United Methodist General Conference
UMC bishops request 2026 General Conference as hundreds more churches disaffiliate
By Emily McFarlan Miller — May 8, 2023
CHICAGO (RNS) — To date, at least 2,804 churches have left the United Methodist Church since 2019, according to United Methodist News Service.
United Methodist meeting to consider split is still on … for now
By Emily McFarlan Miller — November 22, 2021
(RNS) — But the denomination is considering the health and safety of delegates, staff, volunteers and guests, as well as the inclusion of the broad diversity of the church, before signing off on the next meeting.
United Methodist bishops cancel virtual special session of General Conference
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 22, 2021
(RNS) — The special session in May was meant to allow delegates to suspend the rules to allow the use of mail-in ballots to keep the denomination running through its postponed General Conference meeting in 2022.
Texas United Methodists take up call to replace denomination’s logo over association with racist imagery
By Emily McFarlan Miller — September 23, 2020
(RNS) — One of the United Methodist Church’s regional conferences has taken up the call to replace the denomination’s ‘Cross and Flame’ logo because of its association for many with the racist imagery of a burning cross.
United Methodists would’ve met this week to consider a split. What are they doing instead?
By Emily McFarlan Miller — May 15, 2020
(RNS) — Many US United Methodist leaders see the delay as a blessing, allowing more time and cooler heads to consider a split. Others are concerned about ongoing damage after decades of debate over the role of LGBTQ Christians in the church.
United Methodist bishops ask church court to review proposal to split denomination
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 12, 2020
(RNS) — If the court rules the plan is constitutional, delegates could take up the proposal, called 'A Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation,' at the United Methodist General Conference May 5-15 in Minneapolis.
What will happen at the special session? Here’s what United Methodists predict
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 22, 2019
(RNS) — We asked pastors, bishops, delegates, activists and other United Methodists in the United States to share what they expect — and hope — to happen at the denomination's upcoming special session on sexuality. Here’s what they suggest we keep an eye out for.
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.
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.
The Methodists gather to argue about gay people again
By David P. Gushee — May 12, 2016
It's a titanic clash, tragic, unresolvable, filled with conflict and pain.
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