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The Rev. Joe Graves (left) baptizes a baby Sept. 21 at Cityview Church. The rest of the McKinley family also were baptized during the service. Graves helped launch Cityview, a merger between his 2017 church start Central City Church and the more traditional St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. He’s also written a book on church planting, a priority of the East and West Ohio conferences. Photo by Jim Patterson, UM News.

Ohio United Methodists aim to plant 100 churches

Starting new expressions of church is a priority in The United Methodist Church’s Ohio conferences, which plan to launch 100 new faith communities by 2029.

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Social Concerns

Josélyne Kubwimana, a graduate of the Burundi Conference’s tailoring school at Nyabugogo United Methodist Church in Gitega, sews a clerical stole. Kubwimana completed three months of training and now sews clergy attire and school uniforms to support herself and raise funds for the United Methodist Women’s Center. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

Income projects empower women in Burundi

nited Methodist women engage in farming and tailoring to earn a livelihood and financially support church programs.

General Agencies

Board members of The United Methodist Church’s finance agency sing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” during opening worship at their meeting Nov. 14 in Nashville, Tenn. During the meeting, the board reckoned with the denomination’s financial difficulties while approving spending for denomination-wide ministries in 2026. The board also heard a report on alternative sources of revenue beyond the offering plate. Photo by Heather Hahn, UM News.

Bishop warns of financial troubles ahead

The president of The United Methodist Church’s finance agency urged leaders to face the reality of reduced resources. He also expressed hope that the church can rebuild for a faithful future.

Global Health

Bishop Nelson Kalombo Ngoy of the Tanganyika Episcopal Area (center, in blue suit) and the Rev. Alpher K. Sylvester of the New York Conference (right, in light jacket) stand amid a group of clergy and community members with hands raised in prayer during an outreach visit in Kalemie, Congo. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News.

New bishop brings big dreams to Tanganyika

Bishop Nelson Kalombo Ngoy shares his vision for addressing the critical lack of medical care in the newly created episcopal area.

Latest News

Church Growth

Members of Second Chance take a selfie in the courtyard of Franklinton High School in Columbus, Ohio, on Sept. 21. Second Chance is a new United Methodist faith community focused on people recovering from addictions. It frequently worships in the building, which previously housed a United Methodist church. Photo by Jim Patterson, UM News.

2 church plants bloom on different paths

Social Concerns

Danny Fisher selects some canned goods at the Rhea House, a free grocery store in Tennessee operated by United Methodist Reelfoot Rural Ministries and Dyersburg First United Methodist Church. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Food pantry digs deeper to overcome challenging year

Church Leadership

The Rev. Young Min Paik, Lead Hub director for South Korea for the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, delivers a lecture during ASCEND 2025. The Nov. 3-7 Asian young adults leadership training brought together Methodist young adults from Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia and Vietnam for a week of study, worship and hands-on learning. Photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.

Asian young adults seek new vision of servant leadership

Social Concerns

Barbara Braided Hair, left, teaches members of First United Methodist Church in Sheridan, Wyo., how to make fry bread. Barbara is the late wife of Otto Braided Hair Jr., a Sand Creek Massacre descendants representative of the Northern Cheyenne tribe in Lame Deer, Mont., who helped educate church members about the 1864 massacre led by Methodists. The dialogue sparked a two-decade relationship between the church’s Native American Committee and the Northern Cheyenne tribe. File photo courtesy of First UMC Sheridan.

Church forges ties with Sand Creek Massacre descendants

Social Concerns

The Rev. Isaac Ibrahim, Dar es Salaam District superintendent, preaches during worship Nov. 9 in Tanzania. The United Methodist Church in the region has stepped up efforts to promote prayer, peace education and reconciliation following post-election violence in October. “No development is possible without peace,” Ibrahim said. Photo by Asaph Sungura Ally, UM News.

Seeking peace after Tanzania's election violence

Faith Stories

Bishop Violet L. Fisher, the first Black woman elected bishop in the Northeastern Jurisdiction, died Nov. 17 at the age of 86. Photo courtesy of the Council of Bishops.

Bishop Violet L. Fisher remembered as trailblazer

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Local Church

Darlene Marquez-Caramanzana (second from left), a Global Ministries area liaison for Asia and the Pacific, leads “A Conversation on Power and Decolonization” during the Asia Mission Leaders’ Summit on Oct. 21 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The session focused on leadership, sustainability and decolonizing mission practices. Photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.

Asian mission leaders reimagine future together

Evangelism

Text from hymn tune; photo by Jill Wellington from Pixabay; graphic by Laurens Glass

Social media graphics from UM News

Social Concerns

Schoolgirls journey home on a homemade raft they guide down a flooded street in Calumpit, Philippines, after Typhoon Carina in July 2024. As climate change continues to impact livelihoods, economies and habitats around the world, the Council of Bishops is reiterating its commitment to creation care. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Bishops prioritize creation care

Mission and Ministry

Attendees raise their hands in celebration during a lunch-hour prayer service July 24 at St. Peter’s Inner City United Methodist Church in Mutare, Zimbabwe. The United Methodist-led services draw church members and people from other denominations for weekly prayer and worship. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

Lunch-hour prayer service draws members, friends

General Church

Bishop Ruby-Nell Estrella of the Manila Episcopal Area shares her excitement on the Connectional Table’s October meeting being held in the Philippines. Screengrab by Matthan Bang-asan, United Methodist Communications, via YouTube by UM News.

Connectional Table lives into new vision at Philippines gathering

Commentaries

The Rev. Dr. Don Messer. Photo by David Stucke, Dakotas Conference.

On World AIDS Day, church called to bold action

After regionalization, church must prioritize unity

The Rev. Dr. Tércio B. Junker Photo courtesy of the Northern Illinois Conference.

Reclaiming faith beyond fear and ideology

Remembering who we are amid US budget fight

Deacons serve diverse, specialized roles

Religious trauma affects clergy too

Honoring our differences while celebrating unity

Love more, fear less, in cross-cultural ministry

Multimedia

Faith Sharing

Social media graphics from UM News

Graphic for Thanksgiving available to download and share on social media.

Connectional Table

Connectional Table lives into new vision at Philippines gathering

Disaster Relief

Volunteers prepare trees for planting as part of a reforestation project on the island of Palawan in the Philippines. The flood relief project is sponsored by UMCOR and the Manila Episcopal Area. Jhoanna Ragasa reports.

UMCOR supports tree-planting project in Philippines

Mission and Ministry

Volunteers with the Canaveral Port Ministry welcome cruise ship workers on leave while their ships are docked in Port Canaveral, Fla. The ministry provides respite for homesick seafarers far from their home countries. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Port ministry offers seafarers home away from home

Disaster Relief

Members of Floris United Methodist Church help Barbara Douglas remove debris from her home in Spruce Pine, N.C., following Hurricane Helene. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Volunteers still rebuilding 1 year after Helene

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