Can a pastor deny a person membership? Plenary will debate

By a one-vote margin (29-28), the local church legislation committee will ask a plenary session to add a clause making it clear that the decision about an individual’s readiness to affirm the vows of membership rests with the pastor.
Under the proposal, a person who is denied membership may appeal that decision to the Pastor-Parish or Staff-Parish Relations Committee.


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Human Sexuality
Jan Lawrence addresses Reconciling Ministries Network’s convocation held July 24-27, 2025, at First United Methodist Church in downtown Madison, Wis. Lawrence is retiring after serving as Reconciling Ministries Network’s executive director for nearly a decade. Many United Methodists credit her with helping to lead the denomination to a new day. File photo by Joscie Cutchens, UM News.

LGBTQ leader retires after pivotal changes

Jan Lawrence kept United Methodist advocates organized after the denomination strengthened bans against LGBTQ people and helped lead the way toward the longtime bans’ repeal.
Social Concerns
The Rev. Stephanie Vader. Photo courtesy of the author.

Pastor urges halt to troops’ presence in DC

The Rev. Stephanie Vader, a United Methodist pastor in Washington, D.C., raises alarms about the increasing number of National Guard troops in the nation’s capital.
Social Concerns
The Rev. Keri Cress. Photo courtesy of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference.

Love of neighbor drives advocacy in political spaces

The Rev. Keri Cress doesn’t consider herself a political person, but she says her faith moves her to act.

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