Human Rights

Some 40 faith leaders from across Washington, D.C., join Aug. 22 in leading a prayer vigil in the city’s ethnically diverse Columbia Heights neighborhood. The group aimed to present a vision of unity and hope in the face of Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops in the nation’s capital. At center in the green and white stole is the Rev. Donna Claycomb Sokol, pastor of Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, who spoke at the event. Photo by Bill Mefford, executive director of the Festival Center.

Churches push back on armed troops in US cities

United Methodists are prayerfully helping to mobilize nonviolent resistance and taking action to protect people targeted by President Trump’s show of military force in D.C. and other U.S. cities.

Human Sexuality

The Rev. Joelle Henneman. Photo courtesy of the author.

Church can be sanctuary for trans lives

Transgender people are being legislated out of public life in the U.S., while United Methodist churches are opening their doors wider than ever.

Human Rights

Wespath, The United Methodist Church’s retirement-benefits agency, is now excluding investments in the bonds of multiple nations because of their human rights records. The move expands on the scope of a resolution approved at last year’s General Conference. Image by shark_749 via iStock with elements furnished by NASA.

Wespath intensifies its scrutiny of bonds

In response to General Conference action, the United Methodist retirement-benefits agency now excludes investments in the bonds of multiple nations based on their human rights records.

Human Rights

Timothy "GA" Underwood hugs the Rev. Dustin Mailman in the recently opened coffee shop of the Deep Time ministry in Asheville, N.C. Underwood serves as minister of social enterprise for Deep Time and Mailman is its founding pastor. The program, which seeks to create a spiritual community with people impacted by incarceration, is housed at Trinity United Methodist Church in Asheville.

Coffee fuels a future for former inmates

A new coffee shop located within a United Methodist church doubles as a place where struggling community members can find a job and support as they try to rejoin society.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now