Bishop Laurie Haller looks to the General Conference

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


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Human Sexuality
Jan Lawrence addresses Reconciling Ministries Network’s convocation held July 24-27, 2025, at First United Methodist Church in downtown Madison, Wis. Lawrence is retiring after serving as Reconciling Ministries Network’s executive director for nearly a decade. Many United Methodists credit her with helping to lead the denomination to a new day. File photo by Joscie Cutchens, UM News.

LGBTQ leader retires after pivotal changes

Jan Lawrence kept United Methodist advocates organized after the denomination strengthened bans against LGBTQ people and helped lead the way toward the longtime bans’ repeal.
Ecumenism
The United Methodist Council of Bishops and leaders of The United Church of Canada have approved an interim covenant between their denominations. The agreement includes their intent to bring a full communion proposal for the approval of the United Methodist General Conference and the United Church’s General Council, which are both scheduled to meet in 2028. Logos courtesy of United Methodist Communications and with permission of The United Church of Canada.

United Methodists bolster ties in Canada

The United Methodist Church and United Church of Canada have formed an interim covenant with the goal of full communion. Driving the move is increased migration to Canada.
Local Church
Bishop Daniel Lunge (center) of the Central Congo Episcopal Area speaks during a roundtable on communication in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, as East Congo Bishop Antoine Kalema Tambwe (left) and North Katanga Bishop Mande Muyombo look on. The bishops emphasized that communication is an essential tool for making disciples and building peace in geographically complex and conflict-ridden areas. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News.

Charting new path for African communication

Bishops, communicators and United Methodist Communications staff gathered to develop a creative strategy to keep local churches in the Mid-Africa Regional Conference connected despite power outages, poor roads and more than 450 regional languages.

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