Elder

Ethiopian Episcopal Church Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana (in black) congratulates 102-year-old Janet Gowe (seated) on the realization of her decades-long dream for a United Methodist church in her farm community of Murewa, Zimbabwe. United Methodist Bishop Gift K. Machinga (left) led the dedication of Hoyuyu United Methodist Church’s Nzira Sanctuary on May 25. At right is Kingston Kajese, Gowe’s son, who spearheaded the construction of the sanctuary. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News.

102-year-old church planter fulfills sanctuary dream

After more than three decades of pushing to have a permanent United Methodist church built in her Zimbabwe community, a mother’s dream became reality.

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.

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