Church Leadership

General Church
Bishops Tracy S. Malone and Ruben Saenz Jr. preside over a memorial service on April 26 during the bishops’ spring meeting in Jacksonville, Fla. Saenz is the new Council of Bishops president and co-convener of the 2026 Leadership Gathering’s design team. Malone, the council’s immediate past president, said the Oct. 20-24 event is part of the bishops’ commitment “to providing strategic, visionary, inclusive, innovative and missional leadership for the church.” Photo by Paul Gómez, United Methodist Communications.

Survey gives shape to Leadership Gathering

United Methodists participating in the Leadership Gathering got a preview April 25 of what they will be working on when they meet in October.
Bishops
Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone, who also leads the Indiana Conference, delivers her final presidential address during the bishops’ spring meeting in Jacksonville, Fla. She challenged the bishops to let go of anxiety about the institution and see how God is forming the church for the future. Screen shot courtesy of the Council of Bishops via Facebook by UM News.

Bishops urged to stop looking backward

In a time of great instability and injustice, United Methodist Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone encouraged fellow church leaders to move beyond institutional anxieties and be formed anew as witnesses for Christ.
Church Leadership
Lufula Charlotte smiles as she receives her training certificate from United Methodist Bishop Antoine Kalema Tambwe during an official ceremony in Kindu, Congo. Lufula is one of more than 60 pastors’ wives who completed a leadership program supported by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News.

Pastors’ wives help strengthen ministry in East Congo

The East Congo Episcopal Area has provided training to help wives of United Methodist clergy become leaders and drive community development in rural areas.
Social Concerns
Faith leaders carry a banner lifting up Jesus’ call for social justice in Matthew 25 during a Palm Sunday Witness in Nashville, Tenn. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

United Methodists march on Palm Sunday

Christians in some 30 cities and 16 states across the U.S. joined together to protest rising authoritarianism, racism and Christian nationalism.

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