Social Issues

Mission and Ministry
The Rev. Jairous Mafondokoto, administrative assistant to the bishop in the Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana Area, congratulates Pamela Saungweme for offering her home to the church for use in drug and substance abuse programs. Saungweme had been moved by the testimony of a family whose son had overcome addiction. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

Women put faith into action across Zimbabwe

United Methodists and other Methodist women are responding to drug abuse, violence, trauma and poverty by offering practical support to women, girls and families.
Immigration
Members of MARCHA discuss priorities during their online annual meeting, held July 31-Aug. 1. The caucus replaced its in-person meeting with a virtual gathering due to concerns that members of the Hispanic-Latino community could be detained while traveling under the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Advocacy for immigrant communities will remain a priority for the group, members said. Photo composition by the Rev. Gustavo Vasquez, UM News.

Hispanic-Latino caucus reviews mission, structure

MARCHA sets priorities at annual meeting, including reviewing bylaws, strengthening ties with Latin America, advocating for immigrant communities and developing the Elías Galván Endowment Fund.
Immigration
The Rev. Ronell Howard addresses attendees at the Greater New Jersey Conference’s “Prayerful Witness” outside Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, N.J. on Aug. 15. She invoked Jesus’ second commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself,” which became a recurring theme for the day. Photo by John W. Coleman, UM News.

‘Prayerful witness’ offered for immigrants

United Methodists in New Jersey gathered outside Delaney Hall detention center to show Christian love, concern and solidarity to detainees and visiting loved ones.
Human Rights
The Rev. Christopher P. Momany. Photo by Kristen Schell.

On human dignity: People are ends in themselves

The teaching in Pope Leo XIV’s recent encyclical has strong similarities with the ideas that drove the abolitionist movement in America.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Loading

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2026 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved