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United Methodist Committee on Relief distributes monthly food kits to 300 vulnerable families and a church orphanage in Goma.

World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee moderator Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm offered opening reflections at a Sant’ Egidio International Meeting for Peace in Assisi, underway 25-27 October.

After long hours of small-group discussion, Leadership Gathering participants revealed their recommendations for The United Methodist Church yet to be.

The meeting of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Faith and Order opened in Lund, Sweden, on 26 October, marking the second time in history that the commission has met in Sweden. 

[Diocese of Kansas] The Rev. Whitney Rice, from the Diocese of Missouri, was elected Oct. 24 as the 11th bishop to lead the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas. Rice was elected on the first round of balloting during an election that took place in the worship space of Grace Cathedral in Topeka, receiving 61% of the lay delegate votes and 59% of the clergy votes. A majority of both clergy and lay votes in the same round was needed for election. Others on the ballot were the Rev. Grant Ambrose of the Diocese of the Susquehanna, the Rev. David Gortner of the Diocese of Spokane and the Rev. Lisa Senuta of the Diocese of Kansas. “I offer my heartfelt congratulations to our newly elected bishop, the Rev. Canon Whitney Rice,” said the Ven. Jim Cummins, president of the governing body that has overseen the diocese in the interim period between bishops. “I am grateful for the discernment, prayer and commitment of all who participated in this important process, and I look forward to the next chapter in the life of our diocese. “Although the selection process extended several months longer than anticipated, that additional time has brought us to this wonderful moment. The result is a truly outstanding bishop-elect, and I am confident that the gifts, faith, and leadership they bring will serve our diocese well. … May we now move forward together with renewed energy and a shared commitment to Christ’s mission, as we welcome our new bishop and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead.” Rice has been serving in the Diocese of Missouri for the past six years, as canon to the ordinary since 2026, and as canon for evangelism and discipleship development since 2020. She attended the University of Kansas and graduated in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in religious studies and English. When the four candidates toured the diocese during the Meet and Greets, she emphasized how important the diocese’s Canterbury ministry was to her Christian formation and discerning her call to the priesthood. She went on to seminary at Yale Divinity School, where she graduated in 2008. After graduating from seminary, she served parishes in Indiana and Missouri. Rice has also served as the evangelism faculty member at Bishop Kemper School for Ministry and created the Requiem or Renaissance program, an 18-month skills-building and discernment program for congregations seeking revitalization. When not engaged in ministry, she enjoys swing dancing. The service of ordination and consecration by which Rice becomes a bishop and assumes responsibility for the pastoral and administrative work of the diocese, will take place on April 17, 2026, in Grace Cathedral, Topeka. The chief consecrator will be Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe.

    For centuries, Roma communities have faced persecution, prejudice and systemic discrimination. Today, more than 10 million Roma people across Europe continue to experience barriers that affect their safety, opportunities and well-being.  Roma people are Europe’s largest ethnic minority, but many continue to struggle with accessing equal employment, housing, education and healthcare. These challenges contribute to persistent poverty, limited economic opportunities and poorer health outcomes.  CWS is committed to ...

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The post “We Have Hope”: Investing in the Safety and Empowerment of Roma Women and Girls appeared first on CWS.

