Key points:
- The United Methodist Church’s Southern Africa Regional Conference held a retreat to define the church’s direction and growth for the next five years.
- “The church is embracing a future where African Methodists become active partners and stewards of mission rather than passive recipients of support,” said the Rev. John Makaniko, the
- The Rev. Adriano Kilende of Western Angola said the retreat was inspiring as it brought together leaders to share ideas on the future of the church.
Leaders from the Southern Africa Regional Conference gathered for a pioneering retreat to map a way forward for The United Methodist Church in Southern Africa.
Delegates at the April 9-11 meeting in Maputo established a governance model that effectively returns power and management responsibility to the region. Church leaders say the conference work could offer a model that can be replicated in other regions of the connection as United Methodists live into regionalization.
Approved by the 2024 General Conference and ratified by annual conference voters last year, regionalization gives The United Methodist Church in the U.S. and church regions in Africa, Europe and the Philippines the same decision-making authority. Each regional conference is able to adapt parts of the Book of Discipline, the denomination’s policy book, to its own legal and missional contexts.
Bishop João Filimone Sambo of Mozambique, secretary of the Southern Africa Regional Conference College of Bishops and host of the event, emphasized the significance and responsibility of the moment.
“We remind you that … the church has high expectations for this historic gathering in your lives and in this region.”
Sambo leads the Mozambique-South Africa-Eswatini-Madagascar Episcopal Area. He encouraged the 29 delegates to commit themselves, “so that the work may be visible, tangible and impactful for The United Methodist Church. Your work for the Lord will not be in vain.”
The Rev. John Makaniko, newly elected conference vice secretary and Harare East District superintendent in the Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana Episcopal Area, said the conference reaffirmed the growth and future direction of the church in Southern Africa.
“Most significant was the commitment to contextualising mission and ministry within the realities of African communities while remaining fully connected to the worldwide United Methodist connection. The retreat recognized that effective ministry must speak to the cultural, social, economic and spiritual realities of the people we serve,” he said.
The Southern Africa Regional Conference includes the East Angola; Western Angola; Mozambique-South Africa-Eswatini-Madagascar; and the Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana episcopal areas. The conference includes members who speak English, Portuguese, Shona and a variety of other African languages.
Makaniko said the retreat marked a defining moment in the life of The United Methodist Church in Southern Africa, creating a framework that is responsive to the needs of people while remaining faithful to Wesleyan theology and United Methodist polity.
“By encouraging local resource mobilization and self-reliance, the church is embracing a future where African Methodists become active partners and stewards of mission rather than passive recipients of support,” he said.
“Above all, the retreat demonstrated that the future of Methodism in Southern Africa is bright. As one of the fastest growing regions of the church, we are called to lead with faith, vision, accountability and a commitment to holistic transformation rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
During the April meeting, directors of connectional ministries, project coordinators and treasurers of the annual conferences developed a budgetary and strategic roadmap for the 2026-2030 five-year period following the dissolution of the Africa Central Conference last year. The gathering continued work done during a March virtual session presided over by Western Angola Bishop Gaspar João Domingos. That session established the legal and administrative foundations of the new region.
In March, the plenary approved the Southern Africa Regional Conference constitution and bylaws, introducing historic resolutions. Notable among these was the decision to create a bilingual and decentralized secretariat (head office) to optimize costs and ensure continuity, and the approval of a more robust financial governance structure.
Conference leadership also was formally ratified with elected leaders including Makaniko, Arlindo Sambo (treasurer) and Hubert Chiwara (chair of the finance committee). Coordinators were appointed for strategic areas such as children, youth, young adults, women, men, evangelism and communication.
Makaniko said the gathering emphasized leadership development and theological education.
“The church acknowledged the need to equip both clergy and laity with relevant skills, contextual theological training and discipleship resources that address contemporary African challenges. This reflects the Wesleyan commitment to transformational discipleship and lifelong learning,” he said.
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The Rev. Adriano Kilende of Western Angola said the retreat was an enriching experience.
“For the first time, I had the opportunity to see leaders from across the region gathered together with one purpose: to reflect, pray and work on a strategic plan for the future of the church in Southern Africa.”
He said it was inspiring to see leaders sharing ideas, challenges and dreams for the growth of The United Methodist Church in the region.
“The retreat also reminded us that the future of the church depends on empowering young leaders, strengthening discipleship and responding to the social and spiritual needs of our communities,” Kilende said.
The keynote speaker, Virgílio Juvane — a United Methodist, executive director of OpSec Security, UNESCO veteran and Mozambique government officer — offered a strategic vision for the church.
Sharing his testimony of having been born in the maternity ward of Chicuque United Methodist Hospital in Southeastern Mozambique, he called for a return to the areas where the church has historically demonstrated excellence and humanism, such as healthcare and education.
Juvane warned that the success of this transformation requires a true paradigm shift and change in mindset. He said the Southern Africa Regional Conference’s vision must be aligned with global and continental dynamics, incorporating the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 and the African Union’s “Agenda 2063.”
Beyond the intensive technical planning sessions, the retreat provided an opportunity for fellowship and communion among participants from the various annual conferences.
Kilende said the retreat was not just a meeting, but the beginning of a new season of vision and strategic direction for the church.
“My dream for the future of The United Methodist Church in Southern Africa is to see a united, growing and impactful church — a church that remains faithful to its mission, embraces innovation, invests in leadership development, and becomes a strong voice of hope and transformation in society.”
Penicela Nhambiu is a communicator of The United Methodist Church in Mozambique and member of the United Methodist Communications board. Eveline Chikwanah, a UM News correspondent based in Harare, Zimbabwe, contributed to this story.
Media contact: Julie Dwyer, news editor, newsdesk@umcom.org or 615-742-5469. To read more news from the United Methodist Church, subscribe to the free UM News Digests newsletter.
