UMC Featured News & Stories

Music leader scatters seeds for General Conference
Seeds are being sown for the church's top assembly, where thousands of seedlings will serve as symbols of hope. Brooks-Howell Home Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Women’s Division-owned Brooks-Howell Home celebrated 50 years of service to retired deaconesses and missionaries Oct. 20 in Asheville, N.C., during a ceremony filled with historical significance for United Methodist Women.

Hearings address nuclear weapons, environment
A task force works to revise a 1986 United Methodist statement on policy issues affecting the human race. Hispanic church offers alternative to street gangs
At a central California church, an after-school ministry helps kids with homework while steering them clear of gang life. Operation Classroom celebrates 20 years of mission
Supporters pack a suburban Indianapolis banquet hall to celebrate educational and medical ministries to West Africa. Arkansas editor is communicator of the year
Jane Dennis calls it a blessing to tell the story of the church as she is honored by the United Methodist Association of Communicators. Irish Methodist pastor to receive peace award
The Rev. Harold Good is to receive the 2007 World Methodist Peace Award for his work in Northern Ireland. Consultation addresses chasm between rich and poor
United Methodist leaders say the world's poorest citizens are being left out of the benefits of globalization. Evangelical event focuses on church’s critical issues
Six conservative evangelical United Methodist renewal organizations rally around six issues coming before the 2008 General Conference. Top court upholds transgender pastor’s appointment
The United Methodist Judicial Council rules that a pastor who changed gender from female to male remains eligible to serve the church. Torture is Growing Concern Among Churches

"Torture is wrong," read the sign that hung from the Rev. Steven Clunn's window at First United Methodist Church in Schenectady, NY.

Drew Theological School to Be New Home of United Methodist 'Shalom' Initiative

Drew University Theological School Madison will be the new home base for Communities of Shalom, a United Methodist program that engages congregations and communities in working together for community development, peace, and wholeness.

Women's Division Joins Non-racist Immigration Campaign Debate

The Women’s Division of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries endorsed a new faith-based campaign promoting non-racist dialogs on immigration in a press conference Oct. 17 on Capitol Hill.

Bishop Christopher announces retirement
Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher will retire when her third term as episcopal leader of the Illinois Area ends Sept. 1, 2008. Resurrected octogenarian drums it up in church
An error by the Social Security Administration caused Phyllis Orr to expire legally. But at 81, Orr says she isn’t done living. Columbia: ministerio con personas desplazadas

Tres entrevistas sobre el trabajo pastoral de la Iglesia Metodista Colombiana, una comunión relativamente nueva en la familia Metodista.

UMCOR Responds to California Wildfires

Wildfires fueled by the hot Santa Ana winds continue to consume large portions of Southern California, particularly heavily-populated areas surrounding San Diego and Los Angeles.

Africa University’s chief executive to step down
Rukudzo Murapa is retiring as chief executive of Africa University after almost 10 years of leading the United Methodist-related school. Relationships encourage young clergy hopefuls
Ongoing relationships with local churches help young clergy hopefuls discern God’s call to ministry. United Methodist churches among those affected by California fires
Pastors and congregations of at least five United Methodist churches are among those affected by wildfires in Southern California. United Methodist home remembers Ohio State coach
Carroll Widdoes, a former Ohio state coach, is among many who grew up at United Methodist-related Otterbein Home in Lebanon, Ohio. Clergywoman shares domestic violence story
A United Methodist clergywoman shares her story in hopes of saving others from domestic violence. Commentary: A hidden problem in Mozambique
All use of violence is unacceptable and prohibited under Mozambican law and represents a violation of fundamental human rights. Commentary: Ending the silence about domestic violence
Domestic violence cuts across economic lines, social groups, ethnicities and religions and impacts women, children and extended family. Holsinger not to participate in top court’s meeting
James W. Holsinger Jr., president of the United Methodist Judicial Council, announced he will not participate in the Oct. 24-27 meeting. United Methodists support NCC changes, nominee
United Methodist leaders are supporting the reorganization of the National Council of Churches and the nominee for chief executive. Advance program has new look for 60th birthday
The denomination’s designated mission giving program has a new structure and staff — and will have a new look in coming months. Ministry candidates shifting to online applications
More than 800 ministry candidates completed their application online since the church's new system launched in January. World health leaders share updates at Malaria Forum
The United Methodist Church is at the table with more than 300 scientists, physicians and others leading the fight against malaria. Commentary: Finding a kingdom in heaven in Manila
United Methodists are bringing Christ and hope to the "sad, dark" places in the Philippines. Movie to feature Wiley College historic debate team
Denzel Washington stars in "The Great Debaters," about the 1935 championship debate team at the United Methodist-related school. United Methodists Hold First Latino Workshop on AIDS Ministries

