UMCGC
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.
Kenyan United Methodists oppose allowing LGBT clergy, pray for church unity worldwide
By Tonny Onyulo — February 18, 2019
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — United Methodist bishops in Africa want to keep the denomination's ban of LGBT clergy in place. But they also want the United Methodist Church to stay together no matter what happens at the upcoming General Conference in St. Louis. Delegates at that meeting will discuss possible changes to the denomination's rules.
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.
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.
United Methodist bishops want to let pastors, conferences decide on LGBT clergy
By Emily McFarlan Miller — May 4, 2018
CHICAGO (RNS) — United Methodist bishops endorsed a plan that would allow individual pastors and regional bodies to decide whether to perform same-sex weddings and ordain or call LGBT people as clergy.
United Methodists to hold special session on LGBTQ inclusion in 2019
By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 25, 2017
(RNS) At last year's meeting in Portland, Ore., United Methodists voted to defer all decisions about human sexuality to a specially appointed commission and left the door open for a special session.
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.
United Methodist conference seen as confusing even to God
By Emily McFarlan Miller — May 22, 2016
PORTLAND, Ore. (RNS) But delegates on all sides of the issues were hopeful as the conference ended.
UMC withdraws from interfaith pro-abortion rights group
By Emily McFarlan Miller — May 21, 2016
PORTLAND, Ore. (RNS) The United Methodist Church will withdraw from the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice in a move one supporter said shows the denomination is moving away from other mainline denominations.
African Methodists worry about the church that brought them Christianity
By Emily McFarlan Miller — May 20, 2016
PORTLAND, Ore. (RNS) "People from the country that brought the gospel to us are now preaching a different gospel."
