Bishops Announce 2026 Leadership Gathering Dates, Vision Statement

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Council of Bishops | May 5, 2025

WASHINGTON, D. C. – The bishops of The United Methodist Church gathered in Chicago April 27- May 2, 2025, around the theme One - With Christ, With Each Other, In Ministry to worship, learn, discern new ways to offer leadership to the church and hear about the exciting mission and ministry occurring across the worldwide connection.

During the meeting, which was attended by about 100 active and retired bishops from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, the Council of Bishops celebrated the lives and ministries of their colleagues and spouses who have joined the Church Triumphant. The bishops began each day in covenant groups and corporate worship.

The plenary session of the meeting opened on Monday, April 28, with worship and the presidential address in which Bishop Tracy S. Malone, president of the Council, said "this is a Kairos moment in the life of the Church" and challenged the bishops to continue to shepherd the mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church. 

In her address, Bishop Malone called on the Council to be a pastoral and prophetic voice in a hurting world. “This is not the time for silence or retreat," she said. "This is not the time to whisper when the world needs the Church to shout. This is not the time to shrink back when the world is crying out for justice. Our collective worldwide witness, as United Methodists at every level of the Church, joined with our ecumenical and interfaith partners, we can pave the way for greater peace and greater justice and greater reconciliation and accountability.”

She noted that although the church “has been shaken, but we are not shattered. We are a Church that has been pruned, but we are not uprooted. We are a Church that has been refined by fire, but we are not consumed. Because from the richness of our Wesleyan heritage and traditions, new futures are springing forth and there is a new future for this United Methodist Church that is emerging.”

Bishop Malone called on clergy and laity in The United Methodist Church not to grow weary, “but we press forward with the same hope, with the same courage, with the same faith that has sustained the Church for generations. God is with us, and together we walk boldly into our future trusting in God’s purpose, trusting in God’s love, and trusting in God’s plan.”

2026 Leadership Gathering

One of the main decisions the bishops made was to confirm the dates for the 2026 Leadership Gathering.  The gathering will be April 22–25, 2026, with the working theme of “Emboldened by the Spirit: Imagining a Church Yet to Be!” 

Drawing on the imagery of earth, wind, fire, and water, the gathering will invite participants to reflect on the fundamentals of our faith, theological, ecclesiological, and missional tasks.

The bishops spent a significant portion of their meeting each day listening and learning from one another as they discussed current realities and how they might faithfully respond in their ministry context across the world-wide connection.  Several invited resource people supported this work.

The Council's ecumenical officers, Bishop Rosemarie Wenner and Bishop Hope Morgan Ward, presented the Ecumenical Witness Report, which highlighted the UMC work with other Christian denominations throughout the world.

The bishops also:

  • Approved the launching of the new vision statement that was developed in conjunction with the Connectional Table. “The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.”
  • Reviewed the recent decision of the Judicial Council regarding the role of a pastor in conducting religious ceremonies in the church buildings.
  • Welcomed eight new bishops, who were recently elected in Africa and Europe. The Church is expected to elect several other bishops during the Congo Central Conference, scheduled for July this year.
  • Heard reports on work of anti-racism in the Church and culture, and the role of the Church in addressing injustice and violence.
  • Heard an update regarding the ongoing ratification voting by annual conferences on the constitutional amendments that were approved by General Conference in 2024.
  • Engaged in training and shared learning regarding the processes for handling official complaints against bishops, managing healthy boundaries, interfaith relations and strategic communication. 

Videos of the some of the sessions of the COB meeting are available online at: www.facebook.com/umcbishops

The Rev. Maidstone Mulenga serves as communications director for the United Methodist Council of Bishops.