Coronavirus

Clergy morale in today's time

Reports indicate that clergy burnout is at an all-time high. Showing them appreciation would go a long way.

Access to COVID-19 vaccines continues to be a global challenge. The Wesleyan Covenant Association is raising funds to help General Conference delegates in Africa, Eurasia and the Philippines to get the shots. But United Methodist bishops and other church leaders say the plan appears to serve an agenda and not the community as a whole. Coronavirus image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; syringe image by Arek Socha, courtesy of Pixabay; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Bishops, others denounce WCA’s vaccine plan

Multiple United Methodist leaders, including some bishops, are raising ethical concerns about the Wesleyan Covenant Association’s plan to help General Conference delegates in Africa, Europe and the Philippines receive COVID-19 vaccines.

Local Church

The God’s Flock children’s choir from Belmont United Methodist Church sings “Away in a Manger” during an outdoor service in 2021 at Rose Park in Nashville, Tenn. In this second Advent season during the COVID-19 pandemic, the church held two Christmas Eve services, one of them outdoors. United Methodist congregations are making adjustments to keep parishioners safe as the omicron variant surges. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Churches face another test with omicron

Some United Methodist congregations in the U.S. return to online-only gatherings as case numbers mount.

Local Church

Members of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Lakeland, Tenn., enact the Nativity in 2020. The church plans to hold its Christmas Eve service outside in front of the stable and manger this year. Churches continue to be creative in finding ways to celebrate Christ’s birth and keep people safe during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo courtesy of St. Paul United Methodist Church.

Reviving Christmas cheer in dark times

In this second year of the pandemic, United Methodist churches are getting creative in helping people experience Christ’s birth and love’s pure light.

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