October 27, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church regrets to announce that Bishop João Somane Machado, retired bishop of the Mozambique area, died on October 25, 2023, at Maputo Central Hospital in Maputo, Mozambique.
Bishop Joaquina Filipe Nhanala, the current resident bishop of Mozambique area, described Bishop Machado as a teacher and a mentor.
Bishop Joao Machado
Bishop Joao Somane Machado was an educator in Mozambique before his election as a bishop. (Council of Bishops Photo)
"During his tenure, the church expanded to new areas in Mozambique," Bishop Nhanala. "He was a strong advocate for women's ministry in the church as he served the country and beyond the border. He was truly an example of making the world his parish."
Bishop Machado was born on May 16, 1946, in Morrumbene, Inhambane, Mozambique. He graduated with the B.D. degree in Theology from the Methodist School of Theology in Brazil, and an advanced degree in Theology from the Protestant Faculty of Theology in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Bishop Machado taught African Theology, Philology and Bantu ethics at the Ricatla Seminary. He was Headmaster and teacher at Cambine Theological School, and served pastorates at Malhangalene, Cambine and Machava. He was Assistant to the Bishop at the time of his election to the episcopacy.
In 2005, Bishop Machada was among United Methodist spokesmen interviewed by ABC News at the start of the UMC's global initiative "Imagine No Malaria." The bishop himself survived multiple episodes of malaria, which killed thousands of people, especially children, in Mozambique.
João Somane Machado was elected to the episcopacy in 1988. The consecration ceremony was held in Lubumbashi on August 19, 1988. Bishop Machado was assigned to the Mozambique area where he served until his retirement in 2008.He married Dona Nocia Madonela Cumbane Machado, on January 11, 1975, with whom hehad four children, and eight grandchildren.
Funeral Arrangements: The funeral and burial for Bishop Joao Somane Machado was held on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, in his hometown Cambine, Inhamabane Province, Mozambique.
The Rev. Dr. Maidstone Mulenga serves as communications director for the Council of Bishops.