In the lead up to the gathering, the Council of Bishops is working with United Methodist Communications to host a series of three webinars open to all United Methodists. These webinars will focus on how the vision statement's call to "love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously" connects back to the denomination's mission and Wesleyan theology. The webinars are free and recordings will be made available publicly. Each will be roughly an hour and a half in length.
The third webinar is themed "Lead Courageously" and examines Wesleyan ecclesiology and leadership, exploring how courageous leadership is shaped by the Church's theology, connectionalism, and calling in local communities and around the world.
The webinar took place on Saturday, March 21, 2026, 10:00 AM Eastern / 9:00 AM Central.
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Hosts & Speakers
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone (moderator)
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone serves as the resident bishop of the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church. She is the first Black woman to serve as President of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church. A native of Chicago, Illinois, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Sociology from North Central College, a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary. Bishop Malone was assigned to the Indiana Conference in 2024 after serving as bishop of the Ohio East Episcopal Area from 2016 to 2024. She and her husband Derrick have two daughters.
Bishop Ande Emmanuel
Bishop Ande Emmanuel was elected to the episcopacy in December 2024 at the 10th Quadrennial session of the West Africa Central Conference and consecrated as resident bishop of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria and the Mission Districts of Senegal and Cameroon. Born in Taraba State, Nigeria, he earned a Diploma in Christian Ministry from United Methodist Banyam Theological Seminary, a Bachelor of Theology from Reformed Theological Seminary in Nigeria, and a Master of Theological Studies from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. He has served as a consultant on congregational and community engagement for the General Board of Church and Society, teaching the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church across Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. He is married to Lami Ande Emmanuel and they have three children.
Angela Pupino
Angela Pupino serves as Student Ministries Coordinator at National United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., and is pursuing a Master of Divinity at Wesley Theological Seminary. A writer and program coordinator supporting intergenerational ministry, her work connecting faith, public policy, and community has been published by CNN, The Nation, Quartz, TalkPoverty, and other outlets. She brings a background in public policy and project management to her work for the transformation of the Church and the world.
Dave Rombaoa
Dave Rombaoa serves as youth co-chair of the Young People's Connectional Network (YPCN) and President of the National United Methodist Youth Fellowship of the Philippines Regional Conference. He also serves as Connectional Conversations Chair of the Connectional Table. Shaped by years of leadership in youth ministry in the Philippines, Rombaoa represents the Philippines Central Conference and advocates for the full participation of young people at every level of the Church.
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. (host)
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. serves as resident bishop of the Horizon Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church and has been elected as incoming president of the Council of Bishops. A South Texas native, he earned his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Before his call to ministry he served as a high school teacher, football coach, and business owner. Elected bishop in 2016, he has served the Great Plains, Central Texas, and Horizon Texas episcopal areas. He and his wife Maye have been married since 1981 and have four children and ten grandchildren.
Stephanie Henry (host)
Stephanie Henry serves as co-convener of the Leadership Gathering webinar design team alongside Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. In this role, she guides participants through each session, coordinates interpretation logistics, and helps the global United Methodist community navigate the platform and engage fully in the conversation.
Transcript
United Methodists are God's people, shaped by a profound Wesleyan heritage, and we are stepping in faith into a new season of ministry.
The Council of Bishops and the Connectional Table are proud to unveil a new vision for the United Methodist Church, a vision that reflects our deep commitment to embodying God's dream for the world. The United Methodist Church formed disciples of Jesus Christ, who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections. Let's briefly explore this vision and what it means in action.
Love boldly. We passionately love God, and like Jesus, embrace and include people of every age, nation, race, gender, and walk of life.
Serve joyfully. With the heart of Christ, we journey alongside the most vulnerable, offering care and compassion with joy.
Lead courageously. And following Jesus' example, we resist and dismantle all systems of evil, injustice, and oppression, striving for peace, justice, and reconciliation.
This renewed vision is more than words. It is an invitation to embrace the joy and hope as we live God's mission.
It also provides us with a clear, Christ-centered framework for missional unity and collaboration across the worldwide connection.
Together, we will discern how each of us can participate in the new thing God is doing.
Bishop Ruben Saenz, Jr., Horizon Texas Conference: Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening, friends from across the world. Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm Bishop Ruben Saenz, Jr, and I bring you greetings from the Council of Bishops.
It's a joy and privilege to gather with you for this Leadership Gathering 2026 webinar as we continue discerning how God's Spirit is shaping the future of our beloved United Methodist Church. This is the third in a three-part webinar series that invites us to live into our renewed vision.
The United Methodist Church forms Disciples of Jesus Christ, who, empowered by the Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.
In our first conversation, we focused on what it means to love boldly. In our second conversation, we explored what it means to serve joyfully. Today, we turn to the third movement of our vision, Lead Courageously.
Our conversation today will focus on what it means to lead courageously as people of faith, listening for the Spirit, facing change with hope, and trusting God to guide the renewal of our church.
