United Methodist Bishops remember victims of September 11
9/10/2021 - MinistriesThe Bishops of The United Methodist Church are paying homage to those who were lost and injured during the 9/11 terrorist attacks 20 years ago in the United States.
News
WMC Names Bishop Yambasu as Recipient of 2020 World Methodist Peace Award
9/3/2021 - Bishop NewsThe World Methodist Council (WMC) has named the late Bishop John K. Yambasu as the recipient of the World Methodist Peace Award for 2020. Bishop Yambasu served as The United Methodist Church (UMC) resident bishop of Sierra Leone until his untimely ...
Bishop Beverly Shamana dies at age 81
8/6/2021 - Bishop NewsBishop Beverly J. Shamana, a retired bishop of The United Methodist Church, has died. She died on August 1, 2021 at age 81. She was elected and consecrated to the Episcopacy in 2000 in the Western Jurisdiction. She was the second black woman elected ...
Council of Bishops hires Dr. David Field as new Ecumenical Staff Officer
7/26/2021 - EcumenicalThe Council of Bishops (COB) of The United Methodist Church (UMC) has hired Dr. David N. Field as the new Ecumenical Staff Officer for Faith Order and Theological Dialogue.
Apply for Council of Bishops' Local Ecumenical/Interreligious Initiatives grants
7/6/2021 - EcumenicalThe Council of Bishops is offering three (3) grants of $1,000 each to groups within annual conferences for special projects designed to strengthen ecumenical and/or interreligious relationships.
Former President of UMC Council of Bishops Bishop Yeakel dies at 93
7/6/2021 - Bishop NewsFormer President of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church Bishop Joseph H. Yeakel died on Sunday, July 4, 2021.
COB congratulates Bishop Domingos as 5th Chancellor of Africa University
6/29/2021 - MinistriesThe Council of Bishops is congratulating Bishop Gaspar Joao Domingos of the West Angola Episcopal Area on his election as the 5th Chancellor of Africa University.
COB approves episcopal supervision recommendations for SCJ
6/2/2021 - Bishop News MinistriesThe Council of Bishops (COB) of The United Methodist Church has approved episcopal supervision recommendations for the South Central Jurisdiction (SCJ), due to the retirement of two bishops.
Bishop Daniel Arichea, retired bishop in the Philippines, dies
6/1/2021 - Bishop NewsBishop Daniel C. Arichea, Jr., a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church, died today, June 1, 2021. He was elected bishop in the Philippines Central Conference in November 1994.
COB approves episcopal supervision recommendations for SEJ
5/14/2021 - MinistriesThe Council of Bishops (COB) of The United Methodist Church has approved episcopal supervision recommendations for the Southeastern Jurisdiction (SEJ), due to the retirement of four bishops.
UMC Bishops end five-day online meeting; clarify key decisions
4/30/2021 - Bishop NewsThe bishops of The United Methodist Church gathered online for five days to worship, to discern ways to best offer leadership to the church in this liminal time and to hear about the exciting mission and ministry occurring across the global ...
Council of Bishops to gather in virtual meeting April 26 to April 30
4/22/2021 - Bishop NewsThe bishops of The United Methodist Church will meet April 26 to April 30 in a virtual gathering that will bring together more than 120 episcopal leaders from across the globe.
Methodist colleges to host global Consultation on Vaccine Equity
4/22/2021 - MinistriesInternational Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities (IAMSCU) is inviting people for the “IAMSCU Consultation on Vaccine Equity” which will involve global partners from Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and Eurasia, Latin America and ...
Bishops call for dismantling systematic racism in aftermath of George Floyd verdict
4/20/2021 - EcumenicalThe Council of Bishops stands together with all justice-loving people around the world in prayerfully bearing witnesses to the jury's decision that convicted former police officer Derek Chauvin of murdering George Floyd.
Judicial Council declines COB request to rule on Protocol legislation
4/16/2021 - MinistriesThe highest court in The United Methodist Church has exercised its discretion to decline a request by bishops to decide whether the plan to split the church, known as the Protocol, is constitutional.
Ecumenical Staff Officer Dr. Tau leaves COB, replacement being sought
4/9/2021After more than four years as the Ecumenical Staff Officer for Faith Order and Theological Development for the Council of Bishops (COB) of The United Methodist Church (UMC), the Rev. Kyle Tau, PhD, is leaving to pursue new ventures in his ministry.
