Statements

Thomas Kemper reflects on the meaningful personal and professional relationship he had with Bishop Yambasu, who died on August 16 in Sierra Leone.

Global Ministries joins the World Council of Churches in celebrating "The Light of Peace: Churches in Solidarity with the Korean Peninsula." This important new work includes reflections on peacemaking from Bishop Hee-Soo Jung and Thomas Kemper and recognizes the continuing conflict in Korea, seventy years after it began in 1950.

United Methodist missionaries from around the world gathered virtually on August 11 to hear a farewell message from and pay tribute to Thomas Kemper who is leaving the post of general secretary at the end of the month.

Global Ministries welcomes the decision of a U.S. federal judge to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline, pending a thorough study of the environmental impact of the 1,172-mile ribbon of oil opposed by Native Americans, notably among the Sioux.

In the aftermath of police killings of unarmed Black people, AALM (Asian American Language Ministries) representing the twelve official Asian and Asian American Caucuses of The United Methodist Church, strongly condemn the brutal and avoidable murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and the unconscionable number of precious Black lives that have been lost as a result of racist violence.

Severance Hospital in Seoul ships 10,000 face masks to Global Ministries for distribution to former missionaries to help in fight against COVID-19.

Global Ministries welcomes the decision of a U.S. federal judge to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline, pending a thorough study of the environmental impact of the 1,172-mile ribbon of oil opposed by Native Americans, notably among the Sioux.

The work of overcoming racism in church and society today requires honest confrontation with racism in the past. Dr. David W. Scott has prepared a review of existing literature on African Americans, race and racism in Methodist mission history, published by the independent blog UM & Global.

Advocates for the early release of some prisoners say COVID-19 has exposed the broken and unjust prison systems where 2.2 million people — disproportionally people of color — live in overcrowded cells without proper protection and testing for the disease.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief and other global United Methodists are intervening in the church’s COVID-19 fight in Liberia.

The work of overcoming racism in church and society today requires honest confrontation with racism in the past. Dr. David W. Scott has prepared a review of existing literature on African Americans, race and racism in Methodist mission history, published by the independent blog UM & Global.

Bishop Jung, president of the board of Global Ministries, states that the time has come for forgiveness and reunification on the Korean peninsula and calls disciples of Christ to the work of peacemaking, peacebuilding and peacekeeping.