Latest News

As interconnected crises of land degradation, water scarcity, and food insecurity intensify worldwide, faith communities in India are taking the lead to address these challenges through a holistic "nexus approach." The India Peace Centre, in collaboration with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the National Council of Churches in India, is launching a certificate programme consisting of four educational webinars on the nexus approach to land, water, and food.

Lately, I found myself thinking about the many distractions that interfere with achieving intentions and objectives. The cause of this rumination was turning in my sleep and realizing I had gone to sleep with one earring on, having removed the…

The post Shills and Shells appeared first on United Church of Christ.

New research from the Evangelical Alliance suggests a mixed picture, with 40% of church leaders reporting an increase in volunteering since 2020, while 30% reported a decrease

May 17th is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). We invite you to take action by joining our Love, Faith and Bold Action letter-writing campaign.

As a “Life and Work” centenary conference in Athens entered its second day, the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission of the Churches on International Affairs traveled back in time to consider the scene in Stockholm in 1925—then took a courageous look forward at the many serious global issues under consideration by churches today. 

United Methodists in Kentucky and Missouri, among other states, are trying to bring relief after deadly tornadoes wreaked havoc this weekend. They also offer ways others can help.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Our Whole Lives, the comprehensive, lifespan sexuality education program developed by the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Association. Several events and occasions will celebrate the decades of education and support…

The post ‘We need Our Whole Lives’: OWL celebrates 25 years of sacred spaces for sexuality education with stories of its impact appeared first on United Church of Christ.

[Episcopal News Service] Church leaders at an Episcopal congregation in suburban Chicago, Illinois, and families with children in the church’s day care program are rallying together after a pickup truck crashed through a wall of the church building on May 16, injuring at least three children who were in a classroom at the time. The afternoon crash occurred at Church of the Transfiguration in Palos Park, a southwest suburb located about 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The driver of the truck may have suffered a medical emergency prior to the crash, authorities told WMAQ-TV. The 29-year-old driver, two church staff members and three of the day care’s children were taken to hospitals for treatment, according to local news reports. Two police officers also received medical treatment for inhalation of smoke and construction debris while trying to reach children affected by the crash, according to the Chicago Tribune. About 60 children are enrolled in the day care, though the crash happened at the end of the workday, when many of the children already had been taken home, the Rev. Hunter Farrow, Transfiguration’s priest-in-charge, told Episcopal News Service on May 19 by phone. One of the injured children remained hospitalized for treatment of a broken leg after being temporarily pinned by a wheel of the truck, Farrow said. Despite some serious injuries, Farrow was thankful that no one was critically hurt or killed. “It could have been a lot worse,” he said, especially considering that the truck ended up fully inside the building after crashing through the wall. It also traveled quite a distance from the street to the church building. “It’s not like the church is right by a curb. He dove fully through a parking lot and a yard and then into the side of the church.” The hole in the wall is now boarded up while the congregation follows what might be a long process of appraising the damage and completing repairs. Authorities also ordered power to be cut to the property as a precaution. The church’s sanctuary was unaffected by the crash, but with the power out, the congregation worshipped outside instead on May 18. Farrow hopes to be able to resume worshipping inside soon, and church leaders are working with city officials to find a temporary location for the day care until the building is repaired. In a Facebook post about the crash, Farrow directed the public to a GoFundMe campaign created by one of the parents of the day care students. The campaign, which had raised nearly $12,000 as of May 19, said on its fundraising page that children aged 15 months to 5 years were in the classroom at the time of the crash. “This devastating incident has left families traumatized and our community reeling,” the fundraising page says. “As a community, our hearts go out to these precious children, their families, and the courageous teachers who prioritized the safety of their students. … We have witnessed incredible acts of compassion and resilience in the face of unimaginable circumstances.” One child who was treated and released was a 4-year-old girl, who suffered bumps, bruises and scrapes, including a severe cut to the side of her head that required stitches, her father, JJ Glavan, told the Chicago Tribune. “She was one of the luckier ones,” he said. Another 4-year-old was initially hospitalized after reportedly suffering a fractured skull. The crash is under investigation, according to information posted to the Palos Park Police Department’s Facebook page early May 17. “We are thankful for our first responders who acted immediately to help those in need and thankful for our many partner agencies that assisted in this matter,” police said. “We saw courageous teachers and people running toward the problem rather than away from it, we saw people being action-oriented and neighborly, reaching out, being supportive, generous and selfless. … In this chaotic event we experienced the very best of our friends and neighbors.” – David Paulsen is a senior reporter and editor for Episcopal News Service based in Wisconsin. He can be reached at dpaulsen@episcopalchurch.org.

The United Methodist Church must act at every level to help pastors in crisis and create space for wellness.

Mark Gilmore highlights four key concerns following recent government debates