One of South Carolina’s oldest and largest United Methodist churches has joined the Reconciling Ministries Network. Washington Street UMC Church Council voted unanimously July 29 to join the network, an unofficial caucus of United Methodists that promotes full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and other individuals in the life of the church. The vote makes Washington Street the only reconciling congregation in the South Carolina Conference of the UMC, though there are at least 11 additional reconciling Sunday school classes and other communities in various UMCs across the state. By Jessica Brodie.

A year after a double-whammy of hurricanes swept through South Carolina, swamping rivers, dams and towns alike, the United Methodist connection is rallying for recovery. United Methodists across South Carolina will get the chance to help people through a conference-wide Disaster Recovery Day of Service set for Sept. 21. By Jessica Brodie.

They’ve seen the statistics, seen the toll it’s taken on families—young men with so much promise making poor choices and then winding up behind bars. Now, one United Methodist church is doing its part to fight back. On Aug. 16-17, Cumberland United Methodist Church, in collaboration with community partners, hosted Anti-Incarceration Weekend, two days filled with honest discussion about real consequences when people choose the wrong path. By Jessica Brodie and Dr. Anthony Hodge.