At Least Seven Liberian Properties at Center of UMC and Global Methodists Legal Battle

At Least Seven Liberian Properties at Center of UMC and Global Methodists Legal Battle

The United Methodist Church (UMC) and the Global Methodist Church (GMC) are engaged in a legal dispute over at least seven properties in Liberia. Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr., head of the UMC Liberia Conference, confirmed to UM News that the church property cases are being litigated in the country’s courts.
  • NewSpring Church Leaves Southern Baptist Convention Over Women Pastors Debate
    NewSpring Church, a megachurch based in South Carolina, has officially announced its decision to leave the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) due to its support for women in pastoral leadership roles. In an update on its website titled “SBC Withdrawal Update,” the church mentioned that “our involvement with the SBC has been questioned, particularly regarding our stance on women in ministry.”
  • Pew Study Reveals Over 20% of Adults Leave the Faiths They Were Raised In
    A recent Pew Research Center study conducted across 36 countries reveals that more than 20% of adults have departed from the religious groups in which they were raised. This trend, known as "religious switching," has resulted in notable declines for Christianity and Buddhism, while an increasing number of adults now identify as religiously unaffiliated.

Violence Against UMC Bishop and Methodists in Nigeria Amid Ministry Efforts

A United Methodist Church bishop was attacked while engaged in ministry work in Nigeria, resulting in damage to a vehicle used as part of his entourage. UMC Council of Bishops President Tracy Malone announced the attack in a statement on Wednesday, reporting that Bishop Ande Emmanuel and other UMC members traveling with him in the Nigerian Episcopal Area were assaulted by an unspecified party.
  • Dave Dummitt Resigns as Willow Creek Senior Pastor to Follow New Aspirations
    After serving as senior pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago for five years, Dave Dummitt announced to the congregation on Sunday that he is stepping down to pursue other dreams. Willow Creek Elder Board Chair Harold Engelmann confirmed that Shawn Williams, the current pastor of the South Barrington campus and executive pastor of weekends, will replace Dummitt as the church's new senior pastor starting in April.
  • Email Threat Results in Arrest of Man Who Menaced Church Members with ‘Butchering’
    A man in Memphis, Tennessee, has been arrested for allegedly sending a threatening email to the choir director of St. Louis Catholic Church, warning that he would “butcher people in that church with a machete” if his demands were not met. Authorities identified the suspect as Zachary Liberto, who faces terrorism charges and is being held on a $200,100 bond.
  • Liberian Lawmakers Mediate Dispute Between UMC and Global Methodist Church
    The United Methodist Church (UMC) and the Global Methodist Church (GMC) are currently facing significant disputes over control of church properties in West Africa, prompting Liberian lawmakers to mediate between the two denominations. Earlier this month, the Liberian Senate held an official hearing that brought representatives from both bodies together, overseen by the Joint Senate Committee.
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  • Suspect Arrested in Kansas Church Vandalism; Trump Promises to ‘Take a Look’

    Authorities have arrested a suspect after vandalism at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Wichita, Kansas, which included writing a Satanic website and burning a flag. The attack occurred on Saturday morning, leading to the cancellation of the evening Mass. Photos shared by the public policy group Kansas Catholic Conference depicted the vandalism, which included the breaking of a statue, damage to candles, and the smashing of at least one window.

  • Federal Terrorism Indictment Issued for Suspect Threatening Lakewood Church

    A homeless man has been indicted on a federal terrorism charge after allegedly threatening a deadly gas attack on Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, on Christmas Eve, 2024. The grand jury in Harris County indicted 33-year-old Aaron Suppes earlier this month for one terroristic threat count related to his actions against the megachurch. 

  • “We Can Live and Die for Something”: Paul Washer Calls for a ‘Militant Church’ on Missions

    At the Shepherds Conference last week, Paul Washer, founder of the HeartCry Missionary Society, emphasized the need for churches to adopt a more “militant” approach to missions. During a Q&A session, Washer highlighted the historical significance of past missionary movements.

  • DOJ Concludes SBC Investigation with No Charges Filed in Sex Abuse Cases

    The U.S. Department of Justice has officially concluded its investigation into the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), having not filed any sexual abuse-related charges. The announcement of the investigation's conclusion came from the Baptist Press, the official news organization of the SBC, which reported on Wednesday that the DOJ had informed SBC attorneys of its decision.

  • Recovering John MacArthur Addresses Shepherds Conference: ‘I’m on the Last Lap’

    John MacArthur, the pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, delivered a video message to the Shepherds Conference, where he acknowledged being on his “last lap” as he continues to recover after spending seven weeks in the hospital. The video, shared on social media this past Saturday, featured the 85-year-old pastor expressing that he felt well, although he noted that his strength had diminished during his hospitalization.

  • SBC Pastors Seek New Efforts to Ban Female Clergy Following Failed Law Amendment

    A group of clergy from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is urging the denomination to reconsider an amendment that would permanently prohibit female pastors at member churches. This amendment fell just 5 percentage points short of the two-thirds support required for passage last year. The pastors and ministry leaders requested that the Law Amendment be brought forth at the upcoming SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas.

  • The Summit Church Files Lawsuit Against NC County Alleging Religious Discrimination

    The Summit Church in North Carolina has filed a lawsuit against the Chatham County Board of Commissioners, claiming religious discrimination after its request to rezone nearly 100 acres for a Chapel Hill campus was denied. The multi-campus church is led by former Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear.

  • Fla. Episcopal Church Reaches Milestone with 3,000th Member

    A Florida-based congregation of The Episcopal Church is defying the broader trend of decline within the denomination, having recently achieved a milestone of 3,000 members. The Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota announced that it surpassed this mark on February 16, during the baptism of infants Casey Jane Clegg and Ruby Mae Spears, who represented the 3,000th and 3,001st members of the parish.
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