Disaster Relief

Evacuees in Mataas Na Kahoy in the province of Batangas, Philippines, receive relief goods from the Philippines Central Conference’s Asuncion Perez Memorial Center. United Methodists are among the many people responding to the thousands displaced by the Taal volcano eruption Jan. 12 on Luzon Island. Photo courtesy of Liza A. Cortez.

United Methodists in Philippines help volcano evacuees

Churches offer hot meals, other relief to thousands of evacuees as fears of a bigger eruption mount.

The Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Ponce, Puerto Rico, suffered extensive damage in a series of earthquakes that have rattled the area since Dec. 28. Photo courtesy of the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rican Methodists tackle earthquake response

Church is putting its Hurricane Maria experience to use as a series of earthquakes cause damage, power outages and a constant state of distress.

Mission and Ministry

Manila Area Bishop Ciriaco Q. Francisco (left) and Jestril Alvarado, West Pampanga District superintendent, help distribute food to Aeta communities in Floridablanca in the Pampanga province of the Philippines. Holding the microphone is the Rev. Leslie Casupanan-Dela Cruz. The United Methodist Committee on Relief issued a $100,000 grant to provide support for 860 indigenous families affected by a deadly earthquake. Photo by the Rev. Gilbert Cedillo.

UMCOR aids indigenous earthquake survivors

The United Methodist Committee on Relief issued a $100,000 grant to provide support for 860 Aeta families affected by spring quake.

General Church

Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey observes the results from a February 26, 2019, vote to strengthen The United Methodist Church's policies against homosexuality. The vote came on the last day of the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church in St. Louis, Mo. Delegates approved the Traditional Plan, which strengthens penalties for LGBTQIA clergy and prohibits same sex weddings. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Special general conference tops the news in 2019

Division within The United Methodist Church was on full display during February’s special session in St. Louis, attracting both denominational and public attention.

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