Central Conferences

Bishop Rodolfo A. Juan (left) prays for a leader (red vest) at a camp for displaced people in Malaybalay, Philippines, in 2017. The United Methodist Church in the Philippines has condemned extrajudicial killings and other human rights abuses in the country, as well as protesting the treatment of indigenous people. The church has worked both alone and through ecumenical groups like the National Council of Churches. File photo courtesy of Dan Ela.

United Methodists decry 'red-tagging' of church council

The National Council of Churches in the Philippines was labeled as a “front organization of local communist terrorist groups” by the Department of National Defense of the Philippines Government.

Local Church

In his role as a funeral chaplain in Zimbabwe, United Methodist Elison Kamupira uses his faith to comfort the grieving. He serves with a unique combination of compassion and humor. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News.

Funeral chaplain puts faith to work

United Methodist Elison Kamupira is a ‘pillar of strength’ for grieving families, an evangelist and a lively master of ceremonies.

General Church

Delegates from the Philippines bow their heads during a day of prayer at the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. A group of Filipino United Methodists have submitted a plan to the 2020 General Conference that calls for church unity, not division. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UM News.

Filipino legislation calls for church unity

The plan, the first to emerge from outside the U.S., calls for reimagining church structures to allow for contextual differences.

Social Concerns

UMCNext plan would end LGBTQ restrictions

Coalition of centrists and progressives favors removing restrictions on LGBTQ ordination and same-sex weddings, allowing exit plan for churches that disagree.

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