Annual Conference

Bishop David Graves commissions the Rev. Shadreck Kagoro alongside four other provisional elders at the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference in June. The Lewis Center for Church Leadership has released its annual report on clergy ages. With 6.5% of its elders under the age of 35, the Alabama-West Florida Conference is tied for 10th this year among the denomination’s 53 U.S. conferences in its percentage of young elders. Photo by Luke Lucas, Alabama-West Florida Conference.

Church exits influence clergy age trends

In its latest study of United Methodist clergy, the Lewis Center for Church Leadership discusses the impact of disaffiliations.

Bishops

Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, who leads the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware conferences, anoints the forehead of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez during the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference held July 10-12 in Pittsburgh. To the left is Bishop John R. Schol and Bishop Marcus Matthews. Photo by James Lee, courtesy of the United Methodists of Eastern Pennsylvania Facebook page.

US sees big changes in bishop assignments

In a history-making development, two United Methodist bishops will lead conferences across jurisdictional lines. The change results from unprecedented levels of collaboration among jurisdictional leaders.

General Conference

Bishop David Alan Bard of the Michigan Episcopal Area views the result of a close vote during debate April 30 at the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Delegates voted to reduce the base rate for The United Methodist Church’s apportionment formula. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

General Conference reduces requested giving

After vigorous debate, delegates voted to reduce the base rate — a key component used in calculating requested annual-conference apportionments.

Central Conferences

Christine Schneider. Photo courtesy of the author.

Central conferences already have exit paths

A European United Methodist responds to a recent commentary by the Rev. Rob Renfroe, president of the traditionalist caucus Good News.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now