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General Church
The Horizon Texas Conference has filed a civil lawsuit against Highland Park United Methodist Church, arguing that the Dallas megachurch made changes to its governing documents in ways that violate denominational rules and circumvent congregational oversight. Photo courtesy of Highland Park United Methodist Church via Wikipedia.
The Horizon Texas Conference has filed a civil lawsuit against Highland Park United Methodist Church, arguing that the Dallas megachurch made changes to its governing documents in ways that violate denominational rules and circumvent congregational oversight. Photo courtesy of Highland Park United Methodist Church via Wikipedia.

Conference sues its largest congregation
The Horizon Texas Conference has filed a lawsuit against Highland Park United Methodist Church, arguing changes the church made to its articles of incorporation violate the denomination’s rules for church governance.

Editor's Picks

Congregations
Laura Wenger and James Poland share a laugh at the start of a Dungeons & Dragons game on July 19 in the youth room of Glendale United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tenn. Several game players have joined the church after being attracted by the weekly role-playing games held Sunday after worship services. Photo by Jim Patterson, UM News.

Embracing role-playing games at church
Once a scourge to conservative Christians, Dungeons & Dragons and other role-playing games are now sometimes hosted at United Methodist churches, where players say the games can reinforce things they learn in church.
Disaster Relief
Lahaina United Methodist Church on Maui lost its sanctuary in the deadly Maui wildfires, but its congregation never lost its faith. Photo by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

3 years after wildfire, hope spreads in Lahaina
The sanctuary is gone, but the congregation never stopped gathering. At Lahaina United Methodist Church, faith, volunteers and a vision for the future are helping a community rebuild.
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

Disaster Relief
Suzette Marzo with the United Methodist Young Adult Fellowship prepares to distribute food to children during a relief operation in Sarangani province, Philippines, after a deadly 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Southern Mindanao on June 8, leaving many in the region displaced. The efforts were led by Central United Methodist Church of General Santos City. Photo courtesy of Marife Cambel.

Relief reaches hard-hit areas after earthquake
Global Health
A patient receives eye medication during a free health clinic organized by The United Methodist Church at the Mwakirunge Dumpsite in the Kilifi District of Kenya. The July 24-26 medical camp was organized by the Inspired Word Mission Center, a ministry of the Kenya-Ethiopia Conference. Photo by Selina Mutua, UM News.

Camp brings healthcare to vulnerable community
Mission and Ministry
The Rev. Emily Kvalheim speaks on May 30 outside the Butler County Jail in Hamilton, Ohio, during a protest to draw attention to people being detained because of their immigration status. Kvalheim is a deacon in the West Ohio Conference and a member of the Task Force on United Methodist Immigration Ministries of Ohio. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Emily Kvalheim.

Deacons take God’s work beyond the church
Faith Stories
The Rev. Andrea Byer Thomas makes therapeutic soaps and creams to soothe skin allergies. Photos courtesy of Handmade Luxuries.

A ministry of healing
Congregations
Mark Lynes shares a message of love while holding a sign through the open sunroof of a vehicle in the Nashville (Tenn.) Pride Parade. Lynes is a member of Glendale United Methodist Church in Nashville, which has seen membership growth due to its inclusivity efforts.

Inclusivity brings church back from the brink
Mission and Ministry

Living the vision
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Local Church
The Rev. Adam Hamilton (right), a United Methodist pastor and candidate for the U.S. Senate from Kansas, chats with a volunteer June 1 at the Wesley House in Pittsburg, Kan. Hamilton leads Church of the Resurrection, the largest United Methodist congregation in the U.S. The Wesley House is an outreach ministry of First United Methodist Church in Pittsburg, Kan., that feeds needy families in the area. Photo courtesy of the Hamilton campaign.

On the road with Rev. Adam Hamilton in Kansas
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Evangelism
Leaders of La Trinidad United Methodist Church in San Antonio talk about the church’s 150th anniversary celebration on the morning television show “SA Live” on May 1. Pictured (from left) are Jen Tobias-Struski, host of the program; Carmen Gámez, chair of the church’s anniversary gala committee; the Rev. Nohemí Ramírez, pastor of La Trinidad; and Patricia Mejía, director of impact and inclusion for Spurs Sports & Entertainment. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Nohemí Ramírez.

