Thousands of South Carolina lay and clergy will gather virtually June 5-6 for an abbreviated 51st session of Annual Conference. By Jessica Brodie.

Annual conferences in the United States are not legally permitted under current church law to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church. That’s the final word from the Judicial Council, the UMC’s top court, in its ruling released May 10 (Decision 1444). By Jessica Brodie.

Some people pray for the crisis in Ukraine, some send money, while some are on the front lines supplying food, water and medical supplies. But for a group of people at Brookland United Methodist Church in West Columbia, their way to help involves art. By Jessica Brodie.

Fifty South Carolina women headed to Orlando in May for United Women in Faith’s Assembly 2022, a multiday event at the Orlando Convention Center that featured powerful preaching, opportunities for service and action, and the consecration of the largest-ever class of deaconesses and home missioners—60 in total from 29 conferences. By Jessica Brodie.

South Carolina Camps and Retreat Ministries has a received a $14,000 grant on behalf of Sea Islands Camp and Retreat Center (formerly Rural Mission).

In a moving time of worship, UMC bishops celebrated the leadership of the Council of Bishops with the passing of the gavel as New York Area Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton assumed the mantle as the new president of the COB. Bishop Tracy Smith Malone of East Ohio Conference is the new president-designate and Bishop L. Jonathan Holston of South Carolina Conference is the new COB secretary.

Recently, the Methodist Student Network students began an every-several-weeks Saturday morning breakfast served outside the Soup Cellar in the church parking lot.

Holy Grounds coffee ministry has given Augusta Road United Methodist Church in Pelzer an opportunity to get to know each other and share creative ideas for service to God and community.

Trinity UMC, West Columbia, decided to give the donations for Easter lilies to UMCOR for Ukraine relief instead of flowers.

St. Mark United Methodist Church in Seneca kicked off its annual St. Mark Festival by sponsoring a Rise Against Hunger food packaging event in its St. Mark Center.

Delegates to the Wesleyan Covenant Association’s Fourth Global Legislative Assembly endorsed a revised mission statement for their association. They also overwhelmingly and enthusiastically voted to elect the Rev. Jay Therrell as the association’s second president.

South Carolina Resident Bishop L. Jonathan Holston released a statement calling for patience amid a “cacophony of voices” that have been offering details and conversations about the future of The United Methodist Church—what will happen and when. By Jessica Brodie.