Theology and Education

A lawsuit over United Methodist control of Southern Methodist University in Dallas has reached the Texas Supreme Court. The South Central Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church filed the lawsuit in 2019 after the university’s board of trustees voted to change the university’s articles of incorporation without the jurisdictional conference’s approval. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons.

High court: Church can sue for SMU control

A Texas Supreme Court ruling deals a setback to Southern Methodist University’s move to gain independence from The United Methodist Church’s South Central Jurisdictional Conference.

Graduates celebrate during Africa University’s 31st commencement ceremony June 7 at the United Methodist institution in Mutare, Zimbabwe. With 622 graduates from 20 African countries joining its alumni across the continent, the university remains true to its mantra: “Leaders are made here.” Photo courtesy of the Africa University Public Affairs Office.

622 graduate at Africa University

The pan-African institution’s class of 2025 featured graduates from 20 African countries, with 59% women.

Faith Stories

“The Memory Garden” is the first in a series of Christian contemporary novels by Jessica Brodie, editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate and a member of Mount Hebron United Methodist Church in West Columbia, S.C. “United Methodism is woven into every element of this book,” Brodie says. Flower photograph by congerdesign, courtesy of Pixabay; book cover and portrait, courtesy of Jessica Brodie.

Author weaves United Methodism into novel

United Methodist Jessica Brodie takes inspiration from stories she shared as a writer and editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate.

Theology and Education

Centered on the moment John Wesley “submitted to be more vile" in spreading the love of God to all people, Ashley Boggan argues in her new book that Wesleyan “vile-tality” is at the core of who we are as Methodists. Cover art courtesy of Abingdon Press.

Being ‘vile’ is a good thing, historian says

A return to roots for The United Methodists Church means being a countercultural movement again, says the top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History.

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