Your privacy is our policy. See our new Privacy Policy.


Trust - You can’t require it, you can only give it.

Throughout General Conference, Holy Conferencing sessions have been held on critical issues facing the church. The Holy Conferencing sessions were designed to give delegates opportunities to be in dialogue with others of differing views. The last conferencing session, held on April 30, was a continental gathering that gave delegates from similar geographic regions an opportunity to reflect on four questions:

  1. What are advantages of being a worldwide church?
  2. What needs to be strengthened to maximized our fruitfulness & faithfulness?
  3. How can we honor each others’ differences while strengthening our unity?
  4. How can we move toward more equitable sharing of power & representation around the world?

In the Eurasia continental session the Rev. Sergei Nikolaev, from Central Russia annual conference, shared his thoughts on the last question. “You cannot require trust from other people. The only way to get trust is to give it first. And you have to be ready to be hurt because when you give trust, you open up [the possibility of being] vulnerable; but that’s the only way forward. If everyone will start trusting and giving trust, then I think we’ll have trust for each other.”

Can members of The United Methodist Church learn to trust one another? What are your thoughts on the reflection questions and Rev. Nikolaev’s comment?


Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
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 Sexuality
Mountain Sky Conference Bishop Kristin Stoneking gives the benediction at the closing worship of Reconciling Ministries Network’s convocation held at First United Methodist Church in downtown Madison, Wis. The July 24-27 convocation, with the theme “Uncharted,” celebrated the removal of denomination-wide restrictions targeting LGBTQ people and also acknowledged the challenges ahead in a new denominational landscape. Photo by Joscie Cutchens, UM News.

LGBTQ advocates head for ‘uncharted’ territory

With The United Methodist Church’s removal of anti-gay stances, advocates for LGBTQ equality see reasons to celebrate but also challenges ahead in the denomination and wider world.
Racism
Bishop David Wilson. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

Silence is complicity: Responding to racist mascots

The recent effort by President Trump to revive the former names of two professional sports franchises is traumatic for Native Americans.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved