Church camps combine faith and fun

Will Penner leads a gospel song during worship at Cedar Crest Camp in Lyles, Tenn. Photo by Ronny Perry, UMNS.

When it comes to eating s'mores under starry skies and singing songs around a campfire, little has changed over the years. There's still no place like summer camp.

The United Methodist Church has a great commitment to camping. The denomination offers one of the largest camp and retreat networks, with 220 centers serving a million people a year.

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Young People

Young adults pose for a photo during a visit to the Demilitarized Zone in Paju, Korea, on June 24. The group traveled from 15 countries to participate in the 2025 Young Adults Pilgrimage of Peace in South Korea, organized in part by United Methodists. Photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.

Young adults walk paths of peace in South Korea

In a pilgrimage organized in part by United Methodists, young adults from 15 countries learned about peacebuilding and the sacrifices to promote democracy.

Social Concerns

An instructor and student share a teaching microscope at Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe, in 2017. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

USAID freeze strikes Africa University

United Methodist-related Africa University is among the institutions struggling as employees with jobs funded by the United States Agency for International Development stop getting paychecks.

Bishops

Bishop Tracy S. Malone, who leads the Indiana Conference, delivers her first address as Council of Bishops president during the bishops’ meeting Nov. 4 at Epworth by the Sea Conference Center in St. Simons Island, Ga. She spoke of her hope for The United Methodist Church in moving toward a more inclusive future. Photo by Heather Hahn, UM News.

Bishops urged to perceive God’s ‘new thing’

Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone preached of God’s deliverance on the eve of the U.S. presidential election. She sees God at work as The United Methodist Church begins a new chapter.