Church

Leaders gather in prayer during morning worship at the National Summit on Mass Incarceration in Charlotte, N.C. Helping lead the prayer is the Rev. Kevin Kosh Jr. (center, wearing cap) from the young adult network of Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century. Photo by Joey Butler, UM News.

Summit urges churches to speak out against mass incarceration

Attendees of the National Summit on Mass Incarceration were urged to work with their churches toward criminal justice reform.

Congregations

St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano, Texas, has decided to leave The United Methodist Church. But the decision was made by St. Andrew’s executive committee, not through a two-thirds congregational vote as required in Paragraph 2553 of the United Methodist Book of Discipline. Photo courtesy of St. Andrew United Methodist Church.

Megachurch takes unusual disaffiliation route

The executive committee of St. Andrew United Methodist, in Plano, Texas, decided the church should depart The United Methodist Church. North Texas Conference Bishop Michael McKee says church members were denied “voice and vote.”

Congregations

The Rev. Jeff Olive, a Texas Conference district superintendent, presides at an Aug. 7 meeting at The Woodlands Methodist Church called to consider disaffiliation. Members of The Woodlands Methodist, in The Woodlands community north of Houston, voted by a 96.3% margin to leave The United Methodist Church. Photo courtesy of The Woodlands Methodist.

Some large Texas churches vote on disaffiliation

The Woodlands Methodist Church and Faithbridge, two large United Methodist churches north of Houston, decide on same day to leave the denomination.

Faith Stories

The Rev. Roberto Gómez made a large contribution to Hispanic ministry and The United Methodist Church more broadly as a pastor, district superintendent, agency board member, General Conference delegate, Course of Study instructor and more. He died on May 26, 2022. Photo courtesy of the Gómez family.

Hispanic pastor made large impact

The Rev. Roberto Gómez, who died recently at age 75, was a force in the Rio Grande Conference and beyond, including successfully pushing for a Spanish-language hymnal for The United Methodist Church.

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