Deacon

Clara Ester of the Alabama-West Florida Conference addresses the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Ester, who was a United Methodist deaconess and respected civil rights advocate, died July 9 at age 77. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Remembering civil rights advocate Clara Ester

The lifelong United Methodist, who died July 9 at age 77, was inspired by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to fight injustice. She went on to inspire countless others as a deaconess and servant leader.

Church Leadership

Participants in the 2025 United Methodist Church Deacons Gathering sing during opening worship at the Upper Room Chapel in Nashville, Tenn. From left are the Rev. Shannon Howard, the Rev. Tina Marie Rees, the Rev. Sherry Brady and Candace Brady. A focus of the event was deacons’ new sacramental authority approved at last year’s General Conference. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Deacons explore new sacramental authority

United Methodist deacons are discussing best practices now that General Conference has approved their new responsibility to preside at baptism and communion “when contextually appropriate.”

Church Leadership

Deacons serve diverse, specialized roles

The role of the deacon is gaining visibility and importance, but what do we really know about this ministry?

Racism

Confronting hate: What do you wear?

An encounter with neo-Nazis shows how fear, the need for belonging and distorted views about Christianity form a dangerous mix.

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