The Council of Bishops invites the people of The United Methodist Church to a season of introspection and self-examination. Together this Lent, we will confess and fast from the sin of racism, discrimination, oppression and exclusion and feast on the beauty and blessing of the diversity of God’s Church.
Each week of Lent and every day of Holy Week, a United Methodist Bishop will offer a short devotion. These times of reflection will challenge and inspire us to follow Jesus through the wilderness, alienation, betrayal and even death. Along the way, we will confront the sin of racism, renew our faith, and remember the promise of Easter—that redemption, reconciliation and liberation is possible.
In 2020, the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church vowed to focus intently on dismantling racism in the church and the world. This Lenten devotional series is another step in the journey of repentance, reconciliation and action in which we invite the whole church to participate.
February 17: Bishop Hope Morgan Ward
Bishop Hope Morgan Ward is the Resident Bishop of the North Carolina Conference.
Bishop Christian Alsted serves as the Resident Bishop of the Nordic and Baltic Episcopal area of the Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.
Wednesday of Holy Week, March 31: Bishop Mande Muyombo
Bishop Mande Muyombo is the Resident Bishop of the North Katanga Area, which includes North Katanga, Tanganyika and Tanzania conferences in the Congo Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.
Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton is the Resident Bishop of the New York Area, which includes the New York Conference in the Northeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.