Church Leadership

Bishops
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., presides over a session of the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Saenz, who leads the Horizon Texas Conference, is co-convener of the design team for this October’s Leadership Gathering. He and other organizers hope to engage all United Methodist in the gathering through a survey and through webinars scheduled January through March. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Bishops ask all to help shape church’s future

The Council of Bishops is inviting all United Methodists to participate in a historic denomination-wide survey and join in a series of webinars to prepare for this October’s Leadership Gathering.
Faith Stories
This year, United Methodists mourned the passing of the bishop behind a popular Bible study, a cowboy turned preacher, the first Native American woman to be a United Methodist elder, and the last surviving World War II flying ace. Candle image by Gerd Altmann, courtesy of Pixabay; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

2025: Remembering United Methodists of note

This year, United Methodists mourned the passing of the bishop behind a popular Bible study, an influential advocate ordained on his deathbed and the last surviving World War II flying ace in the U.S.
Faith Stories
Bishop Violet L. Fisher, the first Black woman elected bishop in the Northeastern Jurisdiction, died Nov. 17 at the age of 86. Photo courtesy of the Council of Bishops.

Bishop Violet L. Fisher remembered as trailblazer

The United Methodist, who made history as the first Black woman elected bishop in the Northeastern Jurisdiction, also earned admiration across the church for her powerful preaching and tender pastoral care.
Church Leadership
The Rev. Young Min Paik, Lead Hub director for South Korea for the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, delivers a lecture during ASCEND 2025. The Nov. 3-7 Asian young adults leadership training brought together Methodist young adults from Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia and Vietnam for a week of study, worship and hands-on learning. Photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.

Asian young adults seek new vision of servant leadership

ASCEND 2025 leadership training combines theological grounding with practical ministry planning to equip young leaders for spiritual formation and effective service.

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