"I thought, 'Well, that’s so impressive, so inspiring. I want to be a part of this.’” — Mary Brooke Casad, former top executive of the Connectional Table, who at age 12 attended the 1968 Uniting Conference in Dallas.
Photo courtesy of Archives and History
NEWS AND FEATURES
Witnesses recall birth of The United Methodist Church
DALLAS (UMNS) — Today is The United Methodist Church’s 50th birthday, the denomination having been officially created in Dallas on April 23, 1968, from the union of the Methodist Church and Evangelical United Brethren Church. Sam Hodges talked to a range of witnesses, gathering memories and insights from people who attended the uniting service and the Uniting Conference that marked the denomination’s first days.
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Read Mary Brooke Casad's memories of Uniting Conference
Read more about the 50th anniversary
Ask the UMC
Timeline of The United Methodist Church
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A timeline shows the highlights of The United Methodist Church after the 1968 merger that created the new denomination. The timeline includes notable events and actions of the church from 1968 to 2018.
Read timeline
World Council of Churches
'Constructive dialogue' with North Korea
GENEVA — The World Council of Churches expressed hope over recent initiatives to establish meaningful and constructive dialogue between the United States and North Korea. The Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, top executive, said the council also welcomes “the expressed support given by President Trump for the two Koreas to discuss the end of the war during their own summit meeting.” That summit starts April 27.
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Bishop Hee-Soo Jung prays for the summit
Northeastern Jurisdiction Native American Ministries
United Methodists at UN indigenous forum
UNITED NATIONS — Four members of the Northeastern Jurisdiction Native American Ministries Committee, along with other United Methodist leaders, are taking part in the April 16-27 U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. In a video, Cynthia Kent explains why they are there.
Watch video
Read more about the 2018 forum
PRESS RELEASES
Wespath
Agency to hold listening session
GLENVIEW, Ill. — Wespath Benefits and Investments, the United Methodist pension agency, invites constituents to address its board during a listening session May 11. The meeting will be at the Hilton Chicago/Northbrook, 2855 N. Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook, Illinois. April 27 is the deadline to place your name and topic on the agenda.
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COMMENTARIES
Global Ministries
Why we give to mission
ATLANTA — When people of faith give, we put ourselves and our money to work for God’s mission, writes the Rev. Russell Pierce in a commentary for New World Outlook. “Our gifts are symbols of our acknowledgment of the links between the Great Commandment and the Great Commission,” writes Pierce. He is executive director of United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries’ Mission Engagement, a unit that seeks to deepen the engagement of individuals, congregations and conferences with the work of Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
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EVENTS
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have a United Methodist event to share, you can add it to the calendar with this submission form.
Saturday, April 28
Navigate: Creating Discipleship Pathways
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