Congregations

Members of Marvin United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C., pose during a bowling outing. Marvin United Methodist Church received a $100,000 grant from neighboring Sherwood Forest United Methodist Church to help make repairs on its building. Photo courtesy of Marvin United Methodist Church.

Church merger results in win-win-win-win

In North Carolina, United Methodists are making good things happen from an unhappy decline in membership in some of its churches.

Church Leadership

The Rev. Stephen Handy (center) sits with Tommas Bolton (left) and Kevin Haas during a community meal at McKendree United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tenn. “We sit with them,” Handy said. “We want to know the names; we want to hear the stories.” Handy has been pastor at McKendree since 2009 and also supervises about 20 urban churches between Nashville and Memphis, encouraging them to get out in their neighborhoods. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Dare to take risks to move church forward, pastor says

The Rev. Stephen Handy envisions more United Methodist churches using the spare space in their buildings to build partnerships in their neighborhoods.

Local Church

Video/photo caption: A display behind Grandville United Methodist Church in Michigan tells the Christmas story in a 15-minute light show set to music with an original soundtrack. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

The Nativity story comes to life in lights

A United Methodist church in Michigan wows neighbors with a 15-minute light show set to music.

Social Concerns

The Rev. Will Ed Green (right), senior pastor of Silver Spring United Methodist Church in Silver Spring, Md., shows part of the church’s facility to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. Moore visited the church Feb. 23 as part of efforts to promote affordable housing. Photo by Alison Burdett, Baltimore-Washington Conference.

State gives big boost to church housing plan

Maryland is providing crucial tax credits for Silver Spring United Methodist Church’s $88.2 million affordable-housing initiative. The growing church is among many U.S. congregations repurposing property for good.

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