the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia in 1793. As the virus sickened thousands, a U.S. founding father turned to two Methodists for help. Print from Bettmann Archives.

Methodists led response in earlier epidemic

When yellow fever sickened thousands in 18th century Philadelphia, a U.S. founding father turned to two pioneering African American church leaders for help.

Theology and Education

Marshall Greene (center) is baptized during the Annual Inlet Baptism in Murrells Inlet off the Belin Memorial United Methodist Church's seawall. Holding him is (left) Austin Bond, director of youth ministries and (right) Walter Cantwell, associate pastor. Photo by Benjamin Coy.

Ask The UMC: How far back does Christian baptism go?

Christian baptism has its earliest beginnings in the church. It was related to the water rites of other religions.

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