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United Methodists vote to restructure worldwide church

By Yonat Shimron — April 25, 2024
(RNS) — The plan, called ‘regionalization,’ must now go before each region, called an annual conference, for ratification by the end of 2025.
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Conservative faith leaders praise Johnson for House’s approval of foreign aid

By Adelle M. Banks and Jack Jenkins — April 22, 2024
(RNS) — Passage of the aid packages came in the wake of letters and last-minute lobbying from a spectrum of religious groups.

Hiking, disc golf, flower arranging: UMC initiative connects people around non-church interests

By Yonat Shimron — April 19, 2024
NORWOOD, N.C. (RNS) — 'Fresh Expressions' is a denominational initiative intended to connect people who may not be interested in church but are interested in learning a new skill or making new friends.

How can a denomination based on reconciling differences split over its disagreements?

By David Eagle — April 16, 2024
(RNS) — The United Methodist Church has to stop fracturing over sexuality and learn to live with our differences.

After traditionalist churches left, UMC may be more — not less — diverse

By Yonat Shimron — April 16, 2024
(RNS) — Even after the departures, 24% of North Carolina clergy remaining in the denomination disagree with allowing LGBTQ people to get married and ordained within the denomination.

Dozens of Christians arrested after shutting down Senate lunch in protest of Gaza famine

By Aleja Hertzler-McCain — April 9, 2024
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The protest, organized by Christians for a Free Palestine, followed a Communion service held on Capitol grounds.

At Yale, Christian pastors sign a declaration opposing religious nationalism

By Yonat Shimron — April 9, 2024
(RNS) — The declaration commits Christian leaders to preaching on moral issues and rejecting a political movement it says is exploiting traditional values to undermine democracy.

Community of Christ celebrates 40 years of women’s ordination

By Jana Riess — April 5, 2024
(RNS) — 40 years ago this week, the world's second-largest Mormon denomination announced it would start ordaining women. That decision forever changed the church, which is now gearing up for its first female president.

Churches look to eclipse as outreach opportunity

By Adelle M. Banks — April 4, 2024
(RNS) — ‘Science is part of God’s wonder,’ said one pastor. ‘And I think it’s good for us to celebrate that as Christians.’

Ahead of General Conference, queer United Methodist delegates organize a caucus

By Yonat Shimron — April 4, 2024
(RNS) — After a four-year COVID-19 delay, and the departure of about 25% of its U.S. churches, the United Methodist Church is meeting again and the issue of human sexuality is back on the agenda.

The Episcopal Church announces four candidates for presiding bishop

By Kathryn Post — April 2, 2024
(RNS) — The next presiding bishop will succeed Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, whose nine-year term concludes on Oct. 31.

Ministers aid seafarers caught in Baltimore bridge crisis

By Adelle M. Banks — March 28, 2024
(RNS) — ‘Everyone’s still kind of rattled and trying to figure things out,’ said the Rev. Joshua Messick, who has Bibles ‘in every conceivable language’ to distribute upon request.

Study: Unaffiliated Americans are the only growing religious group

By Yonat Shimron — March 27, 2024
(RNS) — The Catholic Church saw the largest decline in religious affiliation of any religious group in 2023.
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