Clergy

The Methodist Church’s 1956 General Conference meets from April 25 to May 7 in the municipal auditorium in Minneapolis. On May 4, the first Friday of the legislative assembly, the delegates voted to make women eligible for full clergy rights. “Now it is up to us to prove in clear and deep witness to the whole church our consecration and our loyal devotion to the work of the Kingdom of God,” said Margaret Henrichsen, a General Conference visitor, after the vote. In 1967, she became the first U.S. woman appointed district superintendent. Photo courtesy of Archives and History.

Why the 1956 women-clergy vote matters

Seventy years ago, the Methodist Church supported full conference membership for women clergy — a decision that would have a resounding impact when The United Methodist Church formed in 1968 and even today.

Church Leadership

Lufula Charlotte smiles as she receives her training certificate from United Methodist Bishop Antoine Kalema Tambwe during an official ceremony in Kindu, Congo. Lufula is one of more than 60 pastors’ wives who completed a leadership program supported by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News.

Pastors’ wives help strengthen ministry in East Congo

The East Congo Episcopal Area has provided training to help wives of United Methodist clergy become leaders and drive community development in rural areas.

General Church

Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi speaks during opening worship for “Faithful Resistance: A Public Witness for Immigrant Justice” on Feb. 25 at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church in Washington. Moore-Koikoi, who leads the Eastern Pennsylvania and Greater New Jersey conferences, is the convener of the interim committee that is organizing the U.S. Regional Conference. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Bishops name US Regional Conference organizers

The newly named group is responsible for planning the first United Methodist assembly that will make decisions affecting only church members in the U.S.

Church Leadership

The Rev. Daniel Hawkins (left) leads service at Martin United Methodist Church in Bedford, Texas. About a third of the congregation is Tongan and they lean toward traditional theology and politics, Hawkins says. He calls Martin a “purple church” with a blend of red (Republican) and blue (Democrat) members. “We have been comfortable with the idea of being unified without being uniform.” Photo courtesy of Martin United Methodist Church.

Pastors walk a political tightrope

Political and moral polarization is prominent in the United States, and United Methodist pastors are treading carefully on these issues as they lead diverse congregations.

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