The United Methodist Church is taking steps to come to grips with and stop the "devastating effect" that HIV/AIDS is having on the Hispanic/Latino community in the United States.

EXPLORATION Follow-up Encourages Young Clergy Hopefuls

Jessica Henry felt called to ordained ministry before she attended EXPLORATION 2006, but the national event solidified her feeling that the call was real.

Michigan Girl Scouts explore Liberia from afar
Scouts organizing a churchwide 'Liberia night' to earn their silver badges end up gaining much more. Struggling hospital continues to offer free health care
Begun in 1906 as a missionary clinic in the Philippines, United Methodist Mary Johnston Hospital is a model for service to the poor. Methodist Church in Sri Lanka Grows Despite Civil Strife and Tsunami

The Methodist Church of Sri Lanka has a problem it welcomes: it is having trouble keeping up with its membership growth in a country of relatively few Christians.

Jorge Domingues Named to Lead Three Units at United Methodist Mission Board

The Rev. Jorge Domingues is the new interim head of three interrelated program areas of the General Board of Global Ministries, the international mission agency of The United Methodist Church.

Church offers hope to Filipinos living amid garbage
In Manila, the Smokey Mountain garbage dump is home to not only rotting garbage but hundreds of families trapped by poverty. Commentary: Ecumenism not optional for Christians
Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker says important work continues to take place toward churches achieving full communion with each other. Filipino church ministers to destitute families
In Manila, where the poorest people live among cemetery tombs, The United Methodist Church provides hope to escape the cycle of poverty. Kentucky Conference wins lawsuit with foundation
A seven-year legal battle that began after the sale of a Methodist-founded hospital in Lexington has ended in favor of the conference. The Church and Health Concerns Go Together

"Empowering Ministries of Health: Starting, Implementing and Advancing" was the theme of the third annual National Congregational Health Ministries Conference, held Sept. 23-26 at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.

Board considers global aspect of United Methodism
One-third of United Methodist membership now lives outside the United States, the church's research director reports. World Food Day, Oct. 16—A Sweet Life

Since 1999, UMCOR has been combating hunger through its cheese distribution program, the only such feeding program in Armenia that helps nourish vulnerable children

Street children find haven at United Methodist center
The United Methodist Church in the Philippines brings mercy and mission to the poor. This is the first of a five-part series. United Methodist Church Commissions 13 New Missionaries
In a multilingual, international, and spirit-filled ceremony, 13 people were commissioned on October 9 for United Methodist missionary service in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the United States.
Designated Mission Giving Program Has New Staff and Plans New Look for 60th Birthday

The Advance for Christ and His Church, the designated mission giving program of The United Methodist Church, has a new structure, a new staff, and will have a new look in coming months.

Agency approves $4 million tsunami recovery project
The United Methodist Committee on Relief is funding further reconstruction and development in Indonesia. Healthy churches need healthy leaders, speakers say
Churches must become centers of spiritual and physical healing, Bishop Scott Jones says at a health ministries conference. Maryland churches oppose legalized slot machines
Churches are warning about a wide range of social ills that could result if state-owned slot machines are approved.

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