Bishop Laurie Haller looks to the General Conference

Bishop Laurie Haller shares her feelings about the upcoming General Conference.


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General Church
The United Methodist Mission in Honduras ordained its first three elders since its founding in 1997. In the photo, the bishops present lay hands on María Magdalena Zelaya Cruz. From left: Bishop Lizzette Gabriel Montalvo, Bishop Juan de Dios Peña, Bishop Emeritus José Roberto Peña Nazario, Bishop Juan Miguel Simpson Bennett, and Bishop Rubén Sáenz Jr. Photo by the Rev. Gustavo Vásquez, UM News.

United Methodists ordain first elders in Honduras

“This is historic for Methodism in Latin America,” says Bishop Rubén Sáenz Jr., episcopal leader of the United Methodist Mission in Honduras.
Social Concerns
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers chase Carlos Chavez (not pictured), a Mexican-born member of North Hills United Methodist Church Hispanic Mission in Los Angeles, on Jan. 29 on church property. Chavez was deported shortly thereafter. The ICE raid disrupted a food ministry and mothers and children working in the church garden. Photo courtesy of North Hills Hispanic Mission United Methodist Church.

Decision on ‘sensitive location’ policy coming

As a Los Angeles United Methodist church reels from a recent raid by ICE that led to the quick deportation of one of its members, a U.S. appeals court heard arguments that the federal memo that allowed the raid should be struck down.
General Church
Bishop Gift K. Machinga (right) prepares to cut the ribbon at Mikundi Dairy Farm in Mikundi, Malawi, during his first visit to the country. Machinga says the church-run farm is a beacon of the income-generating projects he envisions for his episcopal area, which includes Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana. He is joined by the Rev. Daniel Mhone (center), superintendent of the Malawi Provisional Conference, Kephus Mtambo (left), the farm’s project coordinator, and community members. Photo by Francis Nkhoma, UM News.

Bishop’s visit signals new hope in Malawi

After years of legal turmoil in the country, Bishop Gift K. Machinga meets with church leaders to hear about challenges, create a roadmap for future.

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