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The Rev. Donald Messer, right, retired head of Iliff School of Theology, and his mentor, former United Methodist Bishop James Armstrong, visit in 2012. Messer and others credit Armstrong, who died July 17 at the age of 93, with nurturing young leaders in the denomination. File photo courtesy of Donald Messer.

Remembering a former bishop, social activist

Three United Methodists mentored by James Armstrong credit him with identifying and nurturing church leaders.

Editor's Picks

General Church

United Methodist young adults gather at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, sharing moments of faith sharing, worship, dance and communion. A team of United Methodist experts gives advice on which contemporary worship songs are compatible with Wesleyan theology and evaluates their sing-ability for congregations. File photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS

Where the hymnal stops, they step in

United Methodist team gives advice on whether and how to use the most popular contemporary Christian worship songs

Mission

United Methodist school directors from Liberia and Sierra Leone and leaders from Operation Classroom meet in Monrovia, Liberia. (From left) Joseph Pormai with The United Methodist Church of Sierra Leone, the Rev. Sampson Nyanti, former director of education for United Methodist schools in Liberia, and the Revs. Bob Coolman and Monty C. Barker with Operation Classroom. Photo by E Julu Swen, UMNS.

Operation Classroom reaffirms commitment to Africa

Leaders from United Methodist organization visit Liberia, Sierra Leone to strengthen contributions to the countries’ education programs.

Church Growth

Parishioners read responsively during worship at Central United Methodist Church in Luanda, Angola, in 2012. The Eastern Angola conference has added a statistician to their staff to better evaluate the progress of the church. File photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

More than names and numbers in Angola

New annual conference statistician looks forward to evaluating United Methodist progress through data.

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Social Concerns

Lonnie Chafin of the Northern Illinois Conference, leads strategy session of General Conference delegates attending the Uniting Methodists meeting in Dallas on July 17, 2018. The Uniting Methodists are supporting the One Church Plan, one of at least three legislative proposals likely to be considered at the special General Conference set for Feb. 23-26, 2019, in St. Louis. Photo by Sam Hodges, UMNS

Uniting Methodists get strategic

The Rev. Tom Steagald of Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, reads the One Church Plan during a break at the July 17 Uniting Methodist Conference in Dallas. The three plans and the full Way Forward report were part of the Judicial Council’s October docket. Photo by Sam Hodges, UMNS.

Court docket details proposed plans for UMC

The Rev. David Meredith and the church counsel for the United Methodist West Ohio Conference are asking the United Methodist Judicial Council to review a March decision by a jurisdictional appeal court. File photo by Kathy L. Gilbert.

Court asked to review gay pastor appeal decision

The Rev. Mark Holland of the Great Plains Conference makes a motion during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. He was part of group of delegates who met July 13-15 in Nashville, Tenn., to build relationships and discuss the One Church Model. File photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

GC2019 delegates discuss Way Forward

Disaster Relief

Ethel Sandy, Sierra Leone Conference women’s coordinator, passes out school supplies to children at Hope Preparatory School in Kamayama, Sierra Leone, in June, one of four United Methodist schools affected by the August 2017 landslide and flooding. Photo by Phileas Jusu, UMNS.

One year later, church continues support for landslide survivors

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Multimedia

Ernest Tokpah recalls the toll Ebola took on his family during 2015 and 2016 in Ganta, Liberia. "Ganta was on fire because of the Ebola," he said. "We stopped eating together, we stopped shaking hands, and people practically stopped talking to each other.” Tokpah, a faculty member at Ganta United Methodist School, is raising four children left orphaned when his sister and her husband died of the disease. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Church institutions continue to aid post-Ebola Liberia

In the two years since Liberia was declared Ebola-free, United Methodist schools and hospitals have helped the country recover.

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Edmond Assamoi directs the choir at a recently opened United Methodist church outside Agboville, Côte d'Ivoire. The church is so new that it has not yet been named. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Singing the gospel in Côte d’Ivoire

Bermondsey Central Hall Methodist Church serves a diverse congregation of about 320 and houses the South London Mission, which has been supporting the community since 1889. The modern London Shard skyscraper rises behind the church. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

British Methodism: Staying Relevant in Wesley’s Homeland

A statue of Saint John of Nepomuk looks out over the Main River in the historic Höchst district of Frankfurt, Germany. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

German Methodism: A strong Christian voice

Wesley “Gabby” Jones and Ted Barnett sing the spiritual “Stand Still, Jordan” during an April 23 service at Chubb Chapel United Methodist Church, in Chubbtown, Georgia. The church’s sanctuary dates to 1870, and the community was founded by the Chubb family, who came to the area as free blacks before the end of the Civil War. Photo by Sam Hodges, UMNS.

Little church looms large in black history

Commentaries

Photo of William B. Lawrence by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications.

Commentary: Threat of schism hangs over jubilee of church

Photo of Kathy L. Gilbert by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Commentary: Addiction, Mother’s Day and God’s grace

Commentary: Rescuing Outler's 'Visions and Dreams'

Commentary: Open for (church) business

Ask The UMC

Pews and hymnals photographed inside Monroe Street United Methodist Church in historic Germantown, Nashville, Tenn. Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications

Ask The UMC: Why does The United Methodist Hymnal include more than songs?

