The Rev. Charles Yrigoyen Jr., a leading United Methodist historian, oversaw the denomination’s Commission on Archives and History for nearly 24 years. He died at age 84.
Rev. Zenro Hirota was a pioneer among Japanese American Methodists, serving for 45 years, often facing great difficulties, alongside his colleagues in the California Conference in a variety of settings (mission, local church, school, publishing, mission society leadership).
William Apess was the first Native American licensed to preach among American Methodists and the leading advocate for Native American rights in the first half of the 19th century.
In her final address as Council of Bishops president, Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey urged as much unity as possible even as a new denomination plans to launch. The bishops also heard about the history of previous denominational separations.
