UMC Featured News & Stories

United Methodist Church Now Official in Albania

The United Methodist Church now officially exists in Albania.

United Methodist Committee on Relief officials are offering aid to regions across the Midwest inundated by recent severe floods.

Churches rebuild, recreate ministries in Louisiana
While Hurricane Katrina did not damage all church buildings in Louisiana, it continues to affect each congregation’s ministries. Mississippi center coordinates disaster response
For almost two years since Katrina hit, a United Methodist control center in Meridian has managed rebuilding efforts in Mississippi. United Methodists help lead Katrina response
The denomination has helped more than 60,000 people rebuild 25,000 homes in the Gulf Coast since the hurricane season of 2005. Katrina volunteers to get hand-made prayer shawls
Volunteers to the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast will receive a special ‘mantle of prayer’ during an upcoming celebration in New Orleans. Volunteers make lifelong connections in Gulf Coast
Some mission teams feel called to return again and again to hammer away at the destruction left by Hurricane Katrina. FEMA Extends Funding for Katrina Aid Today

A grant supporting case management for Hurricane Katrina survivors will continue into 2008.

Academy prepares Hispanic youth for leadership
A training program is preparing young people such as Erica Granados-De La Rosa to lead the church. Caucus honors theologian Justo González
The longtime scholar and author is celebrated for his contributions to Hispanic/Latino ministry. Hispanic caucus urges immigration reform
MARCHA will ask General Conference to urge Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Older-adult ministry leaders hear call to expand table
Bishop Violet Fisher urges leaders of older adult ministries to “bring folk in” and ensure everyone has a place at Christ’s table. A parent's dilemma: When your child is gay
Kathy and Dave England were surprised to learn their son was gay, but nothing was going to change their love for him. Arkansas man organizes Kenyan chicken project
The Lord told John Boster to build chicken houses in Kenya, and the United Methodist chicken breeder is determined to obey. Louisiana children’s homes give thanks for support
For children coping with a lifetime of trauma, Hurricane Katrina was an especially hard blow. UMCOR Offers Aid in Peru Earthquake

United Methodist Committee on Relief is responding to the massive earthquake that leveled several cities in Peru Aug. 15, with offers of aid to the Methodist Church of Peru and a planned grant to Action by Churches Together, the international relief alliance.

Author: Faith should lead, politics follow
In her new book, United Methodist Charlene Floyd explores the effects of religion on politics. Immigration activist arrested after leaving sanctuary
Elvira Arellano is deported to Mexico days after leaving her United Methodist church in Chicago, where she had taken refuge for a year. Olson elected to lead church's Women's Division
Harriett Jane Olson has been elected chief executive of the Women's Division of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Special Hurricane Katrina offering planned Aug. 26
Two years after Hurricane Katrina, United Methodist churches will collect a special offering to help with continued rebuilding. Aug. 29 will be day of prayer, reflection, in Mississippi
United Methodists will mark the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall by holding three prayer services. Commentary: Take time to make the connection
After reporting on the European Methodist Festival, UMNS correspondent Kathleen LaCamera offers her reflections on the event. UMCOR offers aid in Peru earthquake
The United Methodist Committee on Relief is responding to the Aug. 15 earthquake that leveled several cities in Peru and killed more than 400 people. European Methodist Festival unites cultures
More than a thousand Methodists from across Europe congregate in Slovakia to celebrate Europe’s diverse and vibrant Methodist tradition. Home-grown pastors to serve in Albania
For the first time, Albanian United Methodists will soon be shepherded by pastors who are natives of the southeastern European country. Slovak United Methodists hold fast to faith
United Methodists in today's Slovak Republic survived communist rule but now struggle with a broken economy. AME Zion dedicates former United Methodist building
The dedication of an African Methodist Episcopal Zion congregation ends a six-year legal journey for United Methodists in Alaska. Commentary: Reflections on the Virginia Tech tragedy
As students start a new school year Aug. 20, the United Methodist campus minister at Virginia Tech reminds that 'God will prevail.' United Methodist Women take to the road for justice
Participants in a U.S. seminar in Nashville, Tenn., see what it means to be homeless, an immigrant or without health care. Symbols of Hope and Recovery

Two wall displays in the Rita Recovery officein Texas illustrate the long-term recovery work that continues after one of the costliest storms in US history—Hurricane Rita, which struck the Texas—Louisiana border in the fall of 2005.

