Advisory Team: From top left: Rev. James Todd Smith, Will Fenton-Jones, Rev. Phillip Dieke, Rev. David Harriss, Andrea Paret, Martha Hill, (second row) Colleen Moore, Amber Gaines, Rev. Haley Hansen, Rev. Bich Thy Betty Nguyen, Rev. Keith Sexton; not pictured, Rev. Ryan Gephart
General Board of Church and Society | November 10, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) of The United Methodist Church recently convened its Advisory Team for Justice and Peace for a three-day retreat on Capitol Hill, where faith leaders from across the United States gathered to discern, dream, and design the Church’s next steps toward justice-rooted action.
Over the course of the retreat, participants deepened their theological grounding, strengthened connections across conferences, and began collaborative planning for 2026 Jurisdictional Gatherings for Justice and Peace — a landmark series of regional events that will mobilize United Methodists to advocate, organize, and lead for social transformation within their communities and beyond.
“It is always humbling and encouraging to be reminded that the work of mercy, justice, and peace is actively being practiced and pursued throughout our Connection,” said Advisory Team member Rev. Bích Thy (Betty) Nguyễn of the Mountain Sky Conference. “I hope that what comes next from this retreat is the opportunity to continue the work of deepening the Connection within each Jurisdiction; to contribute to the work of mutual learning, resourcing, and empowering United Methodists to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in the area of justice.”
The Advisory Team includes 10 Conference Church and Society Chairs, Peace with Justice Coordinators, and other key lay and clergy leaders committed to living out the Church’s call to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). Together, they are developing frameworks to equip annual conferences for grassroots engagement, legislative advocacy, and movement-building aligned with the denomination’s Social Principles.
In 2026, each U.S. jurisdiction will host a Justice and Peace Gathering, inviting clergy and laity alike to:
- Engage in training and dialogue around faith-based advocacy and community organizing,
- Explore how United Methodists can respond to pressing social issues through policy and practice,
- Build networks of collaboration that extend the Church’s witness for justice, peace, and compassion.
“The world needs the witness of a church that doesn’t just talk about justice but practices it — together, in every jurisdiction, as one body” said Bishop Julius Trimble, General Secretary for GBCS. “These events are a call to action — an invitation for United Methodists to reimagine what it means to be a people of justice and peace in this moment in history.”
Call to Action
United Methodists in the U.S. are encouraged to connect with their Conference Church and Society Chair or Peace With Justice Coordinator to learn more about the Justice and Peace Gathering in their jurisdiction. Whether you are a seasoned advocate or just beginning your journey, your presence and perspective are needed.
For more specific information about the 2026, U.S. jurisdiction Justice and Peace Gathering, contact Amber Gaines, Engagement and Development Manager, General Board of Church and Society againes@umcjustice.org