United Methodist Church
Bishop slams ‘negative rhetoric’ as conservative Methodists declare end to moratorium
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 23, 2022
(RNS) — In his first presidential address as president of the United Methodist Church’s Council of Bishops, Bishop Thomas Bickerton called on conservative groups encouraging churches to leave the denomination to stop the negative rhetoric.
31 UMC churches in NC demand immediate exit from denomination, threaten lawsuit
By Yonat Shimron and Emily McFarlan Miller — August 18, 2022
(RNS) — Legal action or the threat of legal action represents a new strategy on behalf of churches wanting an immediate exit from the United Methodist Church.
WCA calls on conservative churches to withhold dues from United Methodist Church
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 16, 2022
(RNS) — Those apportionments, determined by each annual conference, fund bishops’ salaries and support the work of the mainline Protestant denomination around the world.
2nd teen charged with killing UMC leader
By Adrian Sainz — July 27, 2022
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The teens pointed a gun at her and ordered her from the car, police said.
Memphis pastor is second UMC clergy killed this year
By Alejandra Molina — July 19, 2022
(RNS) — ‘We’re broken. We’re grief-stricken. We have questions. We have doubts as we remember the life of a dear precious friend, a wonderful servant of our God, of this community,’ said Memphis Theological Seminary President Jody Hill.
More than 100 Florida churches file lawsuit to leave United Methodist Church
By Emily McFarlan Miller — July 18, 2022
(RNS) — The lawsuit comes amid a slow-moving schism in the United Methodist Church largely over the ordination and marriage of its LGBTQ members.
As politics poison churches, a nonprofit is teaching a new skill: Deep listening
By Yonat Shimron — July 15, 2022
(RNS) — Resetting the Table does not seek agreement. But it hopes the techniques it teaches will allow people to see each other in all their humanity.
What happened to United Methodists’ proposal to split the denomination?
By Emily McFarlan Miller — June 29, 2022
(RNS) — Before United Methodists could vote on the widely endorsed plan, traditionalists went ahead and launched a new denomination and several representatives of centrist and progressive groups revoked their support.
Chicago church preaches ‘The Gospel according to Dolly Parton’
By Emily McFarlan Miller — May 30, 2022
(RNS) — For the past five weeks, each Sunday’s sermon at Church of the Three Crosses has focused on a different song by Parton.
Uvalde school shooting: Faith leaders offer comfort, call for reform of gun laws
By Religion News Service — May 25, 2022
(RNS) — With the news of 19 children and two others killed in a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, religious leaders from across the spectrum express their sorrow, with many saying now is the time for a new approach to gun control.
US annual conferences can’t just leave the United Methodist Church, rules top court
By Emily McFarlan Miller — May 11, 2022
(RNS) — The decision by the Judicial Council, the denomination’s top court, comes just over a week after the launch of the Global Methodist Church, a new denomination formed by theologically conservative Methodists.
New denomination urges United Methodists to walk out of the wilderness
By Yonat Shimron — May 7, 2022
GARNER, N.C. (RNS) — The Wesleyan Covenant Association’s 6th annual gathering was broadcast live at dozens of local churches across the country and encouraged churches to move into a new denomination.
Florida churches among first to begin exit from UMC to new, conservative denomination
By Emily McFarlan Miller — May 5, 2022
(RNS) — The departure of any church or clergy from the denomination is not instantaneous, but must first go through its annual conferences.
After years of loud debate, conservatives quietly split from United Methodist Church
By Emily McFarlan Miller — May 2, 2022
(RNS) — After decades of rancorous debate over the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ United Methodists, a schism finally came 'without fanfare, but full of hope, faith, and perseverance.'
United Methodist bishops open spring meeting with message of unity amid schism
By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 25, 2022
(RNS) — More than 100 bishops from across the globe are gathering through Friday on Zoom to discuss the future of the denomination, according to the Council of Bishops.
