Liam Adams
@liamsadams.bsky.social
Religion reporter at The Tennessean. From New England to D.C. to Colorado to Tennessee.
You can also see our full body of work at @pulitzercenter.org's website. Both on this Pulitzer Center landing page and on The Tennessean, the stories aren't behind a paywall. pulitzercenter.org/projects/lib...
A Liberated Church Despite Loss
A costly splintering in the historically Nashville-based United Methodist Church has shaken confidence in one of the most influential Protestant bodies worldwide. An exodus of churches in the U.S. and...
pulitzercenter.org
November 12, 2025 at 7:11 PM
You can also see our full body of work at @pulitzercenter.org's website. Both on this Pulitzer Center landing page and on The Tennessean, the stories aren't behind a paywall. pulitzercenter.org/projects/lib...
And then here's that video: www.tennessean.com/videos/news/...
After splintering, how the Zimbabwe church is moving past colonialism as UMC restructures
United Methodists just ratified a landmark restructuring that gives regions outside the U.S. more say. Here's what it looks like daily in Zimbabwe.
www.tennessean.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:35 PM
And then here's that video: www.tennessean.com/videos/news/...
I'm really excited for you all to read this story of United Methodism in Zimbabwe, but perhaps more excited for you to watch the video and see the photos from my colleague
Andrew Nelles.
Here's the gallery: www.tennessean.com/picture-gall...
Andrew Nelles.
Here's the gallery: www.tennessean.com/picture-gall...
A liberated Zimbabwe church after UMC splintering points to historic shift across Africa
An expecting mothers' ward, high school, and college for students from across Africa. What the UMC in Zimbabwe says about turning point on continent.
www.tennessean.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I'm really excited for you all to read this story of United Methodism in Zimbabwe, but perhaps more excited for you to watch the video and see the photos from my colleague
Andrew Nelles.
Here's the gallery: www.tennessean.com/picture-gall...
Andrew Nelles.
Here's the gallery: www.tennessean.com/picture-gall...
STORY: The UMC ratified a historic restructuring that grants more autonomy to United Methodists outside the U.S. Many hope it will help curb additional fissures on the international stage. #UMC www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
Post-splintering, UMC ratifies restructuring, gives autonomy to non-US churches
Plan to give regional autonomy to United Methodists outside U.S. passes, a historic win following splintering sparked by disputes over LGBTQ+ rights.
www.tennessean.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:46 PM
STORY: The UMC ratified a historic restructuring that grants more autonomy to United Methodists outside the U.S. Many hope it will help curb additional fissures on the international stage. #UMC www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
BREAKING: The United Methodist Church overwhelmingly voted to ratify regionalization, a plan to restructure the denomination giving regions across the globe more autonomy. The UMC Council of Bishops just announced the results, story coming soon. #UMC www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/newsdetail/u...
UMC Bishops finish Canvassing of Amendments; All Four are Ratified
The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church has completed canvassing the votes of annual conferences on the four constitutional amendments that were approved by the 2024 General Conference. ...
www.unitedmethodistbishops.org
November 5, 2025 at 7:35 PM
BREAKING: The United Methodist Church overwhelmingly voted to ratify regionalization, a plan to restructure the denomination giving regions across the globe more autonomy. The UMC Council of Bishops just announced the results, story coming soon. #UMC www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/newsdetail/u...
A quick procedural update: the announcement of the regionalization results will follow deliberations among the #UMC Council of Bishops. The COB is currently in executive session, so that's happening now. I don't expect updates to come from the COB reconvening in open session.
November 5, 2025 at 5:50 PM
A quick procedural update: the announcement of the regionalization results will follow deliberations among the #UMC Council of Bishops. The COB is currently in executive session, so that's happening now. I don't expect updates to come from the COB reconvening in open session.
