bishops

Peter Krüger plants an apple tree at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Jürgen, where the United Methodist congregation in Flensburg, Germany, meets. The tree planting is part of the “Hope on the Way” campaign initiated by United Methodist Bishop Werner Philipp (standing at left), who leads the Germany Regional Conference. Photo by Isabel Philipp.

Church in Germany plants seeds of hope

Bishop Werner Philipp has launched an initiative titled “Hope on the Way,” which is rooted in the everyday life of local congregations across Germany.

Bishops

Retired Bishop José Gamboa Jr. served as the first resident bishop of the Davao Episcopal Area in the southern Philippines. He died Dec. 22 at age 97. Photo courtesy of Union Theological Seminary Philippines.

Bishop Gamboa remembered as humble shepherd

e educator and trailblazing United Methodist leader pioneered mission in the Philippines’ Davao Episcopal Area. Gamboa died Dec. 22 at age 97.

Bishops

Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton gives the sermon during opening worship for the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Bickerton, who was Council of Bishops president from 2022 to 2024, is among four bishops working with a task force that is examining the workload and number of U.S. bishops with plans to make recommendations that ultimately go before the 2028 General Conference. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Group zeroes in on number, work of US bishops

A United Methodist task force is dealing with the biggest change to setting the number of U.S. bishops in nearly 90 years. The group is focusing on missional needs while also facing the aftermath of church exits.

Faith Stories

Bishop Violet L. Fisher, the first Black woman elected bishop in the Northeastern Jurisdiction, died Nov. 17 at the age of 86. Photo courtesy of the Council of Bishops.

Bishop Violet L. Fisher remembered as trailblazer

The United Methodist, who made history as the first Black woman elected bishop in the Northeastern Jurisdiction, also earned admiration across the church for her powerful preaching and tender pastoral care.

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