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Central Conferences
United Methodists at the Central and Southern Europe Central Conference stand together outside Winterthur United Methodist Church in Winterthur, Switzerland, where they met. Photo by the Rev. Jörg Niederer, Central and Southern Europe Central Conference.

Amid war, central conference practices ‘shalom’

United Methodists in a region that stretches from North Africa to Poland gathered for a meeting that focused on bringing peace in a time of strife.
Violence
Nurse on duty Bienfait Kabeya Ntumba (right) recounts how he was beaten during an attack on the United Methodist Irambo Health Center on the night of March 18 in Bukavu, Congo. Dr. Jimmy Kasongo (center), medical director of the health center, listens during a staff meeting. It is the second time in a month that armed gunmen invaded the hospital. Photo by Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UM News.

United Methodist hospital staff attacked in Congo
Armed men invaded two church health centers in eastern Congo, leading to violence and looting.
Bishops
The Rev. João Filimone Sambo of Mozambique receives the United Methodist episcopal pin from Bishop LaTrelle Easterling. Sambo was elected bishop March 15 by the Africa Central Conference. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa, United Methodist Communications.

João Sambo elected as bishop
The Rev. João Sambo, an elder in Mozambique, was elected a United Methodist bishop on the 14th ballot at the Africa Central Conference.
Bishops
The Rev. Gift Machinga (right), newly elected as bishop, receives greetings from Bishop LaTrelle Easterling as Bishop Thomas Bickerton looks on. The Africa Central Conference elected Machinga of Zimbabwe as bishop on March 15. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa, United Methodist Communications.

Gift Machinga elected as bishop
The pastor in Zimbabwe was elected a United Methodist bishop on the 12th ballot at the Africa Central Conference.

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