What Happens When Malaria Strikes
A recent malaria outbreak at the Humble School demonstrates how malaria disrupts lives, steals productivity, and is a drain on precious resources. Racial justice agency names Erin Hawkins as CEO
Hawkins will become top executive of the Commission on Religion and Race effective Sept. 1. 'Open Hearts' ventures into online advertising
Coming to a Web site near you, The United Methodist Church’s new ad effort is expected to reach more than 21 million people. Understanding `Generation Me': An Author Advises the Church

A popular book that takes issue with the self-esteem movement and its “I am special” ideology became a primer for United Methodist leaders struggling to reach the contemporary young-adult generation.

Buzzkill Comes to Capitol Hill
Sixty youth recently turned the parking lot of The United Methodist Building in Washington, D.C. into a basketball court. Arkansas United Methodists walk for children, families
More than 250 people raise awareness of Methodist Family Health, which has been in ministry for more than a century. Oklahoma camp teaches peace to inner-city children
Organizers of the Peace Challenge Camp are helping kids learn to resolve conflicts peacefully. Centro Latino: “Doing Jesus’ Job” in the Immigrant Community

A church within a church is thriving in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The pastor says that one of his first tasks is to help the members of his Spanish-speaking flock overcome their sorrow at being separated from families back home in Latin America.

JustUs Youth Group Leads 9/11 Worship Service in New York City

A group of young people representing JustUS Youth led worship at the General Board of Global Ministries on September 11, 2007 commemorating the sixth anniversary of the 9/11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The United Methodist Church Embarks on Effort to Start Hundreds of New Congregations

The United Methodist Church is aiming to move forward to a point in the future where, like a benchmark in its past, it will establish one new congregation every day in the United States.

Church helps senior adults brush up on driving skills
Near Atlanta, Alpharetta United Methodist Church offers older drivers a tune-up on the rules of the road. Leadership academy nurtures African-American youth
Thirteen students attend the first Thomas Shockley Youth Theological Academy, cultivating African-American leaders for the church’s future. UMCOR Sager Brown Needs More Flood Buckets

UMCOR Sager Brown Depot has nearly depleted its supply of flood buckets in response to the recent emergencies in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma.

Final Study of Ministry report available online
A commission issues its final report on its work to clarify the ordering of ministry within The United Methodist Church. Missionary service is family tradition for Wingeiers
In a family whose missionary service began in 1896, a father and son talk about their own work as United Methodist missionaries. Congregations Grow When Love Meets Needs

The United Methodist Church plans to start 650 new US congregations in the next five years. The latest six-day School of Congregational Development, which focuses on the US, is sponsored by a joint committee from the United Methodist General Boards of Discipleship and Global Ministries.

Grace Church Finds Its Future by Relying on God’s Grace

When Grace United Methodist Church in Olathe, Kansas outgrew its facility, the church built a new one and kept the old as a mission center—the Center of Grace. Today, Grace Church is a two-campus congregation with more than 1,000 people in worship each weekend.

New Beginning for Former Soldiers

At the end of July 2007 a group of former soldiers in Liberia's drawn out civil war graduated with skills that have nothing to do with the guns of their youth. This class of 771 young men in Lofa County, Liberia completed nine months of training in marketable skills such as carpentry, masonry, tailoring, and auto mechanics.

Justice, Action Top United Methodist Women Agenda in Nashville

More than 200 United Methodist Women members and friends from across the country will take action on poverty, immigrant rights, living wages and other critical justice issues at the 2007 National Seminar: "For Christ's Sake, Turn the World Upside Down," at Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville, Aug. 11-16.

Prayers, resources offered in wake of bridge collapse
A half-page newspaper ad reminds people in Greater Minneapolis that the people of The United Methodist Church are praying with them.

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