General Conference
Bishop Will Willimon on why no plan can unite United Methodists
By Yonat Shimron — February 26, 2019
(RNS) — "There are people, left and right, who just say, ‘This is it. We’ve waited. We’ve watched. We’ve tried. And now we can’t stay,'" said the retired bishop. "To me, that’s the story, more than which plan passes."
United Methodist committee rejects One Church Plan, which would allow LGBT clergy
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 25, 2019
ST. LOUIS (RNS) — The plan recommended by the United Methodist Church’s Council of Bishops will 'almost certainly still come up' as a minority report during Tuesday's plenary session, according to one LGBTQ advocacy group.
Ahead of St. Louis meeting, one United Methodist offers prayers along the way
By Yonat Shimron — February 20, 2019
(RNS) — Helen Ryde decided to alleviate the tension ahead of what may be the most consequential meeting in the denomination’s history by turning the trip to Missouri into a pilgrimage.
Historic United Methodist church sees ‘hopeful’ time for LGBTQ Christians
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 15, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — LGBTQ-affirming United Methodists are split over which proposed plan to support at the denomination's special session — and what they'll do if a plan passes that strengthens rules against the full inclusion of LGBTQ people.
A flourishing United Methodist church considers a way out
By Yonat Shimron — February 13, 2019
LEXINGTON, S.C. (RNS) — Mt. Horeb, a conservative evangelical church in the heart of South Carolina, is one of many congregations considering cutting the cord if the denomination relaxes its LGBT rules.
Methodist university presidents call on denomination to amend LGBTQ policies
By Yonat Shimron — January 10, 2019
(RNS) — The group, which represents presidents of 93 affiliated colleges and universities, urged the denomination to recognize the 'sacred worth' of people regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
In praise of single Mormons
By Jana Riess — October 10, 2018
Dallin Oaks wants young adult Mormons to hurry up and get married. But I think many single Millennials are delaying marriage for excellent reasons.
Why ‘Mormon’ is now a four-letter word and other General Conference takeaways
By Jana Riess — October 8, 2018
(RNS) — The name 'Mormon' is out. Church services will be shorter. And the focus of the faith will be at home, not primarily at church. Here are nine highlights from this weekend's conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
United Methodist court filings detail proposals for averting schism on sexuality
By Emily McFarlan Miller — July 18, 2018
(RNS) — Court documents are giving United Methodists the first peek at proposed plans to avoid a split in the second-largest Protestant denomination in the United States.
United Methodist activists unsatisfied with bishops’ recommended plan to avert schism
By Emily McFarlan Miller — May 14, 2018
(RNS) — United Methodists have expressed both concerns and hope after bishops endorsed a plan last week that would allow individual pastors and regional bodies to decide whether to perform same-sex weddings and ordain or call LGBT people as clergy.
AME Church: Climate change disproportionately hurts blacks
By Adelle M. Banks — July 14, 2016
(RNS) The denomination, echoing Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, pointed to research that shows climate change has a negative impact on people of color.
Harvard Law professor Ogletree sees ‘blessing’ despite Alzheimer’s
By Adelle M. Banks — July 7, 2016
(RNS) He shared with fellow members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church how his faith is helping him cope with the diagnosis.
Methodists nominate 3 openly gay candidates for bishop
By Emily McFarlan Miller — June 28, 2016
(RNS) The United Methodist Church decided not to take up contentious LGBT issues. But that's not stopping its regional conferences from making decisions on their own.
Methodist lesbian voted down as deacon
By Adelle M. Banks — June 2, 2016
(RNS) Tara 'T.C.' Morrow needed a two-thirds vote to become a provisional deacon.
United Methodism’s global evangelical transformation
By Mark Tooley — May 27, 2016
(RNS) Decades ago it never occurred to me nor to many evangelicals in United Methodism that our church's membership decline and theological liberalism in America would be reversed by dramatic growth in Africa.