Bishops offer devotions for Holy Week 2021
3/29/2021 - MinistriesThe Council of Bishops is offering daily devotions during Holy Week, culminating into the Good Friday message by COB President Cynthia Fierro Harvey. The devotions include a video testimony and journal page for discussion.
United Methodist Bishops Reconsider May 8 Special Session of General Conference
3/22/2021 - Bishop NewsThe Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church met on Monday, March 22, 2021 and decided that in the best interest of the church at this time, they would cancel the Special Session of the General Conference which was set for May 8, 2021.
2021 NWCU Registration is now open
3/12/2021 - EcumenicalIt has been quite a year, and plans have continued to change, but the National Workshop on Christian Unity will go on for 2021! We will have an entirely online Workshop which gives us the opportunity to provide you with the same great programming ...
Bishops call Special Session of General Conference, issue timeline forward
2/24/2021 - Bishop NewsIn response to the further postponement of the 2020 General Conference, the Council of Bishops (COB) is calling a Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church (UMC) to be convened virtually on May 8, 2021.
UMC bishops offer Lenten Season Devotions
2/16/2021 - MinistriesThe Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church will be offering a weekly devotion during the Lenten season which begins this week. Each Wednesday during Lent and every day during Holy Week, a 15-minute recorded devotion, led by a bishop and ...
Retired Bishop F. Herbert Skeete dies at 90
2/11/2021 - Bishop NewsBishop F. Herbert Skeete, a retired bishop of The United Methodist Church, passed away at noon February 11, 2021.
Catholics, United Methodists dialogue members reveal new publication
2/10/2021 - Ecumenical Ecumenical: DialoguesRepresentatives of The United Methodist Church and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops announced the release of the results of its latest round of dialogue in the form of a two-part publication.
COB Ecumenical Officer meets with leaders of UMC agencies
2/5/2021 - EcumenicalAs the new Ecumenical Officer for the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church, Bishop Sally Dyck met with several agency leaders on February 1 to talk with them about how they engage in ecumenical and interreligious ministry.
Churches Uniting in Christ Release Resources for Lent 2021
2/1/2021 - EcumenicalPress Release Birmingham, AL: Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, Chair of the Coordinating Council of Churches Uniting in Christ announces the release of new, ecumenical resources for the use of local congregations for this year’s Lenten and ...
United Methodist Church Bishops to gather in one-day session on February 18
1/28/2021 - Bishop NewsThe Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church will have a one-day virtual meeting of the more than 120 active and retired bishops on February 18, 2021 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time.
United Methodist Bishops congratulate President Biden and Vice President Harris
1/21/2021 - Bishop NewsOn behalf of the more than 12 million United Methodists throughout the world, the Bishops of The United Methodist Church congratulate former Vice President Joe Biden on his inauguration as the 46h President of the United States.
UMC bishops join in mourning Africa University Vice Chancellor Professor Furusa
1/20/2021 - MinistriesThe Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is joining the global community in mourning the death of Africa University Vice Chancellor Professor Munashe Furusa, who died last week on January 13, 2021 after a short illness in Mutare, ...
A Call to Action for The United Methodist Church in Times of Challenge
1/15/2021 - MinistriesMy prayer is that the people of The United Methodist Church will not sleep through this revolution. We must be willing to adopt the new hearts, minds and skills necessary to build a church and world where all belong and are embraced as beloved of ...
Bishops take to the pulpit in 2021 Ebony Bishops Preaching Series at Asbury UMC
1/15/2021 - MinistriesAsbury United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. is pleased to announce its “2021 Ebony Bishops Preaching Series.” Through this series, Asbury offers its national and historic pulpit to the Ebony Bishops of The United Methodist Church to bring ...
British Methodists offer prayers for the USA during political transition
1/8/2021 - EcumenicalThe Rev. Richard Teal, President of the Methodist Conference and Mrs. Carolyn Lawrence, Vice-President of the Methodist Conference of the Methodist Church in Britain have sent a pastoral letter to the leaders of The United Methodist Church to offer ...
Uniting Church in Australia offers prayers for USA
1/8/2021 - EcumenicalPresident of the Uniting Church in Australia Dr Deidre Palmer has sent a letter to church leaders in the USA offering support and prayers during this trying time. The Uniting Church is the third largest Christian denomination in Australia and the ...
World Council of Churches calling for peace in USA
1/8/2021 - EcumenicalFr. Ioan Sauca, the Interim General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, has sent a letter to the leaders of communions in the USA, in in the aftermath of the attack on the Capitol Building to convey the renewed and strengthened solidarity of ...
