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New Guide Unpacks What it Means to be a Digital Justice Advocate
Studies have found that nearly half of people in the world lack internet access, thus they don’t have the ability to use digital communications to their full potential. Read more
Northern Illinois to Conclude 2022 Anti-Racism Speaker Series
The final guest speaker, Dr. Drew Hart, draws on Black theologies and the Anabaptist tradition of peacemaking in his scholarly work. Read more
Praying for Change: Daily Prayers for Anti-Racism
The Rev. Derek C. Weber, curator of Daily Prayers for Anti-Racism from Discipleship Ministries, prays that our hectic holidays will make us more aware and more compassionate toward those who live constantly on the brink of catastrophe. Read more
Organ Donation Gives United Methodist Second Chance at Life
Struggling with poor health for 18 years, Washington lawyer Jennifer Loud prayed for a miracle. “Team Jennifer” family and friends rallied around the Louds, members of The Emory Fellowship, a United Methodist congregation. Read more
Community Rallies Around Barbershop Evangelist
A faith journey that started on the mourner’s bench has helped Jake Sherrell bring hundreds to Christ through his barber chair. He is among this year’s winners of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award. Read more
United Methodist Couple Count Zimbabwe Twins as Blessings
Charles and Carol Moore, lay members of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, sponsor the boys through the Fairfield Outreach and Sponsor Association. The boys were left at Fairfield Children’s Home as infants. Read more
Photo by Kathy L. Gilbert
Pastor Makes Personal Connection with Orphans
As a seminary student, the Rev. Owen Ross spent a semester at Africa University and spent time with the orphans at United Methodist Old Mutare Mission. After returning home, the children remained on his mind. Read more
Top News & Views
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Church Responds as Famine Threatens Congo
According to two U.N. agencies, the number of people affected by high acute food insecurity in the DR Congo is estimated at 27 million, or one in three people. Nearly 7 million people face emergency levels of acute hunger. Read more
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Did Faith Fall Off a Cliff during COVID? New Study Says No.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many Americans lost the habit of churchgoing after almost every church in the country closed down their in-person services and shifted online. But did some of them give up on God? Sociologists want to know. Read more
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David Zalubowski AP
Bishop Responds to Shooting at Colorado Gay Bar
Ever since 1972, the General Conference of The United Methodist Church has built its stance on lgbtq+ people on one line of condemnation rather than lean into the complexities of another’s life as revealed through pastoral care. Read more
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Greater Northwest Bishop Laments Club Q Shooting
Bishop Elaine J.W. Stanovsky reassured LGBTQ+ United Methodists that they "should not be targeted for ridicule, bullying, or bodily harm by people who don’t understand you or hate you." Read more
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Michael Gerson and the Gettysburg Address
Presidential speechwriter, author and Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson, who died Nov. 17, was "a man of grace and integrity" whose example Christians of all political persuasions could follow, writes the Rev. William C. Trench Read more
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What the Grieving Wish You Knew about the Holidays
Holidays often are difficult for those who grieve the death of a loved one. Truth be told, most would rather avoid the season altogether. We can’t take their grief from them, but we can be more sensitive about not adding to their pain. Read more
Crisis Watch
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Peter Dejong AP
The Climate Crisis and COP 27: Conflicting Worldviews
Many government and industry leaders see the magnitude of climate dangers but won’t go against the conventional wisdom of today’s system of corporate-dominated globalization, which is built around profits from fossil fuels. Read more
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Noah Berger AP
Poll: Politics Drives Religious Americans' Views on the Environment
Many reasons have been suggested as to why highly religious Americans are less likely to be worried about climate change or work to try to stem it. But in the end, a new Pew Research survey concludes, it’s all about politics. Read more
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Wake Up, Take Heart: A Creation Care Study for the Local Church
The study rises from a moment of realization in 2019, when both Rev. M. Robert Dygert-Gearheart, a retired United Methodist pastor, and Anita Dygert-Gearheart, a retired social worker, had a "road to Damascus moment" about climate change. Read more
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Loss and Damage: A Necessary and Moral Response
The term "Loss and Damage" might best be summarized as "if you cause the losses, you need to pay for the damages." When it comes to climate change, the losses and resulting damages are adding up. Read more
UMC Future
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Filipino United Methodists Elect First Woman among 3 New Bishops
Filipino United Methodists elected three new bishops – including the region's first female bishop – during the Philippines Central Conference gathering Nov. 24-26 in Cabanatuan City. All three bishops said God will lead the UMC through its turmoil. Read more
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Texas Megachurch White's Chapel Departs UMC to Anchor New Methodist 'College'
White’s Chapel hopes to create what they call a Methodist Collegiate College, “envisioned to create a new form of connectionalism — one of shared ministry, equal accountability, and practical governance.” Read more
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How Do We 'Re-invent' United Methodism? What about Love?
At some point, we need to own our mistakes. We all screwed up. Everyone last one of us played a role in running this ship aground. What does United Methodism (and Christianity, for that matter) need to do to survive? Read more
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Amid Church Exits, Work Starts on Record-Low Budget
As the number of church disaffiliations rises, United Methodist financial leaders have started preparing what will be the denomination’s lowest budget sent to General Conference in nearly 40 years. Read more
