United Methodist News Service Headlines

• Mixed blessings in new U.S. church numbers

  Declining membership trend continues; 2010 giving to UMCOR up 146 percent and direct giving to causes jumps 29 percent.

• Could you go alcohol-free for Lent?

  United Methodist board wants to shed light on the world’s top killer by asking people to abstain from alcohol during Lent.

• John Wesley and black colleges

  Walter Kimbrough writes that United Methodists can see the social principles in action when they support the Black College Fund.

• British cite importance of hospital chaplains

  Often targeted by budget cuts, health-care chaplains are shown to improve patient experience.

• Health-care chaplaincy — What’s it good for?

  Chaplains get constant opportunity to serve outside their church walls.