Council of Bishops & Connectional Table
The United Methodist Church
For Immediate Release
July 30, 2026
Bishop Rapanut to chair Connectional Table
CHICAGO, IL – The Council of Bishops and the Connectional Table (CT) have announced that Bishop Carlo A. Rapanut will serve as the next chair of the Connectional Table. Rapanut—who leads the Desert Southwest Conference in the Western Jurisdiction and the New Mexico Conference in the South Central Jurisdiction—will assume the role during the October 2026 CT board meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia. He will succeed Bishop Mande Muyombo, who has chaired the body since December 2022.
The Connectional Table’s purpose is the discernment and articulation of the vision for the church and the stewardship of the mission, ministries, and resources of The United Methodist Church as determined by the actions of the General Conference and in consultation with the Council of Bishops (BOD ¶904). Rapanut’s selection, as its incoming chair, was made in accordance with ¶906.1(b) of the Book of Discipline, which provides that “an active bishop, selected by the Council of Bishops, serves as the chair of the Connectional Table.” The joint announcement reflects the consultative relationship the Discipline establishes between the two bodies and the shared ministry that lies ahead.
“As the Council of Bishops prayed and discerned, we recognized in Bishop Carlo Rapanut a globally formed, connectionally minded leader whose experience across the Philippines, Alaska, and now the Desert Southwest and New Mexico equips him to help the Connectional Table articulate the vision and steward the mission, ministries, and resources of the whole church, not just one region or body,” noted Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., president of the Council of Bishops.
Outgoing Chair, Bishop Muyombo leads the North Katanga Episcopal Area and was installed as president-designate of the Council of Bishops in April 2026. Naming his successor early provides transparency and continuity in leadership as the CT moves forward in ministry.
“It has been an honor to serve the Connectional Table of our United Methodist Church in close collaboration with the Council of Bishops and our General Agencies. Through the collective wisdom of the CT board and our episcopal leaders, a new vision was cast, offering a clear direction of our church in the context of regionalization," reflected Muyombo. "Today, I am grateful to the Council of Bishops for selecting my distinguished colleague Bishop Rapanut. His visionary leadership and creative thinking will help the Connectional Table reimagine its role moving forward. May he be empowered by the Holy Spirit as he takes the Connectional Table to another level.”
Bishop Saenz added that “we are deeply grateful for Bishop Mande Muyombo’s faithful leadership through a demanding season of postponed General Conference, budget reductions, and shared visioning, and we now celebrate that Bishop Rapanut will carry this work forward in partnership with United Methodists across the connection.”
“From my early years in ministry in a former central conference, through my service in a missionary conference, and now as bishop of two annual conferences that cross jurisdictional boundaries, I count myself a grateful beneficiary of the Connectional Table’s ministry—both directly and indirectly—since its inception,” noted Bishop Carlo A. Rapanut. “My journey across different parts of the connection means I come to the table not from the center but from the margins, and I intend to lead from that perspective as together we discern how best to match resources with ministries that align with our vision to form spirit empowered, boldly loving, joyfully serving, and courageously leading disciples, allowing us to become the church God is calling us to be.”
Judi M. Kenaston who serves as chief connectional ministries officer for the Connectional Table which coordinates the church’s program life shared that "we welcome Bishop Rapanut to the Connectional Table at this critical time in our church’s life. His collaborative style of leadership will benefit our continuing relationships with GCFA and the Council of Bishops as we steward our vision and financial resources. We look forward to the opportunities that regionalization and living into our new vision will bring and we’re excited that Bishop Rapanut will be part of that work.”
Bishop Rapanut stressed that “I am humbled by the trust and confidence my colleagues in the Council of Bishops have placed in me by naming me to this role, and I covet your prayers for me, for Bishop Muyombo, and for the board and staff of the Connectional Table as we navigate this transition of roles in the months ahead.”
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About The United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a worldwide connection of about 10 million members in more than 100 countries including Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States. United Methodists are people of God who share a common mission and values. The church and its members are called to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Learn more at UMC.org.
About the Council of Bishops
The Council of Bishops is the executive branch of The United Methodist Church and is made up of all active and retired bishops in the church. The council is responsible for the church’s general oversight and provides spiritual leadership to almost 10 million people on four continents. Find them online at UnitedMethodistBishops.org.
About the Connectional Table
The Connectional Table works to steward the mission, vision, and ministries of The United Methodist Church. For more information, please visit umcct.org.
Media contacts:
Brenda Smotherman
Lead, Public Relations
United Methodist Communications
[email protected]
Paul Gómez
Lead, Connectional Ministries
Council of Bishops / Connectional Table
[email protected]
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