Church Leadership

A lawsuit and countersuit between the North Georgia Conference and Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church in Marietta, Ga., has concluded with the megachurch agreeing to pay about $13.1 million to leave the denomination with property. Image courtesy of Google Maps.

Conference, megachurch reach legal settlement

Mt. Bethel Church has agreed to pay $13.1 million to the North Georgia Conference to leave The United Methodist Church with property.

General Church

A diverse group of bishops and other United Methodist leaders gather for a group photo in 2019 after reaching agreement on a proposal that would maintain The United Methodist Church but allow traditionalist congregations to separate into a new denomination. More than a quarter of that team have now rescinded their support for the agreement in its entirety, saying it no longer offers an adequate path forward for The United Methodist Church. Photo courtesy of the Protocol Mediation Team.

Protocol’s day has passed, some negotiators say

Based on discussions with General Conference delegates and other United Methodists, five of the 16 leaders who negotiated a denominational separation agreement say they “can no longer, in good faith, support” the proposal.

Faith Stories

Despite being denied an education as a girl, Greater Taremeredzwa Nhiwatiwa (second from left) went on to become a nurse and church leader in her role as an African bishop’s spouse. Nhiwatiwa, who is president of the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area Rukwadzano RweWadzimai (RRW) women's organization, shares her life story in a new book, “Reflections on My Life and Faith Journey as an African Bishop’s Spouse.” Pictured with Nhiwatiwa at the Zimbabwe West Annual Conference main office are Anesu Mironga, Zimbabwe East Annual Conference secretary (left), Tendai Rebecca Gurupira, RRW vice president (third from left), and Ethel Tsingano, RRW secretary. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News.

Greater Nhiwatiwa shares faith journey in new book

Despite being denied an education as a girl, she went on to become a nurse and leader in The United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe in her role as an African bishop’s spouse.

Church Leadership

The Rev. Charles Yrigoyen Jr. speaks during a meeting of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Historical Society in 1983. Yrigoyen, who served as top staff executive of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History, died May 9. He was 84. Photo courtesy of Archives and History.

Charles Yrigoyen remembered as pastor and scholar

The Rev. Charles Yrigoyen Jr., a leading United Methodist historian, oversaw the denomination’s Commission on Archives and History for nearly 24 years. He died at age 84.

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