Historic church embraces new era of ministry
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Social Concerns
United Methodist missionary Janet Lahr Lewis (left) visits with Basma Manasra as she and her family harvest olives in 2006 on their farm in the West Bank village of Wadi Foquin. The region has seen increased threats of violence and land confiscation since the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023. United Methodists, who have a long partnership with Wadi Foquin, have appealed to the U.S. government to help halt the annexation of Palestinian land and ensure a permanent and equitable peace between Israel and Palestine. File photo by Paul Jeffrey.

Church members urge intervention in West Bank
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Mission and Ministry
Bishop Lizzette Gabriel Montalvo recognizes the legacy of women in ministry during the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico’s 11th Connectional Conference, held June 25-28 in Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico. Despite the challenges facing Puerto Rico, Gabriel Montalvo said the denomination continues to experience growth. Photo by the Rev. Gustavo Vásquez, UM News.

Puerto Rico Methodists reaffirm mission
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General Church
Members of the Interim Committee on Organization for the U.S. Regional Conference, called I-ROC for short, stand together in front of the Upper Room Chapel at the conclusion of their first meeting together July 16-18 in Nashville, Tenn. The group is responsible for organizing the inaugural session of the U.S. Regional Conference, now planned for spring 2029. Photo by JP Penrod, General Council on Finance and Administration.

Planners set time for US Regional Conference
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Commentaries

The Rev. Dr. Sheron C. Patterson. Photo courtesy of the author.

A United Methodist call to healthy aging
The Rev. Eun Chul Cho preaches at First Korean United Methodist Church in Wheeling, Illinois, in 2023. File photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim.

Why I chose to remain in The United Methodist Church
The Rev. Mark Obrzut. Photo courtesy of Lucy Obrzut.

Rising up and loving boldly
The Rev. Steve Horswill-Johnston. Photo courtesy of the author.

When the doors were not yet open
The Rev. Stephanie Vader. Photo courtesy of the author.

Pastor urges halt to troops’ presence in DC
The Rev. Keri Cress. Photo courtesy of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference.

Love of neighbor drives advocacy in political spaces
Cliff White. Photo courtesy of the author.

Another United Methodist way to look at high court’s voting decision
Retired Bishop Peggy A. Johnson. Photo courtesy of the author.

Helping people ‘hear the Gospel’ in new ways
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Multimedia

Mission and Ministry
The Rev. Betsy Singleton Snyder offers a blessing to Julia Sugarbaker, a mini goldendoodle, at Pinnacle View United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Ark. Snyder and co-author Gayle Fiser have written a book on how churches can start successful pet ministries. Photo from video by Lilla Marigza, UM News.
The Rev. Betsy Singleton Snyder offers a blessing to Julia Sugarbaker, a mini goldendoodle, at Pinnacle View United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Ark. Snyder and co-author Gayle Fiser have written a book on how churches can start successful pet ministries. Photo from video by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

How churches can adopt their own pet ministries
A new book by United Methodists shares practical guidance for congregations looking to build community connections by caring for pets and the people who love them.

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Faith Sharing
Happy Fourth of July! Photo by Mike DuBose; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Social media graphics from UM News
Mission and Ministry
Holly Petti and her dog Paisley chat with people entering the Sanctuary at Pinnacle View United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Ark. The church has a designated dog greeter every Sunday in addition to numerous pet outreach ministries the congregation offers. Image from video by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Dog church welcomes people and pets
Local Church
Participants stretch during a yoga class at First Church Fort Pierce, a United Methodist Congregation in Florida. Photo by Lilla Marigza UM News.

Yoga ministry stretches beyond church walls
Social Concerns
Recipients of sun-powered ovens learn to adapt local recipes to the new cooking method. This photo was taken during a United Methodist Solar Oven Partners workshop for new oven owners in Bo, Sierra Leone, in December 2025. Photo courtesy of Solar Oven Partners.

Solar oven ministry changes lives
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