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People kneel in front of Central United Methodist Church in Atlanta during an outdoor prayer service. The church was established in 1866 in one of the few areas where freed Black people could settle after the Civil War. It moved in 1928 to this location near Gammon Theological Seminary, on what is now Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. File photo courtesy of Central United Methodist Church.

Pouring new wine into old wineskins

Legacy Black United Methodist churches embrace traditions and innovative new ministries to serve their congregations and communities.

Editor's Picks

Evangelism

The Rev. Éric Kalumba greets a church member after worship at Ambodifasika United Methodist Church in Ambodifasika, Madagascar. Kalumba, a missionary with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, is charged with planting new United Methodist churches across the island. Photo by Esdras Rakotoarivony, UM News.

Missionary strives to grow church in Madagascar

The Rev. Éric Kalumba is on a mission to spread the Gospel and establish new United Methodist churches across the island.

General Church

The Rev. Grace Pak leads a session on cross-cultural theology at the United Methodist Church of the Incarnation in Schaumburg, Ill., during the 2024 CRCC Madang retreat on Aug. 13, 2024. File photo by the Rev. Heewon Kim, the National Association of Korean-American United Methodist Pastors Serving Cross-Racial/Cultural Appointments.

Program strengthens cross-racial ministry

The Madang program focuses on helping the many Korean American United Methodist pastors who are serving in non-Korean congregations.

Disaster Relief

Emile Odimba, coordinator of the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s disaster management office in central Congo, helps distribute supplies to flood survivors in Kinshasa, Congo. More than 3,500 people lost their homes in massive flooding last year. Photo by the Rev. Fiston Okito, UM News.

Church provides aid for Congo flood survivors

With financial support from UMCOR and Global Ministries, the church distributed food, medicine and other supplies to thousands of people in central Congo.

Latest News

Mission and Ministry

“Hope this letter finds you in the best of health and spirits.” Books requested by an inmate have been carefully packaged for shipping by Books to Prisons volunteers in Birmingham, Ala. Photo by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Ministry sends Books to Prisons

Violence

United Methodists Joséphine Kingombe and Masudi Kansilembo read messages sent to their phones by pastors in Bukavu, Congo. Church leaders are sending support to help the faithful during growing insecurity in the region. Photo by Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UM News.

United Methodists stay connected amid Congo conflict

Social Concerns

Young people hold a banner during a rally for peace in Kindu, Congo, in early February. Behind them, United Methodist clergy and other young people march to demand peace in eastern Congo, where fighting between M23 rebels and the Congolese army has escalated in recent months. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News.

Churches multiply peace initiatives in eastern Congo

Human Sexuality

The Rev. Izzy Alvaran (right) and others pray together on May 1 after the 2024 United Methodist General Conference, meeting in Charlotte, N.C., voted to remove the denomination's ban on the ordination of "self-avowed practicing” gay clergy — a prohibition that dated to 1984. Alvaran is on the staff of the Reconciling Ministries Network, which has unveiled a new strategic plan after success at last year’s General Conference. File photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

LGBTQ advocates aim to build on 2024 gains

Global Health

Loneliness is an epidemic according to a 2023 report from the U.S. Surgeon General. The Rev. Michael Adam Beck, a Florida pastor and director of Fresh Expressions for The United Methodist Church, offers ways to change that in his new book, “Never Alone: Sharing the Gift of Community in a Lonely World.” Image by WOKANDAPIX, courtesy of Pixabay.

Can Fresh Expressions rescue the lonely?

Church Leadership

The Rev. Michael Adam Beck leads The United Methodist Church’s Fresh Expressions movement. In his new book, “Never Alone,” the pastor of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Ocala, Fla., says Fresh Expressions can help create community for people suffering from loneliness. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Michael Adam Beck.

From prisoner to pastor

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Local Church

United Methodists stand in front of the new Mont Morija United Methodist Church in Golf Plateau III, a fast-growing district of Lubumbashi, Congo. The new building can accommodate 800 worshippers. Photo courtesy of the Jerusalem District.

Family donates funds to build South Congo church

Evangelism

Larry and Jane Kies pose for a photo in Vumba, one of the scenic areas outside Mutare, Zimbabwe. Behind them is a Zimbabwean indigenous tree called Musasa. As United Methodist missionaries, the couple contributed to the development of agriculture and education in the country at the church’s Nyadire Mission and Africa University. Photo courtesy of Larry Kies.

Missionaries leave mark on agriculture, education

Social Concerns

A couple recounts the threats of violence that caused them to flee Mexico with their 1-year-old child in this 2018 file photo. The family took shelter at the Christ United Methodist Ministry Center in San Diego while seeking asylum. United Methodists continue to speak out against Trump administration policies that target undocumented immigrants. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Church advocates for at-risk immigrants

Mission and Ministry

The history of Pickett Chapel United Methodist Church in Lebanon, Tenn., goes back almost 200 years. Pickett Chapel is believed to be the oldest African American church building in the state of Tennessee. Photo from video by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Historic church tells story of slavery, triumph

General Church

Episcopal Elections of the Central Conference of The United Methodist Church. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Africa Central Conference Balloting 2025

Commentaries

The Rev. Dr. Tércio B. Junker Photo courtesy of the Northern Illinois Conference.

In the Wesleys’ footsteps: Reflecting on justice, faith

The Rev. Paul W. Chilcote. Photo courtesy of the author.

A refreshed Wesleyan vision is emerging

The Rev. April Casperson. Courtesy of Otterbein University.

Amendment would make church more open

The Rev. Dr. Jean Claude Masuka Maleka. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Mission can revitalize United Methodism

Churches build bridges to counter hate

The Rev. Mel West. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Mel West.

World news becomes family news

The Rev. Christopher P. Momany. Photo by Kristen Schell.

Resistance is not enough

What does hate feel like in the body?

Multimedia

Ash Wednesday, Psalm 51:10. Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Social media graphics for Lent and Easter

Download art for Lent and Easter from United Methodist to share on social media.

Faith Sharing

Photo by Charity Ponter; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News. Luke 6:31

Social media graphics from UM News

A portion of Hong Kong at night as seen from Victoria Peak. More than 400,000 migrant domestic workers live in Hong Kong, about five percent of the total population. They cook and clean and care for children, pets, and the elderly. They also at times endure horrible treatment. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

United Methodists support migrant workers in Hong Kong

Mission and Ministry

On the eve of the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C., climate activists hold a candlelight Vigil for Creation to mark Earth Day and to call the denomination to greater stewardship of creation. Participants included Mary Frances Gaston (left) Emily McGinn, students at the Candler School of Theology in Atlanta. The service took place at the First United Methodist Church of Charlotte. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

The year in photos

Disaster Relief

The Rev. Holly Cobb McKim, pastor of Spruce Pine United Methodist Church, reads from a list of encouragement cards sent by Sunday school children following Hurricane Helene. Screengrab by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Church plays key role in Helene recovery

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