Bishops plan for different kind of gathering

United Methodist bishops have called for a leadership gathering unlike the typical church meeting — one without parliamentary procedure or political wrangling.

Instead of deciding the denomination’s future, bishops expect the gathering’s participants to be dreaming and praying about what comes next for The United Methodist Church.

“It will have no decision-making authority because it’s a leadership gathering,” Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone said. “And the intent is to gather a group of leaders from across the denomination for the purpose of visioning and imagining the next expression of the church.”

The Council of Bishops announced Sept. 5 that it was planning a five-day leadership gathering in April or May 2026 — rather than calling for a special session of General Conference as announced last year. The bishops said their goal for the gathering is to “advance the positive momentum” of this year’s historic General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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