United Methodist Bishops condemn violence at U.S. Capitol
1/6/2021 - MinistriesThis alarming occupation and violence at the U.S. Capitol are symptomatic of the vitriol and poison that now infects our culture. It disheartens.
Join in Week of Prayer for Christian Unity January 18-25, 2021
1/4/2021 - EcumenicalThe Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated every year January 18-25, or around the feast of Pentecost in some parts of the world. Every United Methodist annual conference is encouraged to participate with ecumenical services of prayer and ...
UMC Bishops call for optimism and hope in 2021
12/15/2020 - Ministries"We bask in the hope that something new is coming and in the promise that we can face the future unafraid. As people of faith, we stand in the confidence that God, who began a good thing in us, will see it to fruition." Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, ...
United Methodist Bishops in Philippines get term extension
12/8/2020 - MinistriesThe Philippines Central Conference's coordinating council voted to extend the episcopal leadership of the country's three incumbent bishops through the end of 2021. Extending the bishops' terms sparked controversy over the authority of the ...
United Methodist bishops honor scholar, advocate Rev. Dr. McClain
11/24/2020 - MinistriesThe Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is honoring and remembering the legacy of the Rev. Dr. William Bobby McClain, a distinguished scholar, pastor, advocate and educator who died on November 18, 2020 at age 82.
United Methodist Global AIDS Committee plans World AIDS Day Service
11/9/2020 - MinistriesThe United Methodist Global AIDS Committee has announced plans for a special service to commemorate World AIDS Day on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at 1:00 PM CT.
UMC Bishops offer innovative ideas for future of the global denomination
11/5/2020 - Bishop NewsIn the midst of a pandemic, racial unrest, and denominational and political anxiety, the bishops of The United Methodist Church met in a virtual format for four days to focus on the leadership necessary to chart a new future for the global ...
African bishops: Let’s make our own choices
10/30/2020 - Bishop NewsPress Release - October 30, 2020 United Methodist Bishops from Africa have voiced their continued commitment to The United Methodist Church and vowed to stay in the denomination despite the potential split expected at the next General Conference ...
United Methodist Bishops meet to discuss church future, epidemic crisis
10/28/2020 - Bishop NewsThe Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church will meet November 2-5 in the midst of a pandemic, racial unrest, denominational and political anxiety.
Teaching and Preaching: Churches Revisioning Unity in Christ during Holidays
10/19/2020 - EcumenicalPRESS RELEASE: October 19, 2020 Birmingham, AL - Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC), an ecumenical multi-lateral dialogue among ten Protestant faith communions in the USA announces the release of new, ecumenical resources for local congregations to ...
U.S. Bishops call for full participation in November elections
10/12/2020 - MinistriesUnited Methodist bishops based in the United States today issued a statement on Faith and Democracy, calling on the people of The United Methodist Church to support voter registration and encourage people to vote in the November 3 elections.
Bishop Warner Brown assigned as interim bishop of Sierra Leone Annual Conference
9/30/2020 - Bishop NewsThe Council of Bishops (COB) has assigned former president of the Council retired Bishop Warner Brown as the interim bishop for the Sierra Leone Area of The United Methodist Church following the death of Bishop John Yambasu who died on August 16.
Bishops offer 2021 grants for local ecumenical initiatives
9/28/2020 - EcumenicalFor Immediate Release Monday, September 28, 2020 WASHINGTON, D.C.– The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 Local Initiatives Grants. Bishop Sally Dyck, Ecumenical Officer for the Council ...
United Methodist Church and Episcopal Church put full communion plans on hold
9/17/2020 - Bishop News Ecumenical Ecumenical: DialoguesThe United Methodist – Episcopal Church Dialogue Committee has agreed that it is not prudent for our churches to press forward with action on full communion next year. Instead, the Committee recommends that both bodies take up the full-communion ...
COB seeks applications for Bossey scholarship
9/14/2020 - Ecumenical Ecumenical: Grants/ScholarshipsThe Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is inviting applications for a scholarship to attend The Ecumenical Institute at Bossey in Switzerland.
Livestream for Bishop Yambasu’s funeral
9/3/2020 - Bishop NewsThe funeral for Bishop John Yambasu, the late resident bishop of the Sierra Leone Annual Conference, set for Sunday, September 6, 2020, will be livestreamed.
Bishop J. Woodrow Hearn dies
8/31/2020 - Bishop NewsRetired United Methodist Bishop J. Woodrow Hearn died last night (August 30, 2020) at home in Galveston, Texas, after a long battle with illness. He was 89.