Clergy

Participants at the Facing the Future 2025 conference take a dance break Oct. 7 at Sonesta Los Angeles Airport hotel in Los Angeles. The national conference examined the challenges of cross-cultural and cross-racial clergy. Photo by Jim Patterson, UM News.

Cross-cultural, cross-racial pastors seek revival

The Facing the Future conference offered space for United Methodist clergy to share challenges, recenter and envision ministry ahead.

Social Concerns

Sarah Metroff (left), marketing manager of investment for Wespath Benefits and Investments, speaks with M. Theresa Basile (middle), co-founder of United Methodists for Kairos Response, and Andy Hendren (right), top executive of Wespath, during September meetings at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Wespath organized the summit to foster dialogue about its investments. Photo courtesy of Wespath Benefits and Investments.

Investment debates underway for 2028

After the clock ran out on the discussion at the 2024 General Conference, debate is already underway regarding how Wespath Benefits and Investments can invest more ethically.

Immigration

Emma Escobar, president of MARCHA (Associated Methodists for the Hispanic-Latino American Cause), speaks during the opening ceremony of the caucus’ 53rd annual assembly Aug. 1 in Chicago. The altar, prepared by the Spanish-Latino Ministries of the Northern Illinois Conference, offered a display of sacramental elements and colors as a liturgical expression of the diversity of races, cultures, theological interpretations, ages and genders that make up MARCHA. Photo by the Rev. Gustavo Vasquez, UM News.

MARCHA urges: Don’t just pray, organize

Clergy and lay leaders from the United Methodist Hispanic-Latino community gathered under unusual security conditions in Chicago to celebrate the caucus’ 53rd annual assembly.

Church Leadership

Religious trauma affects clergy too

Pastors can experience trauma in local church settings as well as in the larger denominational system.

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