Women

Bishop John K. Yambasu, president of the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone, delivers his presidential address in Kabala, Sierra Leone, in September. He said the church has engaged in research and dialogue to minimize the practice of female genital mutilation. Photo by Keziah Kargbo.

Religious leaders break silence on female genital mutilation

United Methodists and other religious leaders in Sierra Leone are working to end the traditional practice.

Jeru Barnabas is one of 800 women who received microfinance loans through the Empower Her project, a ministry of The United Methodist Church in Nigeria. Photo by the Rev. Ande Emmanuel.

Empowering Nigerian women through microloans

The United Methodist Church in Nigeria's "Empower Her" project is helping women start small businesses to provide for their families.

Human Sexuality

In a skit for Do No Harm 2018, Paul Ballard plays "Pastor John" and the Rev. Sally Bevill plays "Sally," two fictional characters whose counseling session crosses into romance. Ballard and Bevill joined others from the Mississippi Conference in staging the short drama, aimed at prompting discussion about sexual misconduct in the church. Do No Harm is The United Methodist Church's every-few-years sexual ethics summit, and this year's was held in San Antonio. Photo by Sam Hodges, UMNS.

Timing right for sexual ethics summit

With #MeToo movement as backdrop, The United Methodist Church's Do No Harm conference draws engaged crowd.

Human Rights

Helen Ezekiel (right) offers bar soap that will be cut into smaller bars and liquid soap in a soda bottle for sale to a local pastor in Karim Lamido, Nigeria. Ezekiel, who lost her husband more than 10 years ago, is using the training she received from The United Methodist Church in Nigeria to help other women in her district. Photo by Ramson Danjuma.

Widows pay it forward in Nigeria

Training program helps United Methodist women become more self-reliant and equips them to share what they’ve learned with other widows when they return home.

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