United Methodist Church

The Rev. Nathan Ndayiziga, a Methodist pastor from Burundi, gives communion to Emilia Lovejoy during a 2019 service at HopeGateWay Church in Portland, Maine. The church is among multiple congregations in the process of disaffiliating from The United Methodist Church. HopeGateWay is doing so in solidarity with LGBTQ members. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Sara Ewing-Merrill.

Churches across theological spectrum exiting

Churches in Maine and Texas and the largest church in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference are in the process of severing ties with The United Methodist Church.

Local Church

Gordon Yu (left) and Julian Kim record a scene for the film “Happy Cleaners,” which examines the lives of working-class Korean Americans. Photo by Janice Chung.

Film puts Korean Americans center stage

The film “Happy Cleaners” takes a look at the lives of working-class Korean Americans and was written and directed by two United Methodists.

Local Church

Members of the worship team at CityWell United Methodist Church in Durham, N.C., prepare to record an online worship service in 2020. A new study of United Methodist churches finds racially diverse congregations are more likely to grow over time. File photo courtesy of CityWell United Methodist Church.

Racial diversity linked to church growth

A study of more than 20,000 United Methodist churches in the U.S. found that multiracial churches had higher worship attendance over time.

General Church

The Rev. Stanley R. Copeland. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Stanley R. Copeland

Mission and leadership in the new United Methodism

Regionalizing its structure and electing gifted leaders as bishops will be key for The United Methodist Church of the future.

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