An international United Methodist group has long been working to increase the number of bishops on the African continent but learned of financial and other difficulties now facing the plan.
A pending separation and changing international composition find The United Methodist Church in a time of rethinking what it means to be a church, and a global church at that.
Moscow-based Bishop Eduard Khegay strongly opposes an effort by some European United Methodists to move Ukraine-Moldova Provisional Annual Conference from his episcopal area.
United Methodists in countries near Ukraine continue to take care of the practical needs of Ukrainian refugees. They find them safe places to stay and provide food, clothes and other necessities. But those responsible also aim to help beyond concrete support.