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.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
General Church
The Rev. Peter Mageto of Africa University speaks during a Jan. 24 webinar exploring the Wesleyan theology that undergirds the denomination’s vision to “love boldly.” He’s joined by Ashley Boggan (pictured clockwise), top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History, who moderated the panel discussion; the Rev. Marian Royston of the North Alabama Conference; and the Rev. Erika Stalcup of Switzerland. It was the first in a series of three webinars ahead of the Council of Bishops Leadership Gathering in October. Screen shot courtesy of United Methodist Communications.

What does it mean for the church to love boldly?

Church scholars and leaders joined to explore how Wesleyan theology shapes who United Methodists are around the globe and how it informs the denomination’s new vision.
Human Rights
The Rev. Christopher P. Momany. Photo by Kristen Schell.

In troubling times, look to ‘higher law’

Gilbert Haven, a Methodist pastor, taught that opening ourselves to God and seeing things from a divine point of view enables us to act from cleaner motives — and we must act.
Bishops
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., presides over a session of the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Saenz, who leads the Horizon Texas Conference, is co-convener of the design team for this October’s Leadership Gathering. He and other organizers hope to engage all United Methodist in the gathering through a survey and through webinars scheduled January through March. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Bishops ask all to help shape church’s future

The Council of Bishops is inviting all United Methodists to participate in a historic denomination-wide survey and join in a series of webinars to prepare for this October’s Leadership Gathering.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2026 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved