AJC: North Georgia Conference seizes assets of Mt. Bethel UMC
In an extremely rare move, the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church has seized the assets of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church in Marietta amid a fight over who should be its senior pastor. The conference announced its stunning decision in a...
Mt. Bethel statement regarding Bishop’s move to seize assets
Statement by Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church Regarding North Georgia Conference UMC Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson’s Move to Close Mt. Bethel UMC’s Doors and Seize its Assets July 13, 2021 Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson of the North Georgia Conference of the United...
New Study Identifies Key Factors Impacting Vital Congregations
Lively, vital churches come in all sizes, locations, and settings says a new study commissioned by The United Methodist Church, but they consistently share some common factors that work together to influence congregational vitality. That means what works to make those churches energetic and growing can likely work for other churches too.
Campus ministry sustained by prayer
On August 17, 2009, a 40-day, nationwide prayer effort was launched with the goal of witnessing to United Methodist campus ministries as being vital centers of vocational calling. We are praying for new clergy and lay ministers who will answer Gods call over the coming decades to campus ministry and we are interceding for our campus ministries in the start of the 2009-2010 school year.
Church developers learn from early evangelists
Elliot Wright Can Methodists learn anything about effective Christian evangelism from their denomination’s founding period 250 years ago? “Yes,” says a Duke University professor, who told 600 church developers how the Wesley brothers, John and Charles, gave rise to a...
Finding a friend in Mary
By Phillip C. Thrailkill Hope and Michael were lead characters in the once-popular TV show Thirtysomething. She was a Christian and he a Jew. As I was reading Philip Yancey’s The Jesus I Never Knew, I was reminded of an argument between the two characters during a...
Straight Talk: Good News statement on request for a special session of General Conference
For some years now Good News has been working for renewal and reform in the United Methodist Church. We have maintained, and continue to maintain, that the greatest challenge facing the church has more to do with our fidelity to the truth of core doctrinal teachings...
Church and Society decries pro-life amendment
By Joseph Slife A representative of the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) appeared at a news conference on November 16 to denounce an amendment—included in the House-passed health care bill—that would prohibit taxpayer-funded abortion. Linda...


