Congregations

Three crosses stand above the cemetery at Israel United Methodist Church near Montrose, W.Va., in 2015. Leaders of rural churches have expressed concerns about the impact that decisions made at the special General Conferences could have on rural and small congregations. File photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Rural group lists concerns on plans before GC2019

United Methodist Rural Advocates is not endorsing a plan but sent a letter of caution to General Conference delegates.

Exterior of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of Google street view.

Updated: Conference, bishop sue for control of Glide

California-Nevada Conference says legal action is necessary to take back San Francisco's Glide Memorial United Methodist Church from foundation board.

Local Church

The Rev. Josh Beaty, pastor of discipleship at Christ United Methodist Church, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was among many United Methodists who participated in the March for Our Lives rally held March 24 in Parkland, Fla. As mass shootings increase in the U.S., churches are considering how far they are willing to go to ensure security. Photo by Kathy L. Gilbert, UMNS.

Churches balance safety and maintaining piety

In this era of mass shootings, pastors and other church officials are deciding how far they are willing to go to ensure security.

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

Crossroads United Methodist Church in Compton, California, found expungement clinics have re-energized their church.

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