Hollering for Change: An interview with Bishop Dee Williamston

Hollering for Change is the name of a series of commentaries by The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler for United Methodist News. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News. 

“Hollering for Change” is beginning a new series highlighting Black women “firsts” across the denomination. The first interview is with newly elected Bishop Dee Williamston of the Louisiana Conference, the first Black woman elected to the episcopacy in the South Central Jurisdiction. The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler speaks with Bishop Williamston about her calling, the surreal experience of her election, and the “opportunity and honor” of being the first in her position.

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Immigration
The Rev. Ronell Howard addresses attendees at the Greater New Jersey Conference’s “Prayerful Witness” outside Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, N.J. on Aug. 15. She invoked Jesus’ second commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself,” which became a recurring theme for the day. Photo by John W. Coleman, UM News.

‘Prayerful witness’ offered for immigrants

United Methodists in New Jersey gathered outside Delaney Hall detention center to show Christian love, concern and solidarity to detainees and visiting loved ones.
Young People
High school students gather in Nashville, Tenn., for the Hispanic Youth Leadership Academy preparatory session, a program focused on nurturing the next generation of Hispanic-Latino leaders. Photo by the Rev. Gustavo Vásquez, UM News.

Equipping Hispanic-Latino youth for leadership

For more than two decades, the Hispanic Youth Leadership Academy has answered a call to help young people explore leadership, vocation and Christian service.
Evangelism
Bishop Antoine Tambwe Kalema (center) poses for a photo with the 11 district superintendents from the Eastern Congo Conference who received new motorcycles as a gift from the bishop during the 2026 annual conference. Many of the church leaders had spent years traveling on foot or by bicycle to minister to their communities. Behind them is the Mgr. Gabriel Unda Yemba Multipurpose Hall at the Mama Lynn Center in Kindu, Congo. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News.

Bishop purchases motorcycles for pastors in Congo

Bishop Antoine Tambwe Kalema presented 11 motorcycles to United Methodist district superintendents in Maniema to reduce travel time and make caring for their communities easier.

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