The answer has to do with developments in both Methodist ritual and published resources over time.

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Be ye therefore perfect as your Father which is in heaven is perfect - Matt. 5:48. File photo by Kay Panovec, United Methodist Communications.

Ask The UMC: What did John Wesley mean by ‘moving on to perfection?’

Image of a circuit rider, courtesy of the General Commission on Archives and History for The United Methodist Church, Drew University.

Ask The UMC: Why do United Methodist pastors change churches?

Substance Abuse

More than a dozen former alcoholics and addicts carried signs telling how it felt to be in recovery during a presentation at the 2012 Oklahoma Annual Conference meeting in Tulsa. Photo by Boyce Bowdon

Ask The UMC: May United Methodists drink alcohol?

General Conference

Bishop Cynthia F. Harvey (right) answers questions during a press conference about The United Methodist Church's Way Forward plan to address how the denomination ministers with LGBTQ individuals. She is flanked by Bishops Bruce R. Ough (left) and Kenneth H. Carter following the Council of Bishops meeting in Chicago. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.

Ask The UMC: Can you explain Way Forward plans, COB recommendation?

Categories

The Rev. Lucien Dockpa (left rear, reading) and intercessor Alapha Aimé de Dieu (right rear) visit with a family at their home in Bangui, Central African Republic, during a daylong evangelism campaign. Photo by the Rev. Cesar Gazza.

Central African Christians bring Gospel to homes

Church members and leaders celebrate the purchase of a car for use by United Methodist pastors in the Nenguwo Circuit outside Harare, Zimbabwe. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah.

Rural pastors gain reliable transportation

The Rev. Kanda Salumu examines an electronic voting machine during a demonstration in Kindu, Congo. The United Methodist Church is helping educate pastors and laypeople about the machines, which are unfamiliar to many Congolese. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UMNS.

Raising awareness about voting in Congo elections

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Presian Vlaiakov sings at the Sofia (Bulgaria) United Methodist Church. Vlaiakov, the son of a single mother, said his commitment to the church grew out of the love and help the church showed him as a child. Photo by the Rev. Mihail Stefanov.

Church provided family for Bulgarian boy

Chisipiti United Methodist Church hosts a revival attended by women in the district. Despite the social, economic and political challenges in the country the church has continued to raise funds from within membership. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa, UMNS.

Amid Zimbabwe’s economic struggles, ‘God is doing wonders’

Unaccompanied minor migrants enjoy four days at a United Methodist summer camp. They point out their home towns and trace the journey they took to arrive at U.S. border on a large wall map. Photo courtesy of California-Pacific Conference.

Camp offers migrant youth fun, friendship

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Social Concerns

The Rev. David Mupaya watches as goats are distributed to families in The United Methodist Church’s Makoni-Buhera District outside Mutare, Zimbabwe. The church has collaborated with the government on a goat breeding program in an effort to eradicate hunger and poverty in the country’s rural areas. Photo courtesy of the Makoni-Buhera District.

Zimbabwe United Methodists roll out goat-breeding project

Women gather during a peace-building workshop in Rutshuru, Congo. The United Methodist Church is playing a role in mediation efforts in the Rutshuru Territory of the DRC, which has been plagued by tribal and land conflicts. Photo by Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UMNS.

Church plays role of mediator in East Congo

Members of the 2016-2020 Judicial Council pose for a group photo. The United Methodist Council of Bishops has asked the denomination’s top court to rule on the constitutionality of the legislation submitted by the Commission on Way Forward. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

Bishops seek court ruling on Way Forward plans

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Mission

Farai Rukunda visits with students Kudakwashe Nhunama (center) and Maxwell Mukeredzi during his first visit to Arnoldine Mission in August of 2014. Photo courtesy of Living Beyond Hope.

United Methodist brings hope to former village home

Church leaders and supporters pray with United Methodist missionary Miracle Osman (center, wearing white shirt) upon her arrival in Lilongwe, Malawi, after she was allowed to leave the Philippines. Photo courtesy of United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

Last of detained missionaries arrives home

Student dentist Preston Harris sees a patient in the Meharry Medical College mobile dental clinic in Nashville, Tenn. Photo courtesy of Meharry Medical College.

Meharry mobile dental clinic provides needed care

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People wait in a security screening line to enter the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. There will be no registration fees for the 2019 special General Conference. But visitors will be asked to pay $7-10 for badges required by venue security. File photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

GC2019 no longer needs registration fees

Leaders from the General Board of Church Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., traveled to Harare to meet with leaders from the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area June 20-21 to draft a revised version of its Social Principles. The decision to create a new document was made at the 2016 General Conference. The last revision was made by committee in 1968. Photo by Chenayi Kumuterera, UMNS.

Zimbabwe United Methodists weigh in on Social Principles

Parishioners take part in a spirited Bible study at Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston in this March 2011 file photo. A UMNS file photo by Mike DuBose.

Megachurch weighs leaving denomination

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