Disaffiliation

Members of the 2024-2028 Judicial Council are (front row, from left) the Rev. Jonathan Ulanday; the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, president; the Rev. Angela Brown, secretary; and Molly Hlekani Mwayera; (back row, from left) Bill Waddell; Andrew Vorbrich; the Rev. Øyvind Helliesen; the Rev. Luan-Vu Tran; and Harriett Olson. The Judicial Council publicly released a decision on June 3 related to the Mississippi Conference’s process for allowing congregations to leave with property. Photo by Linda Bloom, UM News.

Ruling: Stop alternative church-exit plans

The United Methodist Church’s top court strikes down the Mississippi Conference’s process to let churches leave with property after the denomination’s disaffiliation policy expired.

Local Church

Members of Los Feliz United Methodist Church in Los Angeles pose for a photo in celebration of 21 new members joining the church on April 21, 2024. The church, led by the Rev. Brian Suk-Boo Lee (seated fourth from right), is experiencing a rebirth with some formerly inactive members returning with their families, revitalizing Sunday school and creating an intergenerational worship environment. File photo courtesy of Los Feliz United Methodist Church.

Los Angeles church sees renewal under new pastor

The Rev. Brian Suk-Boo Lee credits the congregation for rallying and committing to the church’s future, after a period of struggle that included an attempt at disaffiliation.

General Church

United Methodists cheer at a service recognizing newly elected Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel at the Christian Association of Nigeria Secretariat in Jalingo, Taraba State, after his election at the West Africa Central Conference in Ghana Dec. 5-8. Emmanuel has been holding listening sessions across Nigeria’s regional conferences to seek unity and hear concerns from members. Photo by Ibrahim Babangida, UM News.

United Methodists in Nigeria move forward

The United Methodist Church has taken steps toward uniting members, while awaiting recourse from the courts regarding properties and other legal matters.

Violence

A map shows the Karim Lamido local government area in Taraba State, Nigeria, where clashes between members of The United Methodist Church and Global Methodist Church escalated on Dec. 15 in the Munga Dosso community, leaving three United Methodists dead. Maps courtesy of Google; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

3 United Methodists killed in Nigeria

A young adult church member was shot and two toddlers died in a fire as fighting between members of The United Methodist Church and the breakaway Global Methodist Church escalated in rural Nigeria.

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