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Elder

Church Leadership
Bishop David Graves commissions the Rev. Shadreck Kagoro alongside four other provisional elders at the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference in June. The Lewis Center for Church Leadership has released its annual report on clergy ages. With 6.5% of its elders under the age of 35, the Alabama-West Florida Conference is tied for 10th this year among the denomination’s 53 U.S. conferences in its percentage of young elders. Photo by Luke Lucas, Alabama-West Florida Conference.

Church exits influence clergy age trends
In its latest study of United Methodist clergy, the Lewis Center for Church Leadership discusses the impact of disaffiliations.
Discipleship
Mission leaders and guests from the U.S. and Korea gather to celebrate the 20th anniversary of United Methodist ministry in Mongolia during the Mongolian Mission Initiative’s annual gathering on Oct. 3. Photo courtesy of the Asia Regional Office, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

Celebrating 20 years of mission in Mongolia
The Mongolia mission, initiated by the Korean United Methodist Church in 2003, now has 12 United Methodist churches, two mission centers and various outreach ministries serving the Mongolian community.
Theology and Education
Bishop Scott Jones, who presided over the 12th annual gathering of the Laos Samphan Methodist Church mission in Vientiane, Laos, celebrates Holy Communion on Sept. 1. Members from across the country gathered Aug. 30-Sept. 4 for the first such gathering in Laos since the mission officially started in 2006. Photo by Thomas E. Kim, UM News.

Mission celebrates its first gathering in Laos in 16 years
The event brought together nearly 200 members for the ordination of new leaders, lectures, worship and other celebrations.
Local Church
The Rev. Lovett H. Weems Jr. Photo courtesy of Wesley Theological Seminary.

Young elder numbers hit record low
Annual clergy age study by Lewis Center confirms downward trend for United Methodist elders under 35.

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