After traditionalist churches left, United Methodist Church may be more – not less – diverse
United States RNS After the departure of thousands of traditionalist United Methodist churches from the denomination over the past five years, it might stand to reason that those congregations remaining in the fold are more progressive and open to ordination and marriage of people in same-sex relationships. But the picture is far more mixed. A […]
United Methodists: As a landmark gathering approaches, African churches weigh their future.
PETER SMITH, of Associated Press, reports on how African Methodists are responding to the UMC’s dispute over sexuality and theology…
Essay: A dramatic schism over social issues? The United Methodist Church has been here before – but this time, America’s religious landscape is far different
CHRISTOPHER H EVANS, in an article first published on The Conversation, looks at the parallels between the current UMC schism and that which took place in 1844…
United Methodists: Legislation aims to “decolonise”, give parity to non-US conferences
YONAT SHIMRON, of Religion News Service, reports that a proposed regionalisation plan would undo the dominance and control of the US church and make it on par with United Methodist conferences abroad…
A Tennessee teen has pleaded guilty in the slaying of a prominent United Methodist Church leader
Memphis, Tennessee, US AP A 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of second-degree murder and carjacking in the death of a prominent United Methodist Church leader in Tennessee. After he entered the plea in a Memphis court, Miguel Andrade was sentenced to prison terms of 20 years for the second-degree murder charge and another […]
In the US, the United Methodist Church has lost a quarter of its churches – most in the South
United States RNS Americans looking to understand the ways political polarization has defined US voting patterns need look no further than the divisions in the United Methodist Church. Five years after allowing churches to leave with their properties if they disagreed with the direction the denomination was heading on human sexuality, the results of the […]
United Methodist Church: One fourth of churches in US have left in schism over LGBTQ ban. What happens now?
PETER SMITH, of Associated Press, reports on the growing number of congregations leaving the denomination…
In the US, Methodist Church approves split of 261 Georgia congregations after LGBTQ+ divide
United StatesAP The North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church voted to allow 261 congregations to break from the denomination amid a schism over theological differences and the role of LGBTQ+ people in the church. The conference ratified the disaffiliation requests from the congregations during a special session Saturday, allowing the churches to leave the denomination, […]
Californian bishop acquitted in first United Methodist court trial of its kind in nearly a century
United States AP A United Methodist Church court acquitted a California bishop Friday of all charges in the first trial of one of the church’s bishops in nearly a century. Bishop Minerva Carcaño, the first Latina bishop in the denomination and a prominent voice on behalf of immigrants, faced four charges of violating church law. […]
In the US, United Methodist pastors feel worse and worry more than a decade ago
United States RNS United Methodist clergy have been through the wringer in recent years, with a worldwide pandemic, a church schism and the ongoing decline of one of the nation’s largest Protestant denominations. Those stresses have likely taken a toll on their health, a new report shows. A survey of 1,200 United Methodist clergy found that half […]