By Rev. Charles L. Harrell “Why did God let this happen to us?” That question is on the hearts and minds of many of her fellow Ukrainians since February, according to Pastor Alla of the Kamyanitsa UMC. Pastor Alla was one of seven United Methodist leaders from the...
In 2021, the Biden Administration recognized Indigenous People’s Day as a federal holiday. The United Methodist Native American International Caucus (NAIC) believes this national observation is a clear contradiction with the continued observation of Columbus Day as a national holiday...
A Report by Ben Rigsby on the North Texas Planters Gathering This year the church planter conversation is overwhelmingly focused on the topic of finance. How do we pay to start new communities, or creatively keep old ones in a place where they can actively reach their neighbors. This gathering...
By Susan Bender, Chair, Gun Violence Prevention Team Our hearts cry out for the recent shooting victims in Buffalo, Uvalde, Tulsa, and all around our conference. Gun violence is a complicated issue and there is no simple answer. That doesn’t mean we should accept that nothing can be done...
A Call to Action from the United Methodist Council of BishopsBy Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton Therefore, rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word and not merely...
Beloved, all hearts join in sorrow and grief for those families who suffered loss yesterday in Buffalo, New York. The mind cannot fathom that in the blink of an eye such senseless tragedy occurred again. With this shooting, we witnessed hatred become violence again. Again.
By Melissa Lauber A few decades ago, the pastors and lay members of local churches used to process into the annual session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference in the order they were incorporated. Lovely Lane UMC was always first. I imagine Dumbarton UMC was second. But third was Melville...
The Gospel for this Easter morning as recorded in John opens with Mary Magdalene arriving to find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Not completely grasping what has transpired, she runs to tell the other disciples what she has seen and what it might mean for their beloved Teacher. As the...
By Ella P. Curry, PhD, MTS, RNFor the BWC-PenDel CoVID-19 Re-entry Team Prologue This is a particularly challenging time for many of us. Attitudes and approaches to the CoVID-19 pandemic are shifting. Confusion and uncertainty accompany mixed messages and sometimes contradictory...
In the wake of Russia's assault on Ukraine Feb. 24, United Methodists are praying. The Rev. Stacey Cole Wilson prayed with the congregation of St. Andrew Ukrainian Church in Silver Spring on Feb. 27. As United Methodists, we believe war (especially an unprovoked war) is incompatible...
