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Social Concerns

United Methodist Men
Steven Scheid (left), director of scouting ministry for United Methodist Men, bows his head in prayer Aug. 2 before introducing Roger Krone (right), CEO of Scouting America. Krone spoke Aug. 2 about scouting during the 2025 National Men’s and Scouting Ministry Gathering at Epworth-by-the-Sea, a United Methodist retreat center in St. Simons Island, Ga.  Photo by Jim Patterson, UM News.

Scouts, UM Men look to the future

United Methodist Men and the church’s Scouting America ministry held its first gathering since 2017. One big concern was reaching young men.
Human Sexuality
The Rev. Joelle Henneman. Photo courtesy of the author.

Church can be sanctuary for trans lives

Transgender people are being legislated out of public life in the U.S., while United Methodist churches are opening their doors wider than ever.
Human Rights
Wespath, The United Methodist Church’s retirement-benefits agency, is now excluding investments in the bonds of multiple nations because of their human rights records. The move expands on the scope of a resolution approved at last year’s General Conference. Image by shark_749 via iStock with elements furnished by NASA.

Wespath intensifies its scrutiny of bonds

In response to General Conference action, the United Methodist retirement-benefits agency now excludes investments in the bonds of multiple nations based on their human rights records.
Human Rights
Timothy "GA" Underwood hugs the Rev. Dustin Mailman in the recently opened coffee shop of the Deep Time ministry in Asheville, N.C. Underwood serves as minister of social enterprise for Deep Time and Mailman is its founding pastor. The program, which seeks to create a spiritual community with people impacted by incarceration, is housed at Trinity United Methodist Church in Asheville.

Coffee fuels a future for former inmates

A new coffee shop located within a United Methodist church doubles as a place where struggling community members can find a job and support as they try to rejoin society.

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