General Conference 2019
UMC Future
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Congregations Hold More Diverse Views After Split in United Methodist Church, Study Finds
Congregations that remained with the United Methodist Church in North Carolina during a split over gay marriage and ordaining LGBTQ+ clergy are more politically and theologically diverse than those that left, researchers at Duke University found. Read more
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After Traditionalist Churches Left, UMC May be More – Not Less – Diverse
A new report from Duke University that looked at disaffiliating clergy from North Carolina’s two United Methodist conferences found that even after departures, 24% of North Carolina clergy remaining disagree with ordaining LGBTQ people. Read more
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How Can a Denomination Based on Reconciling Differences Split Over Its Disagreements?
The lead researcher on a new Duke University study on United Methodist diversity after disaffiliation wonders how the denomination can split apart over its differences on human sexuality. Read more
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Retiring Bishop Tapped to Become Social Justice Agency Executive
Bishop Julius C. Trimble was elected as Church and Society's new top executive on recommendation of the board's search committee. He retires Sept. 1 as resident bishop of the Indiana Annual Conference and has chaired the UMC's AIDS committee. Read more
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American Conflict and the UMC In Africa
American Methodism long has treated Africa as a "battlefront" to be conquered. The dynamic of ecclesiastic empire working through the means of patronage is one that the church will need to work for some time to dismantle. Read more