News

The Iowa Conference’s United Methodist Women will host their annual meeting on Zoom Livestream or in-person at the Cherokee United Methodist Church on Saturday, October 2, 2021. Coffee and registration will be from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and the meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. This year’s theme is Ignited for Justice. It will feature a video drama called “Grace Notes,” and notable speakers are Flora Lee from Sioux City, Iowa, and Sue Ritts, from Shesler Hall. Registration ends September 24, ...

United Methodist Communications FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 23, 2021  Nashville, Tenn.: United Methodist Communications, in collaboration with other denominational leaders, is building on the People of God campaign, launched in 2020. The addition of a new hashtag and call-to-action – #BeUMC – invites church members to embody the church’s values, embrace its aspirations, and remain with The United Methodist Church even in difficult times. The People of God campaign celebrates key attributes that ...

For Immediate Release Monday, March 22, 2021   Bishops Reconsider May 8 Special Session of General Conference   WASHINGTON, D.C.  -  The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church met on Monday, March 22, 2021 in an additional meeting to consider pressing matters  related to the Council’s work.  After much conversation, the bishops reached a decision that in the best interest of the church at this time, they would cancel the Special Session of the General Conference which was set for May ...

Press Release February 25, 2021 WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the further postponement of the 2020 General Conference, the Council of Bishops (COB) is calling a Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church (UMC) to be convened online on May 8, 2021.   According to the call letter signed by COB President Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, the Special Session will be held in accordance with Division Two - Section II - Article II of The Constitution of The United ...

Commission on the General Conference FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 25, 2021 General Conference Postponed to 2022 Meeting on February 20, the Commission on the General Conference made a decision to further postpone the 2020 General Conference until August 29 – September 6, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minn. as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the safety of mass gatherings and travel. It is the Commission’s responsibility to select the site and set the dates of General Conference. Further, ...

Commission on the General Conference FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 27, 2020 The Commission on the General Conference has named a Technology Study Team to explore the implications of options for accommodating full participation at General Conference including, but not limited to, the possibility of utilizing technology and online voting. The Commission made the decision to create the study team in response to a request from a group of young delegates to consider alternative methods of ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 26, 2020 NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, the United Methodist Global AIDS Committee has announced plans to host a series of educational webinars that will be made available at Facebook.com/UMCglobalaidsfund and archived on their website. The webinar series will be held during the following months: October 2020, November 2020, February 2021, April 2021 and June 2021. These webinars will serve to educate, support and advocate for those affected by HIV/AIDS. The webinars will...

United Methodist Communications Office of Public Information FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 25, 2020  Nashville, Tennessee – A new advertising campaign from The United Methodist Church urges people to find hope together amid the challenges posed by this year’s COVID-19 pandemic and heightened racial tensions.   “It's been a year like no other. You're not the only one trying to make sense of it all. The people of The United Methodist Church believe that when we turn to God's love, we can find ...

United Methodist Communications Office of Public Information FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 16, 2020  Nashville, Tennessee: United Methodist Church leaders will launch a plan of action to galvanize church members and others to actively stand against racism in the wake of the death of George Floyd and protests across the U.S. The “Dismantling Racism: Pressing on to Freedom” initiative is a multi-level effort throughout the church to initiate a sustained and coordinated effort to dismantle racism and ...

The Iowa Conference Communications Ministry Team received three awards from the United Methodist Association of Communicators UMAC).  The presentation celebration, held virtually this year because of the COVID-19 health crisis, highlighted the work of communicators across the country and an international partner.  The Communications Ministry Team - Arthur McClanahan, Liz Winders, and Courtney Levin - received a first-place award in the News Article, Annual Conference/Local Church Division for ...

Discipleship Ministries has officially become the new name of the general agency of The United Methodist Church known for years as The General Board of Discipleship, or GBOD. The name change, which includes new addresses for the website and agency personnel emails, was announced by Dr. Timothy L. Bias, General Secretary (chief executive) of Discipleship Ministries.   “The shift from General Board of Discipleship to Discipleship Ministries was an intentional decision to more clearly communicate ...