United Methodist Church
United Methodist leaders propose plan to split church over LGBTQ ordination, marriage
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 3, 2020
(RNS) — Bishops and representatives of a number of United Methodist groups have announced a proposed agreement to split the United Methodist Church.
RNS reporters look ahead at 2020
By Religion News Service — January 2, 2020
(RNS) — As we enter the new year, we asked Religion News Service's reporters to give us a glimpse into the stories they'll be following in 2020.
A Dallas United Methodist church will end 2019 affirming all marriage vows
By Yonat Shimron — December 20, 2019
(RNS) — Ahead of a denominational clampdown on ordination and marriage beginning Jan. 1, First United Methodist Church of Dallas will take the bold step of closing 2019 with a service reaffirming marriage vows — both heterosexual and same-sex.
SMU sued as it moves to cut ties with United Methodist Church
By Emily McFarlan Miller — December 6, 2019
(RNS) — Southern Methodist University has moved to cut ties with the United Methodist Church after the denomination voted to strengthen rules barring LGBTQ members from marriage and ordination earlier this year.
Can we find a new meaning in the word evangelical?
By Jason Byassee — November 12, 2019
(RNS) — On a visit to evangelical churches in the heart of red America not long ago, I found hope to think "evangelical" can mean something besides what web trolls and Trump-supporting preachers have turned it into.
UMC’s Western Jurisdiction announces ‘safe harbor’ for LGBTQ clergy
By Emily McFarlan Miller — November 6, 2019
(RNS) — The Safe Harbor Declaration comes months before new restrictions strengthening the United Methodist Church’s ban on the ordination and marriage of its LGBTQ members are set to take effect on Jan. 1.
Dissent from Traditional Plan dominates United Methodists’ top court meeting
By Emily McFarlan Miller — November 2, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — Many of the requests before the Judicial Council this past week had to do with actions recently passed by various regional annual conferences across the country dissenting to the Traditional Plan approved in February.
United Methodist clergyman accused of sexual misconduct, says UMNS report
By Emily McFarlan Miller — October 17, 2019
(RNS) — Four women have accused the Rev. Donald “Bud” Heckman — a United Methodist elder who is well known in interfaith circles — of sexual harassment, misconduct and abuse, according to the United Methodist News Service.
United Methodists float plans to split denomination after LGBTQ vote
By Emily McFarlan Miller — September 19, 2019
(RNS) — The most likely proposals provide for dissenting congregations to exit the denomination, while retaining ties to United Methodist support organizations.
A United Methodist group proposes a denominational breakup
By Yonat Shimron — August 15, 2019
(RNS) — The plan would allow the United Methodist Church to create a new, fully independent body for more conservative or traditional churches and possibly another body for its most liberal wing.
United Methodist Church scraps plans to host General Conference in the Philippines
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 13, 2019
(RNS) — Plans for a meeting in the Philippines are off because space was not available for the full two weeks needed to host the gathering of United Methodists from around the world.
New video captures sexist comments to women ministers — read by male counterparts
By Yonat Shimron — June 20, 2019
(RNS) — 'I keep picturing you naked under your robe,' said one congregant to his female minister.
Adam Hamilton on ‘Methodists in the middle’ and what’s next for the denomination
By Emily McFarlan Miller — June 4, 2019
(RNS) — As the United Methodist Church has spent decades wrestling over the inclusion of its LGBTQ members, the Rev. Adam Hamilton, pastor of the largest United Methodist church in the United States, has emerged, as one local radio station put it, as 'the Pied Piper for Methodists in the middle.'
Protesting Methodist LGBTQ policy, confirmation class takes a pass
By Yonat Shimron — April 29, 2019
(RNS) — Eight teenagers who make up this year’s confirmation class stood before the congregation on Confirmation Sunday (April 28) and read a letter saying they do not want to join the church at this time.
United Methodist court upholds Traditional Plan’s ban on LGBTQ clergy, same sex marriage
By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 26, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — Seven of the 17 petitions that made up the Traditional Plan are unconstitutional and will not be added with the others to the United Methodist Church’s rulebook.
