Your privacy is our policy. See our new Privacy Policy.


Be the change!

Bishop Gregory Palmer urged the congregation at Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, DC to “be the change you want to see.” The Baltimore-Washington Conference has taken the quote from Gandhi as their theme during the inauguration of Barack Obama. About 40 churches in the conference are opening their doors to show “radical hospitality” to the millions flooding into the city. At Foundry, more than 90 United Methodists from New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, North Carolina, Iowa and Georgia are sleeping on the Sunday school classroom floors. At the moment, they are enjoying oven baked chicken, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables and chocolate cake in their red, white and blue decorated fellowship hall. Watching over them is a life-size cardboard cut-out of a smiling Obama. As one young man said, “I’m here to see history.” United Methodist News Service will be in DC throughout the MLK holiday and inauguration, stay tuned for more details.


Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Social Concerns
The Rev. Dr. Thomas Muhomba. Photo courtesy of the author.

Honoring our differences while celebrating unity

As The United Methodist Church seeks to embody unity, it must also reckon with the distinct realities and contexts that shape its people.
Church Leadership
The Rev. KyungHae Anna Shin. Photo courtesy of the author.

Love more, fear less, in cross-cultural ministry

A recently retired pastor writes that when she has chosen love over fear in her career, transformation has resulted.
Human Sexuality
The Rev. Joelle Henneman. Photo courtesy of the author.

Church can be sanctuary for trans lives

Transgender people are being legislated out of public life in the U.S., while United Methodist churches are opening their doors wider than ever.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved