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Bishop Richard Byrd Wilke, who with his wife, Julia Wilke, developed the popular Disciple Bible Study, died on Easter, April 20, 2025. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Bishop Wilke, beloved Bible study creator, dies

United Methodist Bishop Richard Wilke died Easter Sunday. He and his wife, Julia, developed the popular Disciple Bible Study series. He also was a voice for LGBTQ inclusion.

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Human Sexuality

The Rev. Rushing Kimball stands next to a sign for Broadway United Methodist Church in Orlando, Fla. The congregation and Kimball personally have experienced protests and threats from people who oppose the church’s LGBTQ-affirming stance. Photo courtesy of Kimball, Broadway United Methodist Church.

Orlando churches face anti-LGBTQ protests

United Methodist churches in central Florida have been among the congregations targeted in recent months by anti-LGBTQ protesters threatening to disrupt worship.

Mission and Ministry

John Kodjo (standing), a member of Mapamboli United Methodist Church in Kinshasa, Congo, tries to salvage things from his flooded home. Torrential rains and flooding on April 5 damaged over 1,000 homes in the area and killed at least 33 people. Kodjo’s family fled on the roof of their home. Photo by the Rev. Fiston Okito, UM News.

Floods devastate United Methodists in Congo

Thousands have been displaced and two United Methodist churches have been damaged by flooding in Kinshasa, the country’s capital.

Social Concerns

The John Henry Ensemble, led by the Rev. John Henry on trombone (left), plays a jazz concert on the evening of April 5 during the Peace Conference in Lake Junaluska, N.C. Henry, a United Methodist pastor and director of the music program at A&T University in Greensboro, N.C., also sang and played trombone during the conference’s worship service. Photo by Crystal Caviness, United Methodist Communications.

Building peace in a dangerously polarized US

A United Methodist Peace Conference drew some 200 clergy and laity to discuss breaking down national divisions. Some joined a Hands Off! rally that drew a cross-section of people.

Latest News

Ecumenism

United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson greets Pope Francis in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2018, during the commemoration of the World Council of Churches’ 70th anniversary. The leader of the Catholic Church spoke about the significance of Catholic involvement in ecumenical work and pledged his commitment to the cause of Christian unity. United Methodists around the world are mourning Pope Francis, who died April 21 at age 88. File photo by Albin Hillert, World Council of Churches.

United Methodists remember Pope Francis

Faith Sharing

Earth Day 2025. Photo by G Poulsen, courtesy of Pixabay; graphic by Laurens Glass

Social media graphics from UM News

Church History

“Called by Name,” at left, is by contemporary American artist Laura James. At right is “Mary Magdalene Proclaims Resurrection!” also by James. A commission to paint images of Mary Magdalene from Scripture led James to rethink her assumptions about the witness to Christ’s resurrection. United Methodists say Mary Magdalene’s role as apostle offers lessons for today when women’s roles remains highly contested. Images courtesy of Laura James. Used with permission.

The quite contrary story of Mary Magdalene

Mission and Ministry

Bishop Rubén Saenz (center) prays for delegates to the annual meeting of the United Methodist Mission in Honduras during the closing session on March 18 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Saenz is the mission’s newly appointed episcopal leader. Photo by the Rev. Gustavo Vasquez, UM News.

Honduras mission welcomes new leader, sets goals

Singers perform during the Lenten season at Union Combined Parish in Boston. In 2024, historically Black Union United Methodist Church in the South End merged with three other congregations— Old West Church in the West End, Community Church in Brighton, and Glendale Church in Everett — to form a new worship community. File photo courtesy of Union Combined Parish.

Black churches preserve history, shape future

Bishops

Burundi celebrates new bishop, episcopal area

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Local Church

Bishop Hans Växby, who served as a beloved leader in the Nordic and Baltic countries for 12 years before leading Eurasia for another seven, passed away on March 30 at age 80. Photo courtesy of the Council of Bishops.

Bishop Växby, post-Cold War leader, dies at 80

Evangelism

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

Social Concerns

Cheryl Lowe (left) and Andrea Gauldin-Rubio, both United Methodists, hold their signs based on Scripture and the teachings of John Wesley at the Hands Off! rally on April 5 outside the courthouse in Waynesville, North Carolina. They were among many United Methodists who used their lunchtime during the nearby Peace Conference to attend the nonviolent rally decrying government overreach. Lowe is a member of Mt. Pleasant United Methodist in McLeansville, N.C., and Gauldin-Rubio is the director of Christian education at Bunker Hill United Methodist Church in Kernersville, N.C. Photo by Heather Hahn, UM News.

Churchgoers rally against government overreach

Mission and Ministry

Alice Samuel (second from left), Northern Nigeria Conference women’s coordinator, distributes food during an outreach event in Yapilo Village in the Chonge District of the Shongom Local Government Area of Gombe State on March 29. In addition to providing relief supplies and free medical services, the women preached the Gospel and led prayer sessions in the community. Photo by Ibrahim Babangida, UM News.

Women’s group in Nigeria offers free medical care

General Church

The Rev. Knut Refsdal receives the episcopal pin from Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank after being elected a United Methodist bishop on April 4 at the Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. Refsdal, a pastor in Norway, was elected on the 26th ballot. Photo by Karl Anders Ellingsen, UM News.

Knut Refsdal elected as bishop

Commentaries

Anna Riddle. Photo by Heather Gaydeski Photography.

Carrie Parrish's legacy holds lessons for today

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

Multimedia

Sunrise behind the cross at Belin Memorial United Luke 24:5 Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen. Austin Bond Photography. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News. Austin Bond Photography. Taken January 5, 2017. See more cross photos at www.facebook.com/AustinBondPhotography. Please email Austin at austinebond@yahoo.com to use photo, and send him a link or copy of the final project that features his credited photo. — Austin Bond Photography. 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.

Mission and Ministry

The Rev. John Collett and his wife, Rita Collett, rent a bedroom in their home in Nashville, Tenn., to a college student through a program called Nesterly, Through this intergenerational home sharing, senior citizens can receive rent money and help with home services in exchange for housing young people. Photo by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Couple says intergenerational home sharing works

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

Church History

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

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

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