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The Rev. Elaine A. Heath, a United Methodist elder and founder and “abbess” of Spring Forest, visits a herd of goats at the “intentional faith community” in Hillsborough, N.C. Spring Forest combines elements of monasteries and nunneries, regenerative farming, communes, churches and small businesses. Photo by Jim Patterson, UM News.

Growing a new kind of Christian community

Spring Forest in Hillsborough, North Carolina, is part monastery, part collective farm and part any number of other things.

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Central Conferences

Amid war, central conference practices ‘shalom’

United Methodists in a region that stretches from North Africa to Poland gathered for a meeting that focused on bringing peace in a time of strife.

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

Church leaders and justice advocates in the Philippines say the arrest of the former president is a step toward justice for the thousands who died during his war on drugs.

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.

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Faith Stories

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

Annual Conferences

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

Social Concerns

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.

Churches confront mass federal layoffs

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

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Local Church

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

Evangelism

The Rev. Michael Adam Beck leads The United Methodist Church’s Fresh Expressions movement. In his new book, “Never Alone,” the pastor of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Ocala, Fla., says Fresh Expressions can help create community for people suffering from loneliness. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Michael Adam Beck.

Women’s group plans assembly, calls for justice

Mission and Ministry

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

General Church

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.

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.

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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