In the Church
Global Nature
Mission as Investment, Not Charity
Mission and the associated financial and other forms of support that the Western church gives to the church elsewhere in the world are often framed as charity. But what if this exchange was framed differently? Read more
May 30, 2023
3:43 PM
United Methodist Africa Forum Sets Priorities, Names Leaders
Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, the United Methodist Africa Forum resolved to support the unity of the United Methodist Church in Africa. Read more
Apr 24, 2023
3:49 PM
Liberia and Norway United Methodists Rekindle 51 Years of Relationships
The United Methodist Church of Norway and the United Methodist Church in Liberia rekindled 51 years of relationship by constructing a new church building for the Gbason Town community. Read more
Apr 11, 2023
2:46 PM
Practicing Faith
At the Gate: The Power of Love
A new book by Thomas Jay Oord proposes Christians discard the longstanding view of God as all-powerful, replacing it with the concept of God as all-loving, an idea that Dr. Steve Harper endorses. Read more
Jun 1, 2023
12:29 PM
Churches Go Full Steam Ahead to Collect Supplies for Africa
Churches and districts in Holston Conference are gathering and packing school supplies for students in Liberia and Zimbabwe as their annual "hands-on mission" project. Read more
May 23, 2023
3:44 PM
At the Gate: True Humanity
Sitting "at the gate" of maturity, the Rev. Dr. Steve Harper observes that humanity struggling to achieve authentic humanity that benefits from both religion and science as complementary guides for living "life in Christ." Read more
May 23, 2023
3:44 PM
Amid Policy Changes, Church Keeps Faith with Migrants
Many predicted a surge of asylum-seekers crossing into the U.S. from Mexico after the end of the COVID-related immigration restriction called Title 42. So far that spike hasn’t happened, and United Methodists are keeping faithful with migrants. Read more
May 22, 2023
3:06 PM
Ordained Ministry
Keeping the Call Current
The week of June 11 the readings from the Hebrew Scriptures, the Gospel, and the Epistle each invite us to reflect on a question: do you believe you are called by God currently to ordained ministry? Read more
May 31, 2023
Our Three-In-One God
Trinity Sunday follows Pentecost on our lectionary calendar, a reminder that with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the early followers of Jesus, we witness the fullness of our God who operates in community to create community. Read more
May 23, 2023
Local Church
Why Churches Must Build Spiritual Community
Churches fail in their mission when they overlook building a shared sense of spirituality among their members, writes the Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter. Read more
Jun 1, 2023
Remembering United Methodism’s Maestro
The Rev. Carlton R. "Sam" Young was the pre-eminent figure in United Methodist music for the last half of the 20th century and into the 21st. He was also a man of great compassion, say those remembering him after his death May 21 at age 97. Read more
Jun 1, 2023
Finance and Administration
United Women in Faith Board Elects Sally Vonner General Secretary and CEO
Sally Vonner coordinated the reorganization of United Methodist Women, now United Women in Faith, and served as its transition officer. She has served in multiple positions at the conference, jurisdictional and general-church levels. Read more
May 31, 2023
Preparation, Not Panic, Best Way for United Methodists to Face U.S. Default Possibility
One of the financial experts for the UMC's benefits and investments agency encourages United Methodists to hold to a long-term strategy in the face of a possible economic disruption over the federal debt ceiling. Read more
May 31, 2023
As Church Exits Rise, Proposed Budget Drops
The United Methodist Church’s financial leaders met to shrink its budget proposal that will go before General Conference next year. Even with these stresses, church leaders were able to agree mutualy on to divide reduced funds. Read more
May 22, 2023