Vicki Brown
Africa University Campus, Students Safe Amid Zimbabwe Unrest
Staff from the Zimbabwe Annual Conference and Africa University officials report that United Methodists are safe after the country's military has removed longtime leader Robert Mugabe. Read more
New Orleans Church Offers Sanctuary
First Grace UMC in New Orleans, born itself out of the calamity of Hurricane Katrina, now plans to open its doors to shelter undocumented immigrants from draconian enforcement by the Trump Administration. Read more
Two Conferences Vote for Full Inclusion of LGBTQI People
Encouraged by a bishop's speech and following the lead of the New England Annual Conference, Desert Southwest and California-Pacific conferences call for The United Methodist Church to marry and ordained LGBTQI people. Read more
News Poll: Racism Voted Top News Story in 2015
United Methodist communicators around the world chose the ongoing struggle against racism as the top news story for 2015. Read more
Health Care in Rural Zimbabwe at Nyadire
The United Methodist Church is playing a crucial role in bringing health care to rural Zimbabwe through the clinic at Nyadire. Read more
Ebola Voted Top News Story of 2014
United Methodist News Service looks back at the top stories of 2014. Read more
Woman of Color Scholar Felt Called to Help Hydrocephalus Children
In Zimbabwe, a counselor who earned her doctorate with help from the United Methodist Woman of Color scholarship program is helping children with hydrocephalus live longer, happier lives. Read more
'Seeing Is Believing' at Historic Africa U.-GBHEM Meeting
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the board of Africa University met together in Zimbabwe in celebration of The United Methodist Church's greatest educational success on the African continent. Read more
Seminary Caravan Takes 11 UMC Seminaries on the Road
An inspiration from the admissions office at Boston University School of Theology will take representatives of 11 United Methodist seminaries to meet with young people in the Southeast and South Central Jurisdictions about ordained ministry. Read more
Training Focuses on Superintendents as 'Chief Missional Strategists'
Training for new district superintendents and annual conference directors of connectional ministries took on a decidedly missional cast this year, writes Vicki Brown of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Read more
UMC Cyber Campus Offers Education Anytime, Anywhere
Courses sponsored by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry aim to prepare conference leaders to deal with clergy issues. Read more
North Carolina Experiment Keeps Superintendents in the Field
District superintendents in the North Carolina Annual Conference are "riding the circuit" once more with virtual offices and no parsonages to stay close to churches and missions. Read more
Clergywoman First UM Worship Director at National Cathedral
The Rev. Gina Campbell makes history as the first United Methodist to serve as worship director for the Washington National Cathedral, owned and operated by the Episcopal Church (USA). Read more
Conference Leaders Work to Strengthen Collegiate Ministry
Fundraising and helping young people select colleges were among the topics at a recent gathering of United Methodist educators and staff of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Read more
GBHEM Recommends Care with Use of Part-Time Appointment
The general agency that handles ordained ministry issues urges bishops and cabinets to use part-time appointments sparingly now that guaranteed appointments for clergy have been restored by the Judicial Council. Read more
Racial-Ethnic Lead Pastors Look at Challenges of Tall-Steeple Churches
A small group of racial-ethnic pastors who have cross-racial and cross-cultural appointments in large churches gathered in Orlando, Fla., this month to grapple with the unique challenges they face. Read more
WebEx Saves Time, Money, Expands Agencies' Reach
Three agencies combine efforts to use online technologies to reduce costs of various meetings as they deal with budget cuts and the demand for adaptation and accountability in the UMC. Read more
University Churches to Meet in October
Leaders of churches on or near college campuses will meet in early October to exchange ideas on how best to serve university communities. Read more
Superintendents Discuss Legislation Affecting Clergy Appointments, Pensions
Conferences' cabinet members recently reviewed legislation approved by the 2012 General Conference that allows for part-time clergy appointments without pension benefits. Read more
Clergy Effectiveness Seen as Critical for UMC
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry is reviewing a pilot program on how to gauge the effectiveness of United Methodist clergy. Read more
Why the Church Needs a News Service
The church needs a news service for the same reason that the secular world needs journalists – to sort out the truth behind the facts, writes Vicki Brown. Read more
New Orleans Church Offers Sanctuary
First Grace UMC in New Orleans, born itself out of the calamity of Hurricane Katrina, now plans to open its doors to shelter undocumented immigrants from draconian enforcement by the Trump Administration. Read more
Two Conferences Vote for Full Inclusion of LGBTQI People
Encouraged by a bishop's speech and following the lead of the New England Annual Conference, Desert Southwest and California-Pacific conferences call for The United Methodist Church to marry and ordained LGBTQI people. Read more
News Poll: Racism Voted Top News Story in 2015
United Methodist communicators around the world chose the ongoing struggle against racism as the top news story for 2015. Read more
Health Care in Rural Zimbabwe at Nyadire
The United Methodist Church is playing a crucial role in bringing health care to rural Zimbabwe through the clinic at Nyadire. Read more
Health Clinics Even More Remote
Renovation of a clinic reveals how far Zimbabweans must travel for health care. Read more