…But our time in Zimbabwe gave us a window into what regionalization truly looks like in the worship, the ministry, and how United Methodists in Africa understand their religious identity in a way that’s independent from the U.S. church. #UMC
November 5, 2025 at 4:42 PM
…But our time in Zimbabwe gave us a window into what regionalization truly looks like in the worship, the ministry, and how United Methodists in Africa understand their religious identity in a way that’s independent from the U.S. church. #UMC
When we get news of the results of the vote on regionalization — regional assemblies have been voting on throughout 2025 and the UMC Council of Bishops will announce the final tally potentially today — it matters for the whole UMC, not just the U.S. or Africa…
#UMC
#UMC
November 5, 2025 at 4:42 PM
When we get news of the results of the vote on regionalization — regional assemblies have been voting on throughout 2025 and the UMC Council of Bishops will announce the final tally potentially today — it matters for the whole UMC, not just the U.S. or Africa…
#UMC
#UMC
A report on a critical malaria research center housed on the campus of the UMC-affiliated Africa University. The research center suffered from USAID cuts, but UMC Global Ministries stepped in to revive the work. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
#UMC
#UMC
A top Zimbabwe malaria research center killed by USAID closure, resurrected by UMC
A malaria research center in Mutare, Zimbabwe helps test insecticide resistance. The critical work almost ended with USAID closure.
www.tennessean.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:41 PM
A report on a critical malaria research center housed on the campus of the UMC-affiliated Africa University. The research center suffered from USAID cuts, but UMC Global Ministries stepped in to revive the work. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
#UMC
#UMC
Dispatch from a visit to a United Methodist high school in Murewa: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
#UMC
#UMC
As fracturing harms UMC brand, how a Zimbabwe high school displays pride in denomination
The United Methodist name and brand means everything for communities with UMC-backed schools and hospitals. Here's how it shines in Murewa, Zimbabwe.
www.tennessean.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Dispatch from a visit to a United Methodist high school in Murewa: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
#UMC
#UMC
Our expectations prior to traveling to Zimbabwe were, unsurprisingly, surpassed and changed amid our reporting on the ground. And we have an exciting, big-picture story to still tell you. In the meantime, here are the stories we’ve already come back with…
#UMC
#UMC
November 5, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Our expectations prior to traveling to Zimbabwe were, unsurprisingly, surpassed and changed amid our reporting on the ground. And we have an exciting, big-picture story to still tell you. In the meantime, here are the stories we’ve already come back with…
#UMC
#UMC
So, we began conversations with @pulitzercenter.org, ultimately leading to a partnership that made it possible for us to travel to Zimbabwe in late October. #UMC
www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
'Whoo whoo, our elephant!' United Methodists in Zimbabwe unify ahead of historic decision
The United Methodist Church is on the verge of a historic decision following a costly splintering. Here's how it's shaping up in Zimbabwe.
www.tennessean.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:40 PM
So, we began conversations with @pulitzercenter.org, ultimately leading to a partnership that made it possible for us to travel to Zimbabwe in late October. #UMC
www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
Then, conflict in parts of Africa escalated. It became clear the African continent was where the most significant news about the UMC was occurring. And we at The Tennessean realized we needed to see it for ourselves. #UMC
November 5, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Then, conflict in parts of Africa escalated. It became clear the African continent was where the most significant news about the UMC was occurring. And we at The Tennessean realized we needed to see it for ourselves. #UMC
So, a quick summary: the UMC suffered a costly splintering and the exodus of churches between 2019-2023. In 2024, the UMC General Conference removed LGBTQ+ restrictions and preliminarily passed regionalization. #UMC
www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
United Methodists took historic steps toward inclusion but ‘big tent’ work has just begun
United Methodist top legislative assembly removed anti-LGBTQ+ restrictions and a new regional plan, hoping to model a new "big tent." Will it work?
www.tennessean.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:40 PM
So, a quick summary: the UMC suffered a costly splintering and the exodus of churches between 2019-2023. In 2024, the UMC General Conference removed LGBTQ+ restrictions and preliminarily passed regionalization. #UMC
www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
First, here’s our latest story that includes dispatches from Zimbabwe to illustrate the day-to-day application of this plan to restructure the denomination, known as regionalization. #UMC
www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
As UMC awaits results on historic restructuring, what it looks like day to day in Zimbabwe
Results from a worldwide vote in the United Methodists Church to empower regions outside the U.S. are imminent. How Zimbabweans apply the idea daily.
www.tennessean.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:39 PM
First, here’s our latest story that includes dispatches from Zimbabwe to illustrate the day-to-day application of this plan to restructure the denomination, known as regionalization. #UMC
www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
Interesting! What brought you out to Africa University at the time? And ya, it seems like they have had a presence with UMC ministries in that area for a while. We also visited a hospital that's dealing with USAID cuts for certain programs.
November 4, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Interesting! What brought you out to Africa University at the time? And ya, it seems like they have had a presence with UMC ministries in that area for a while. We also visited a hospital that's dealing with USAID cuts for certain programs.