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The five U.S. jurisdictions, which each consist of multiple annual conferences, first came into being in 1939. While regionalization leaves the current jurisdictions in place, a group of United Methodist leaders are looking at proposing changes to the denomination’s constitution to allow each regional conference, including the U.S., to decide whether to have jurisdictions. Map from The United Methodist Church Handbook 2025-2028 courtesy of ResourceUMC.

Church leaders explore future of jurisdictions

United Methodist leaders are considering a proposal to leave the existence of jurisdictions up to each of the newly created regional conferences, including the U.S.

Editor's Picks

Social Concerns

United Methodist youth leaders hold up a joint statement they prepared at the end of a training workshop in Uvira, Congo. The participants committed to promoting and restoring peace in their communities. Photo by Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UM News.

Church trains young people to promote peace

Supported by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, the training aims to transform young people in eastern Congo into agents of peace in a region destabilized by war.

Church Leadership

The Rev. Daniel Hawkins (left) leads service at Martin United Methodist Church in Bedford, Texas. About a third of the congregation is Tongan and they lean toward traditional theology and politics, Hawkins says. He calls Martin a “purple church” with a blend of red (Republican) and blue (Democrat) members. “We have been comfortable with the idea of being unified without being uniform.” Photo courtesy of Martin United Methodist Church.

Pastors walk a political tightrope

Political and moral polarization is prominent in the United States, and United Methodist pastors are treading carefully on these issues as they lead diverse congregations.

Local Church

Graphic by Ben Ward, photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Podcast: Finding unity in diversity with the Rev. Daniel Hawkins

In “Signs of Life,” a new podcast from UM News, Ben Ward talks with the Rev. Daniel Hawkins about bringing diverse church members to the table and having sometimes hard conversations to be in community together.

Latest News

Immigration

When fear knocks, the church answers

Social Concerns

Pastor Laquaan Malachi of Brunswick United Methodist Church in Crystal speaks to the appointive council of the Minnesota Conference and to fellow members of the Wisdom Council, a panel designed to make sure historically underrepresented people have a say in the Minnesota Conference. Image from video by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Minnesota ‘Wisdom Council’ lifts all voices

General Church

Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi speaks during opening worship for “Faithful Resistance: A Public Witness for Immigrant Justice” on Feb. 25 at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church in Washington. Moore-Koikoi, who leads the Eastern Pennsylvania and Greater New Jersey conferences, is the convener of the interim committee that is organizing the U.S. Regional Conference. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Bishops name US Regional Conference organizers

Social Concerns

Map courtesy of Pixabay; graphic by UM News.

Probe underway of pastor who worked for Epstein

Global Health

Marie Otshumba, one of the beneficiaries of The United Methodist Church’s Maternal, Newborn and Child Health program, holds son Amisi alongside nurses at Lokole United Methodist Hospital Center in Kindu, Congo. After five years of repeated miscarriages, Otshumba said the prenatal care she received through the church program transformed her pain into joy. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News.

Prenatal care transforms grief into joy for Congolese mothers

Church Growth

Taeron Flemming, a mime and community pastor at The Well Church in Washington, D.C., performs Feb. 26 during the Fresh Expressions United Methodist National Gathering 2026 at First United Methodist Church in Ocala, Fla. Flemming teaches mime as a Fresh Expressions ministry. Photo by Brian Rose, Church of the Restoration in Reston, Va.

Fresh Expressions movement gains momentum

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Local Church

The Rev. Mariah Tollgaard, senior pastor of Hamline Church United Methodist in St. Paul, Minn., testifies March 4 before the U.S. House of Represenatives Oversight Committee. Also testifying were Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison. Screen shot from U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee hearing via YouTube by UM News.

Commentaries

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Social Concerns

The Rev. Shelby Slowey, pastor of South End United Methodist Church in Nashville explains how United Methodist Social Principles apply to current proposed legislation related to the death penalty in Tennessee. Over 200 United Methodists participated in United Methodist Day on the Hill at the Tennessee Capitol. Image from video by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Churchgoers take Social Principles to lawmakers

Concerns about immigration, education and criminal justice drive a record number of United Methodists to participate in Tennessee Day on the Hill in 2026.

Faith Sharing