Seeking gun violence remedies, policing reforms

For the Rev. Myra Maxwell, a pastor in Philadelphia, the city’s escalation in shootings and murders hits hard and close to home. She has lost a family member and friends to violence.

The City of Brotherly Love recorded 499 homicides last year, a 40 percent increase from 2019 and the second most since 1960…

Bishops, delegates called to mission focus

Faced with a potential denominational split put on hold by pandemic, many United Methodists feel stuck.

That has not stopped heated disputes over church life among United Methodists, especially on social media channels.

Virtual Urban Summit: Part 2 to happen in 2 parts Saturday

The Rev. Rudy Rasmus, co-pastor of St. John’s Downtown UMC in Houston, Texas, and the Rev. Rashawn Clark, pastor of New Spirit UMC in Atlanta, Ga., kicked off the Eastern PA Conference’s multi-session Virtual Urban Summit on Saturday morning, April 24.  In Part 1, the two visionary, impactful pastors shared their experiences and insights in “Engaging Communities in Change” and “Doing Spiritually-Focused Urban Evangelism.”

News of UMC schism reactions may be growing

UM News has published at least five news stories in the past two weeks and a few commentaries that report on decisions, plans and appeals being made, as the UMC slowly lurches toward the separation and disaffiliation of churches and members that may all occur at its delayed 2022 General Conference.