Social Concerns

Human Sexuality
Jan Lawrence addresses Reconciling Ministries Network’s convocation held July 24-27, 2025, at First United Methodist Church in downtown Madison, Wis. Lawrence is retiring after serving as Reconciling Ministries Network’s executive director for nearly a decade. Many United Methodists credit her with helping to lead the denomination to a new day. File photo by Joscie Cutchens, UM News.

LGBTQ leader retires after pivotal changes

Jan Lawrence kept United Methodist advocates organized after the denomination strengthened bans against LGBTQ people and helped lead the way toward the longtime bans’ repeal.
Social Concerns
The Rev. Stephanie Vader. Photo courtesy of the author.

Pastor urges halt to troops’ presence in DC

The Rev. Stephanie Vader, a United Methodist pastor in Washington, D.C., raises alarms about the increasing number of National Guard troops in the nation’s capital.
Social Concerns
Gloria Kache (left) paints Clementina Kalunde’s nails at Parkview Kitengela United Methodist Church in Nairobi, Kenya. Kache is a beneficiary of the church’s No Girl No Cry initiative, which empowers young girls in the community through education and mentoring. She now volunteers with the church’s Mumo Educational Center. Photo by Jackline Mwende.

From dumpsite to determination

United Methodist ministry helps Kenyan teen complete her education, gain confidence and set her sights on college.
Mission and Ministry
Girls involved with Parkview Kitengela United Methodist Church’s No Girl No Cry initiative dance at the church in Nairobi, Kenya. The ministry offers spiritual guidance and practical training to vulnerable girls in the community. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News.

Ministry transforms girls’ pain into purpose

No Girl No Cry initiative, a ministry of Parkview Kitengela United Methodist Church, empowers vulnerable young women in Kenya.

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