bishops

Bishops
Bishop Richard Byrd Wilke, who with his wife, Julia Wilke, developed the popular Disciple Bible Study, died on Easter, April 20, 2025. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Bishop Wilke, beloved Bible study creator, dies

United Methodist Bishop Richard Wilke died Easter Sunday. He and his wife, Julia, developed the popular Disciple Bible Study series. He also was a voice for LGBTQ inclusion.
Bishops
Bishops Daniel Wandabula (at left in purple robe) and Emmanuel Sinzohagera welcome Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye and First Lady Angeline Ndayishimiye to the installation celebration at Ingoma Stadium in Gitega, Burundi, on March 29. More than 4,000 people gathered to celebrate Sinzohagera’s installation as a United Methodist bishop in the newly created East Africa Central Conference. He will lead the Burundi-Rwanda Episcopal Area and serve as the central conference’s president. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa, United Methodist Communications.

Burundi celebrates new bishop, episcopal area

United Methodists from Burundi and Rwanda united for the installation of the area’s first bishop and establishment of the East Africa Central Conference.
Bishops
The Rev. Knut Refsdal receives the episcopal pin from Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank after being elected a United Methodist bishop on April 4 at the Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. Refsdal, a pastor in Norway, was elected on the 26th ballot. Photo by Karl Anders Ellingsen, UM News.

Knut Refsdal elected as bishop

The Rev. Knut Refsdal, a pastor in Norway, was elected a United Methodist bishop on the 26th ballot.
Bishops
Bishop Hans Växby, who served as a beloved leader in the Nordic and Baltic countries for 12 years before leading Eurasia for another seven, passed away on March 30 at age 80. Photo courtesy of the Council of Bishops.

Bishop Växby, post-Cold War leader, dies at 80

United Methodists remember Bishop Hans Växby as a servant leader who helped rebuild the church in Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Russia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Loading

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved