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The Rev. Eric Kalumba Nkulu, a Global Ministries missionary assigned as a church planter in Madagascar, receives the first stone of a new United Methodist church building from a local construction worker in Sambava, Madagascar. The church will be home to a growing congregation in the northern part of the country. Photo by Rosette Viviane, UM News.

New churches take root in Madagascar

United Methodists continue evangelism efforts on the island nation, breaking ground on two new buildings for congregations in the north and west.

Editor's Picks

General Church

Bishop Ande Emmanuel of Nigeria (right) leads a celebratory dance line to the song “We Are Marching in the Light of God” at the close of the United Methodist Leadership Gathering on Oct. 24 at Knox United Church in Calgary, Canada. After long hours of small-group discussion, Leadership Gathering participants revealed their recommendations for The United Methodist Church yet to be. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Gathering offers 16 ideas for church future

After long hours of small-group discussion, Leadership Gathering participants revealed their recommendations for The United Methodist Church yet to be.

General Church

A view of the sanctuary at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas. Highland Park’s church council is recommending its members vote to sever ties with The United Methodist Church in the wake of a civil lawsuit filed by the Horizon Texas Conference. Voting will take place Oct. 25-26 at the church. Photo courtesy of Highland Park United Methodist Church.

Emotions high as Highland Park vote looms

Leaders at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas are hoping to lead their congregation away from The United Methodist Church and have set up a vote on the issue for Oct. 25-26.

Annual Conferences

Annual Conference Reports

2026 United Methodist annual conference reports

UM News posts the official summaries filed by annual conferences from around the connection. Find the latest reports on our archive page.

Latest News

Holding a banner for the Bishop Richard Allen Way street renaming celebration Oct. 7 at Historic St. George’s United Methodist Church in Philadelphia are (from left): the Rev. Carolyn Cavaness, pastor of Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church; Yvonne Studevan, an Allen descendant; AME Bishop Samuel Lawrence Green Sr.; United Methodist Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi; and the Rev. William Wilson Sr., pastor of St. George’s. Surrounding them are other descendants and members of the Prince Hall Masons lodge named for Bishop Allen. Photo by John W. Coleman, UM News.

United Methodists help honor AME Church founder

Bishop Rubén Saenz Jr. gives the sermon during morning worship at the United Methodist Leadership Gathering Oct. 21 at Knox United Church in Calgary, Canada. The Horizon Texas Conference bishop announced Oct. 29 that he has appointed a new pastor to Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas after the church held a congregational vote to cut ties with the denomination. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Bishop names new pastor to Highland Park

General Conference

Harare, Zimbabwe, has been chosen as the second host location for the 2028 General Conference. The Commission on General Conference made the decision Oct. 27 during the second day of its fall online meeting. Photo by Brandon Mushori via Wikimedia Commons.

Zimbabwe added as 2nd General Conference site

Members of Highland Park United Methodist Church, which began on the Southern Methodist University campus in Dallas 110 years ago, voted on Oct. 25-26 to sever ties with The United Methodist Church. Photo courtesy of Highland Park United Methodist Church via Wikipedia.

Highland Park votes to leave United Methodist Church

Judicial Council

The United Methodist Judicial Council has postponed a ruling related to a dispute over a church closing in California, but issued two memorandums on other agenda items during its Oct. 21-23 fall meeting. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Top court delays ruling related to California church closure

Mission and Ministry

Living the vision

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The Rev. Francis O. Lunge, pastor of Greenwood Memorial United Methodist Church in Dorchester, Mass., died on Oct. 8 at the age of 41. Photo courtesy of the Lunge family.

Pastor remembered as humble leader devoted to youth, justice

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The Rev. Roslyn Lee poses with a costumed Robert Festa, while the Rev. Won Tack Lee snaps a photo. Festa is a volunteer at the Restless Souls Haunted House, a ministry of West Hills United Methodist Church on Long Island, N.Y. Photo by Lilla Margiza, UM News.

Haunted ministry welcomes ‘Restless Souls’

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Social Concerns

Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi (from left), Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, the Rev. Erica Robinson-Johnson and other faith leaders participate in a public witness for immigrant justice near the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 25. United Methodist leaders are cheering an Oct. 20 U.S. federal appeals court ruling that allows faith groups, including United Methodists, to move forward with a lawsuit to stop a Trump administration policy that allows immigration enforcement within houses of worship. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Court revives suit to block ICE from churches

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Mission and Ministry

Volunteers from the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s Disaster Management Office in the East Congo Episcopal Area supervise the sorting and distribution of food in the courtyard of Amani Parish in Goma, Congo. The monthly assistance program provided aid to 300 vulnerable United Methodist households affected by armed conflict in North Kivu. Photo by Jolie Shabani Mulebinge, UM News.

Church supports families affected by war in Congo

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The Rev. Eunice Iliya (center) joins with hundreds of others attending the United Methodist Leadership Gathering in waving their glowing cell phones to the tune of “This Little Light of Mine,” at the close of morning worship on Oct. 23 in the sanctuary of Knox United Church in Calgary, Canada, which is hosting the global event. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Ideas for the future church start to take shape

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Commentaries

Leadership Gathering should focus on local church

A vision for funding regional conferences

The Rev. Dr. Lloyd T. Nyarota and The Rev. Albert Otshudi Longe. Photos courtesy of the authors.

An invitation to reflect on the denomination’s future

Be brave enough to let the light find you

The Rev. Lindsey B. Freeman. Photo by Adam Bowers.

Walking the journey of calling

This blog appears in the Blogs and Commentaries section of UM News. UM News is a ministry of United Methodist Communications.

Suicide is a public health crisis. How can faith communities respond?

James H. Salley. Photo courtesy of the author.

James Laney had big impact on Africa University

Remembering 9/11 at John Street church

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Multimedia

Happy Thanksgiving from United Methodist News. Psalm 118:24. Photo by Jill Wellington, courtesy of Pixabay; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News. — Psalm 118:24. Photo by Jill Wellington, courtesy of Pixabay; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Social media graphics from UM News

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

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Mission and Ministry

A member of a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Disaster Response Team from Virginia works to clear a flood-damaged home in Western North Carolina during the days following Hurricane Helene in 2024. Photo by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

50 years of turning faith into action

Social Concerns

Graphic by Ben Ward, photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Atlanta: Connection across difference

Graphic by Ben Ward, photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

UM News Podcast Season One

Pastor Dean Roush (right) and volunteers from Mora United Methodist Church in Minnesota sing with residents of a nursing home as part of the church’s community outreach. A free bread giveaway and weekly coffee chat also provide opportunities for church members to be in fellowship with their community. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Church finds joy in bread, coffee and communion