[Episcopal Church of New Hampshire] The Rev. Ed Cardoza was elected the 11th bishop of Episcopal Church of New Hampshire on Oct. 24. Cardoza will succeed retiring Bishop Robert Hirschfeld. Lay delegates and clergy elected Cardoza at the diocese’s annual convention in Concord from a slate of three nominees on the second ballot, receiving 55 votes from clergy order and 76 votes from lay representatives. “It is with profound joy that I accept the call to serve as the 11th bishop of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire. To be called to this ministry is a sacred privilege that I accept with a humbled heart, deeply aware of both the immense responsibility and the extraordinary work that lies ahead,” Cardoza said. “I look forward to ministering across our diocese, united in one Lord, one faith, one baptism. Together as lay and ordained siblings, we will continue to center Jesus and boldly live into New Hampshire’s prophetic tradition – bringing the courageous love of the gospel to all of our neighbors.” The Episcopal Church of New Hampshire serves approximately 10,000 members in 46 congregations and eight seasonal chapels across the state. The diocese describes itself as geographically diverse, spiritually resilient and committed to community-based ministry. Cardoza currently serves as priest-in-charge of Grace Episcopal Church in Manchester, N.H. His previous ministry includes extensive lay and ordained leadership in greater Boston and the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. He also has experience in global health and outreach work in Haiti and Rwanda, and he served as vice president of development for Partners in Health. A Portuguese-American and native of East Boston, Mass., Cardoza’s faith was formed in Boston’s inner-city parishes. He holds a Master of Arts degree in ministry from Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts. He has also completed theological training as an auditor in Anglican Studies at the Episcopal Divinity School and as a Canterbury Scholar at Canterbury Cathedral. Cardoza’s ministry and formation work focused on liberation theology, young adult spiritual development and innovative approaches to property stewardship. He co-founded the Contemplative Action Network, an Episcopal-Lutheran collaboration addressing housing instability, recovery support and immigration support. Cardoza and his spouse, Albert, a retired carpenter, live in Peterborough, N.H. They share a strong interest in historic preservation and recently saved a historic home from demolition. “With the election of Rev. Ed, the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire can look forward to an exciting and rewarding mutual ministry,” said Margaret Porter, president of the Standing Committee. “I anticipate that the hopes and dreams expressed in our diocesan profile will help us discover together how we will serve God in these challenging yet promising times. Our diocese has greatly benefitted from the thorough work of our dedicated Search and Transition Committees, their chaplain and our consultant. We are also grateful to each of our nominees for joining us in the holy discernment that has resulted in this joyful outcome.” The other two nominees were the Rev. Kristofer Lindh-Payne and the Rev. Fran Gardner-Smith. Hirschfeld, who has served for 14 years, said he is looking forward to working with Cardoza over the next four months during the transition period. “I am confident that Rev. Ed will lead the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire into its next chapter of witness to God in Christ,” Hirschfeld said. “The Holy Spirit knows this diocese deeply and has clearly shown us God’s wisdom. It will be a joy to walk with Rev. Ed in the months ahead and share the many gifts of this remarkable diocese as he prepares for consecration as bishop. I have found serving God’s people here to be the honor and privilege of my life, and I believe Rev. Ed will, too.” The ordination and consecration of the 11th bishop of New Hampshire will take place March 6, 2027, at Rollins Chapel in Hanover, with the Most Rev. Sean Rowe, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, officiating.

[Diocese of the Great Lakes] The Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes on Oct. 24 elected the Rev. Zachary Nyein as its first bishop diocesan. Nyein currently serves as senior associate rector and pastor of Imagine Worship at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in New York City. Pending completion of the consent process, the bishop-elect will be ordained and consecrated bishop on the Feast of Julian of Norwich, May 8, 2027. “It is a rare and unique privilege to serve as the first bishop of a new diocese, and I am extraordinarily honored to accept the call,” Nyein said. “The Holy Spirit is at work in the Great Lakes, and I look forward to our years of ministry together.” Nyein was elected on the second ballot at the third annual convention of the diocese on Oct. 24. Election required a simple majority of votes in both the lay and clergy orders on the same ballot. On the second ballot, Nyein received 102 of 181 lay votes cast (56%) and 65 of 114 clergy votes cast (57%). The other nominees were the Rev. Terri Bays, missioner to the ordinary in the Diocese of Northern Indiana; the Rev. Nurya Love Parish, director for mission and community engagement in the Diocese of the Great Lakes; and the Rev. Holly Rankin Zaher, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Evansville, Indiana. The Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes was formed in 2024 through the juncture of the legacy dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan. The young diocese comprises 98 congregations, including four seasonal chapels, and spans 58 counties across the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.

We love to celebrate transformation stories, but the hidden story is usually relationships

An online interfaith dialogue series on the “Advancing the Responsibility to Protect the Rights and Dignity of the Child” will continue on 5 November. The series is organized by Arigatou International, Religions for Peace, World Council of Churches, and the United Religions Initiative.