The Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church
For Immediate Release
January 20, 2026
United Methodists Invited to Participate in Leadership Gathering Initiative via Survey, Webinars
The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church has launched a historic engagement initiative designed to give every United Methodist a direct voice in shaping the denomination’s future through the 2026 COB Leadership Gathering, “Emboldened by the Spirit: Imagining a Church Yet to Be.”
The Gathering will convene October 20–24, 2026, at Knox United Church in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, bringing together nearly 300 participants including bishops, clergy, lay leaders, young adults, and worldwide representatives.
At the heart of this initiative are three major participation pathways—a denomination-wide survey, a worldwide webinar series, and a newly coordinated website—each intentionally designed to gather the hopes, wisdom, and vision of United Methodists across the worldwide connection.
“This engagement initiative reflects who God is calling us to be as a connectional Church—grounded in prayerful discernment, shaped by voices from across the global connection, and attentive to the movement of the Holy Spirit,” said Bishop Tracy S. Malone, president of the Council of Bishops.
Denomination-Wide Survey (Launched January 15)
Available in seven languages—English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Korean, and Tagalog—the mobile-friendly survey invites United Methodists to share:
- What they hope the Church will prioritize
- Their vision for the Church 50 years from now
- The message they want Leadership Gathering participants to carry forward.
Pastors across the connection are encouraged to set aside time during Sunday worship for congregations to participate collectively using QR codes. This shared moment of discernment is intended to spark a movement of “gathered hope” across the denomination.
Click here to access the survey or use this QR code.
Webinar Series (January–March 2026)
Three interactive webinars will explore core Wesleyan themes with diverse panelists from around the world. All sessions are open to the entire denomination, with multilingual recordings available for worldwide access.
- “Love Boldly” — January 24, 10:00–11:30 a.m. ET
Wesleyan Theology. Click here to participate in this Webinar - “Serve Joyfully” — February 21, 10:00–11:30 a.m. ET
Wesleyan Mission. - “Lead Courageously” — March 21, 10:00–11:30 a.m. ET
Ecclesiology and Leadership.
A coordinated website—supported by United Methodist Communications and Wespath—will serve as the central access point for:
- Survey participation
- Webinar registration
- Monthly updates and resources
- Event information and livestream details
Click here for the Website link
“This gathering belongs to the whole Church, not just those who will be in Calgary,” said Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., Leadership Gathering Design Team Co-Convener. “Through the survey and webinars, we are building a roadmap that reflects the grassroots wisdom of congregations in Texas and Tanzania, Switzerland and the Philippines, Nebraska and Nigeria.”
The Design Team has committed that 80% of survey and webinar input will be visibly integrated into the October Gathering’s content. Session descriptions will explicitly reference the community voices they address.
Stephanie Henry, Co-Convener of Leadership Gathering Design Team, emphasized: “We’re not asking for input and then doing what we planned anyway. This is genuine, substantive integration. When participants arrive in Calgary—or when United Methodists watch the livestream—they will hear their hopes reflected. This is their gathering.”
The Leadership Gathering includes:
- At least one young adult (under 35) from every episcopal area
- Robust representation from African, European, and Filipino contexts
- Formalized visa support processes
- Multilingual translation services
- An additional $50,000 in sponsorships to reduce financial barriers for Central Regions participants.
- Sustain momentum in the Church’s missional trajectory.
- Establish shared theological grounding and strategic clarity.
- Create space for young leaders and worldwide perspectives to shape the Church’s imagination.
Financial commitments currently total approximately $364,000, supported by pledges, travel pool contributions, annual conference commitments, and foundation partnerships.
“As United Methodists around the world engage our shared vision and share their hopes and wisdom, we trust God to guide us into a future marked by faithfulness, boldness, imagination, and a renewed witness to God’s mission in the world,” Bishop Malone said.
Media Contact:
Rev. Dr. Maidstone Mulenga
Director of Communications
Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church
Click to email
(202) 748-5172
