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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Bishops

Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez, who leads the Upper New York and Susquehanna conferences, distributes communion to participants during opening worship service on April 23, 2024, at General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Next to him, also distributing communion, is Horizon Texas Conference Bishop Rubén Saenz Jr., who is now the Council of Bishops president. A United Methodist leadership body recommends that the U.S. have 34 bishops starting in 2028. File photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

Group advises adding 2 more US bishops

While recognizing The United Methodist Church’s financial constraints, church leaders have approved a recommendation to increase the number of U.S. bishops in 2028.

Human Rights

An illustration shows Wesley Chapel, built in 1768 and located in downtown Manhattan. The chapel was the first meeting house of John Street United Methodist Church, the New York City church that grew out of the first Methodist Society in North America and still worships near Wall Street today. The church played a role in balancing civic responsibility in the early days of the U.S. republic and faithfulness to God. Photo courtesy of John Street United Methodist Church.

As US 250th nears, bishops discuss democracy

United Methodist bishops and scholars from around the world examined Christian faith and democracy at the spring Council of Bishops meeting. The discussions came as democracy faces threats around the world.

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.