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Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone, who also leads the Indiana Conference, officiates at Holy Communion at closing worship for the Council of Bishops meeting, April 27-May 2 in Chicago. During the meeting, the bishops unveiled a new vision statement that they plan to help the denomination live out. Photo by Rick Wolcott, Council of Bishops.

Bishops work to put new vision into action

United Methodist bishops spent much of their spring meeting exploring how they can help fellow churchgoers love boldly, serve joyfully and lead courageously.

Editor's Picks

Judicial Council

Megachurch’s closure improper, ruling says

The Dakotas Conference’s vote to let the multicampus Embrace congregation leave with property violated church law, said The United Methodist Church’s top court.

General Church

In her presidential address, Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone outlines the challenges facing United Methodists — including the need to rebuild after church disaffiliations and take on the rise of cruelty and erosion of human rights. Malone, who also leads the Indiana Conference, was speaking to bishops meeting in Chicago this week. Photo by Paul Gómez, United Methodist Communications.

Bishops urged to confront rising cruelty

As The United Methodist Church rebuilds, Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone challenged her fellow bishops to address inhumanity and act with the compassion of Christ.

Church Growth

The Rev. Alexander von Wascinski receives a blessing from his congregation at Peace Church United Methodist in Munich, Germany. Photo courtesy of Peace Church United Methodist, via Facebook. Facebook.

Peace Church offers ‘home for everyone’

A congregation in Germany is a thriving, diverse church community that welcomes people of all faith traditions, including many who are new to the country.

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Judicial Council

Council of President Tracy S. Malone (center), who also leads the Indiana Conference, addresses her fellow bishops and those watching on livestream on May 2, final day of the Council of Bishops 2025 spring meeting in Chicago. The bishops released a statement late that day trying to ease concerns about a Judicial Council ruling on same-sex weddings. Sitting beside Malone, from left, are Horizon Texas Conference Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., president-designate, and Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, secretary. Holston leads the Alabama-West Florida and North Alabama conferences. Photo by Rick Wolcott, Council of Bishops.

Bishops respond to same-sex wedding ruling

Human Sexuality

Reinstated clergy members the Revs. Beth Stroud (left), Deen Thompson and Susan Morgan serve communion at a May 1 celebration of full inclusion for LGBTQ persons in The United Methodist Church. The event was at Dallas’ Greenland Hills United Methodist Church. Photo by Sam Hodges, UM News.

‘World shifted’ with full inclusion

General Church

In an effort to combat climate change, participants at the California-Nevada Summit on Fossil Fuel Divestment approved a resolution recommending halting fossil-fuel related investments. “We agree that fossil fuels continue to drive climate change and that their production and usage harms the planet, especially poor and minority communities and countries,” the statement reads. The resolution now goes before annual conference voters. Image by Ralf Vetterlem, courtesy of Pixabay.

Conference moves toward fossil-fuel divestment

General Church

The Council of Bishops and Connectional Table have collaborated in developing a new vision statement for the denomination: The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections. Earth image by NASA Space Observatory; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Bishops unveil vision for United Methodist Church

Mission and Ministry

Patricia and Ray Kaukonde join hands with Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa to celebrate the dedication of Donzwe United Methodist Church near Mudzi, Zimbabwe, in December 2024. Ray Kaukonde fulfilled his dying mother’s wish by completing construction of the church that was started in 1977 by his grandfather. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News.

Man blesses many by fulfilling mother’s dying wish

Judicial Council

A congregation’s trustees cannot prevent their pastor from using church facilities to perform a same-sex wedding, The United Methodist Church’s top court ruled in Decision 1516. The ruling was one of two decisions released by the Judicial Council on April 29. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UM News.

Ruling: Same-sex weddings solely up to pastors

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Local Church

Susie and Ed Keefer pose with Miriam, age 4, in Kinshasa, Congo, in 2013. Shortly afterward, Miriam went home with the Keefers to the United States. The matching outfits were a gift from Dr. Rebecca Yohadi. Photo courtesy of Susie Keefer.

From mission volunteer to adoptive mom

Evangelism

People gather around a laptop during a “Tell Your Church’s Story” training event for churches in the Rizal Philippines Annual Conference East (RPACE) on March 22. The event was sponsored by the Taytay Philippines Communications team and United Methodist Communications. Image courtesy of the Taytay Philippines Communications team.

Philippines church communicators develop new skills

Social Concerns

The Rev. Rushing Kimball stands next to a sign for Broadway United Methodist Church in Orlando, Fla. The congregation and Kimball personally have experienced protests and threats from people who oppose the church’s LGBTQ-affirming stance. Photo courtesy of Kimball, Broadway United Methodist Church.

Orlando churches face anti-LGBTQ protests

Mission and Ministry

The Rev. Jonathan Baker and Donna Baker are overwhelmed as water gushes forth from a well in Wembo Nyama, Democratic Republic of Congo, in 2016. The local people had been praying for water for decades. New Covenant United Methodist Church in The Villages, Fla., and its Lake Deaton United Methodist Church campus in Wildwood, Fla., raised the money for this first well in the Sankuru Province of Central Congo. Photo by the Rev. Jim Divine.

Calling led couple to ministry in Congo

General Church

A procession of United Methodist bishops leads opening worship at the 2024 United Methodist General Conference on April 23, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. The board of The United Methodist Church’s finance agency voted to give bishops a 3% retroactive salary increase. The move comes after bishops in December asked to forgo a raise in 2025 amid tight budgets denomination-wide. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Bishops given 3% retroactive pay hike

Commentaries

Bishop Julius C. Trimble. Photo by Tessa Tillett for the Indiana Conference.

Love demands compassionate response, prophetic witness

Why our church is in trouble

Anna Riddle. Photo by Heather Gaydeski Photography.

Carrie Parrish's legacy holds lessons for today

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

In the Wesleys’ footsteps: Reflecting on justice, faith

The Rev. Paul W. Chilcote. Photo courtesy of the author.

A refreshed Wesleyan vision is emerging

The Rev. April Casperson. Courtesy of Otterbein University.

Amendment would make church more open

The Rev. Dr. Jean Claude Masuka Maleka. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Mission can revitalize United Methodism

Churches build bridges to counter hate

Multimedia

Evangelism

Philippines church communicators develop new skills

Filipino communicators are learning new ways to reach people through social media.

Church Growth

Peace Church offers ‘home for everyone’

Faith Sharing

Psalm 23. Photo by Pat-Photographies / Pixabay; graphic by Laurens Glass.

Social media graphics from UM News

Mission and Ministry

The Rev. John Collett and his wife, Rita Collett, rent a bedroom in their home in Nashville, Tenn., to a college student through a program called Nesterly, Through this intergenerational home sharing, senior citizens can receive rent money and help with home services in exchange for housing young people. Photo by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Couple says intergenerational home sharing works

Mission and Ministry

“Hope this letter finds you in the best of health and spirits.” Books requested by an inmate have been carefully packaged for shipping by Books to Prisons volunteers in Birmingham, Ala. Photo by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Ministry sends Books to Prisons

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