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Bishops

General Church
Bishop Tracy S. Malone addresses the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C., after taking over as president of the denomination’s Council of Bishops from outgoing council president Bishop Thomas Bickerton (rear). The Council of Bishops is calling for a five-day leadership gathering in April or May 2026. The bishops plan to hold the gathering instead of the special session of General Conference that they previously announced. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Bishops plan for different kind of gathering

United Methodist bishops have called for a leadership gathering in 2026 — rather than a special session of General Conference. Here is what is known so far about the event.
Central Conferences
Central Congo Bishop Daniel O. Lunge (from right), East Congo Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda and other episcopal leaders pray for members of the Africa University community during a worship service Sept. 4 in the Kwang Lim Chapel on campus at the Africa Colleges of Bishops retreat in Mutare, Zimbabwe. During the Sept. 2-5 meeting, 11 episcopal leaders from the continent pledged their support for worldwide regionalization and expressed a commitment to remain in The United Methodist Church. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

African bishops commit to church unity

During the Africa Colleges of Bishops meeting, 11 episcopal leaders from the African continent pledged their support for worldwide regionalization and expressed a commitment to stay in the United Methodist connection.
General Church
Zimbabwe Episcopal Area Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa preaches during the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Nhiwatiwa is part of an episcopal team assigned to serve the Nigeria Episcopal Area through the end of the year. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Nigerian United Methodists move toward new leadership

The United Methodist Church of Nigeria is on path to elect episcopal leadership, as all four conferences hold special sessions and affirm remaining in the denomination.
General Church
Nigeria Area Bishop John Wesley Yohanna says a prayer alongside members of his cabinet during a gathering of United Methodists from the North East and Southern Nigeria annual conferences on July 24 at McBride United Methodist Church in Jalingo. Yohanna announced July 29 that he has left The United Methodist Church. Photo by Ramson Danjuma, communications director for the North East Nigeria Conference.

Nigeria bishop leaves United Methodist Church

Bishop John Wesley Yohanna has joined a new Methodist denomination, and the Council of Bishops will name interim leadership for The United Methodist Church in Nigeria.

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