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The Rev. Rachel Cornwell, wearing glasses at center, joins with the Rev. Donna Claycomb Sokol, wearing a clerical collar at left, and other D.C.-area pastors in a time of prayer and protest on Ash Wednesday on Capitol Hill. The gathering was organized by Repairers of the Breach, led by Bishop William J. Barber II, who called on faith leaders to stand together in prayer and moral resistance against injustice. United Methodist churches in the U.S. capital and beyond are doing what they can to help federal workers, contractors and others affected by the cuts and layoffs led by the Trump administration, some of which federal courts have already paused. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Rachel Cornwell, Dumbarton United Methodist Church. — The Rev. Rachel Cornwell (center, wearing glasses) joins with the Rev. Donna Claycomb Sokol (at left, in clerical collar) and other D.C.-area pastors in a time of prayer and protest on Ash Wednesday on Capitol Hill. The gathering was organized by Repairers of the Breach, led by Bishop William J. Barber II, who called on faith leaders to stand together in prayer and moral resistance against injustice. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Rachel Cornwell, Dumbarton United Methodist Church.

Churches confront mass federal layoffs

Pastoral care, prayer and protests are some of the ways United Methodist congregations are supporting church members and others affected by the Trump administration’s drastic cuts.

Editor's Picks

Bishops

Emmanuel Sinzohagera elected as bishop

The dean of superintendents and speaker of the Senate in Burundi was elected a United Methodist bishop on the first ballot at the Africa Central Conference.

Bishops

The Rev. João Filimone Sambo of Mozambique receives the United Methodist episcopal pin from Bishop LaTrelle Easterling. Sambo was elected bishop March 15 by the Africa Central Conference. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa, United Methodist Communications.

João Sambo elected as bishop

The Rev. João Sambo, an elder in Mozambique, was elected a United Methodist bishop on the 14th ballot at the Africa Central Conference.

UM News special series spotlights legacy Black churches. Clockwise from top left: St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Montclair, N.J. (now The Mark Montclair), photo courtesy of St. Mark’s via Montclair Local; Mother African Zoar United Methodist Church in Philadelphia (location 1883-2020), photo courtesy of Mother African Zoar United Methodist Church; Central United Methodist Church in Atlanta, photo courtesy of Central United Methodist Church; and a family at St. Luke Community United Methodist Church in Dallas, photo courtesy of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church.

Special series: Legacy Black churches

UM News special report spotlights Black churches with rich histories and vibrant ministries.

Latest News

Human Rights

The Rev. Stephanie Vader (left), senior pastor of Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, joins with parishioners in a protest in support of the U.S. Agency for International Development. USAID, which was established by Congress to distribute U.S. foreign aid, is being dismantled by the Trump administration without congressional action. Vader made the sign that says “USAID Makes America Great.” She said a parishioner who worked with the agency is most concerned that the suspension of the agency’s funds and work will cost lives on the continent of Africa. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Stephanie Vader, Capitol Hill United Methodist Church.

Church grapples with loss of foreign aid

Children in a science, technology, engineering and math class at Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles pose for a photo with Ricardo Mowatt, their teacher. The church’s STEM Center partnership with A-MAN Inc. started in 1991 to interest African American children in science education and careers. File photo courtesy of Holman United Methodist Church.

Youth ministries help historic churches stay vital

Violence

Nurse on duty Bienfait Kabeya Ntumba (right) recounts how he was beaten during an attack on the United Methodist Irambo Health Center on the night of March 18 in Bukavu, Congo. Dr. Jimmy Kasongo (center), medical director of the health center, listens during a staff meeting. It is the second time in a month that armed gunmen invaded the hospital. Photo by Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UM News.

United Methodist hospital staff attacked in Congo

Central Conferences

Amid war, central conference practices ‘shalom’

Human Rights

United Methodist deaconesses Norma Dollaga (right) and Rubylin Litao talk with Bienvenido and Estrella Nonay in Caloocan, Philippines. The Nonays’ son Bernardo was assassinated in 2018, one of thousands of extrajudicial killings carried out as part of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial "war on drugs." The deaconesses are founders of Rise Up for Life and for Rights, which unites family and friends of victims and advocates in demanding an end to the violence and punishment for those responsible. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

United Methodists react to Duterte arrest

Global Health

Christine Ntamubano expresses gratitude to The United Methodist Church in Burundi for providing clean drinking water closer to her home. Around 5,000 people in the region now have access to drinking water, thanks to a borehole installed by the church. Photo by Jérôme Ndayisenga, UM News.

Borehole offers hope to Burundi town

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Local Church

Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr. (right), who leads The United Methodist Church’s Liberia Conference, walks beside Bishop James Boye-Caulker of the Sierra Leone Conference during the 192nd session of the Liberia Annual Conference, held Feb. 10-16 in Gbarnga, Liberia. Quire said the church was fighting for control of several sanctuaries in Liberia that were seized by members of the Global Methodist Church following the annual conference session. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa, United Methodist Communications.

Fights erupt over West Africa church property

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

Members of the United Women in Faith Program Advisory Group celebrate the announcement of Assembly 2026, scheduled for May 15-17, 2026, in Indianapolis. Board and program advisory group members met in person March 6-9 at Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville, Tenn., the organization’s first in-person meeting since early 2020. Pictured in the foreground are board member Marilyn Sanchez Reid of the Western Jurisdiction and Vice President Heidi Careaga of the North Central Jurisdiction. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Women’s group plans assembly, calls for justice

Mission and Ministry

The Rev. Elaine A. Heath, former dean at Duke Divinity School and abbess at Spring Forest in Hillsborough, N.C., stands amid some of the crops at the farm portion of the 23-acre property that also contains two homes, large outdoor tables for community meals and a stage for entertainment. The monastic community is in stark contrast to Heath’s difficult childhood. Photo by Jim Patterson, UM News.

Pastor creates the community she longed for as a child

General Church

The Rev. Gift Machinga (right), newly elected as bishop, receives greetings from Bishop LaTrelle Easterling as Bishop Thomas Bickerton looks on. The Africa Central Conference elected Machinga of Zimbabwe as bishop on March 15. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa, United Methodist Communications.

Gift Machinga 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

"The Parable of the Prodigal Son, Received Home by His Father" -Luca Giordano (1634-1705), courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. 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

“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

Faith Sharing

Photo by Charity Ponter; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News. Luke 6:31

Social media graphics from UM News

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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