So, as we move through this webinar, you're invited to submit questions using the Zoom Q&A tool. Near the end of the session, our moderator and panelists will respond to as many of those questions as we are able.
Stephanie Henry will now guide us through the technical details of this webinar and help us navigate the platform together. Stephanie?
Stephanie Henry: Thank you, Bishop Saenz. Greetings to all from around the world. I am Stephanie Henry, co-convener of the design team with Bishop Saenz, and I'm thrilled to add my welcome to our third and final webinar.
Stephanie Henry: If you're joining us for the first time today, or have joined with us before but need a refresher, we have language interpretation available for French, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and American Sign Language. You should see a notification interpretation that is… that interpretation is available, and to select your language channel. Click the interpretation icon. It often looks like a globe or speech bubble in your meeting controls. You may need to select the three dots where it says ‘more’ to see interpretation. Select the language you want to see or hear from the list. If you select American Sign Language, a separate window will appear. If you select French, Korean, Portuguese, or Spanish, you will hear the translated audio from the interpreter, and you will hear the original speaker at a lower volume to hear the speaker's tone. But you can mute the original audio in the same menu if you prefer. Interpreters have an icon next to their name in the participant list.
You'll hear all speakers speaking at a moderate pace, which ensures clarity, prevents fatigue, and maintains a smooth flow of communication. You may also select to show captions in your meeting controls.
As with the others, the webinar is being recorded and will be made publicly available via the Resource UMC webpage.
Finally, we have reserved time for questions and answers. You may submit questions now and throughout the webinar using the Q&A icon. It's the speech bubble with a question mark. We'll address as many questions as possible at the end.
Stephanie Henry: That's it for logistics, so I hand it back to you, Bishop Saenz.
Bishop Ruben Saenz, Jr., Horizon Texas Conference: Thank you, Stephanie. Now, as we prepare our hearts for this webinar, let us pray.
Gracious and ever-present God, today as leaders of your church across the worldwide connection, bishops, clergy, laity, young adults, and faithful servants from Texas to Tanzania, from Switzerland to the Philippines, we gather to discern what it means to lead courageously.
Not with the courage of our own ambition, but with a bold, spirit-embolden courage that steps into the tombs of a world that desperately needs resurrection.
Embolden us, Holy Spirit, as we explore what it means to be the church yet to be.
Give us the courage to offer our leadership faithfully, generously, and not to lead from fear, but from faith.
May this time together not be just another meeting, but a holy moment, where your vision shapes ours, where the grassroots wisdom of your people becomes a roadmap we follow, and where we will leave more committed than when we came to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously.
We pray this in the name of the one who is the resurrection and the life, Jesus the Christ, Amen.
Stephanie Henry: Amen. For our theme today, we will be discerning what it means to lead courageously. Specifically, we will explore Wesleyan ecclesiology and leadership. Exploring how courageous leadership is shaped by the church in the world.
Our moderator for today is Bishop Tracy Smith Malone. Bishop Malone serves as the resident bishop of the Indiana Conference and as the first Black woman president of the Council of Bishops. She earned her Master's of Divinity from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and her Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary.
Thank you for guiding our conversation today. I pass it to you, Bishop Malone.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you so much, Stephanie, and thank you, Bishop Saenz. I am so grateful for both of your leadership, as you have led so well, designing our leadership gathering and preparing for these webinars. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
So, friends, let me to extend my welcome to this webinar as we focus on the third pillar of our new vision of The United Methodist Church, Lead Courageously, with the theme focus, Ecclesiology. It is my joy and honor to serve as the moderator for today's panel as we explore this theme together.
Let me take a moment and formally introduce our panelists for today, and then we'll get started in our shared time of learning and conversation. I first want to present to you Angela Pupino. She is a certified candidate on the elder track in the Baltimore-Washington Conference and a Master of Divinity Student at Wesley Theological Seminary. She holds degrees from American University and Carnegie Mellon University. She is passionate about Methodist history, Methodist futures, and intergenerational ministry. Welcome, Angela.
I also want to present to you Bishop Ande Emmanuel, who was elected to the Episcopacy in 2024 by the West Africa Central Conference of The United Methodist Church. He serves the Nigeria Episcopal Area and the Mission Districts of Senegal and Cameroon. He has served more than two decades in pastoral and connectional leadership. His Episcopal ministry is centered on fostering unity, peace, and renewal within a worldwide and rapidly changing church.
And let me present to you Dave Uriel Angelo Rombaoa, who is a graduate of civil engineering with a major in structural engineering. He serves as the president of the National United Methodist Youth Fellowship in the Philippines, co-chair of the Young People's Connectional Network, and Chair of Connectional Conversations with the Connectional Table as part of the Executive Committee. Guided by faith and compassion, Dave strives to empower young people to lead with purpose, serve their communities, and embody Christ-centered leadership.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: We want to thank each of you for participating today as a panelist.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: So, I turn this first question over to Bishop Emmanuel. Bishop Emmanuel, as a bishop of the church, how does the Holy Spirit shape and animate your understanding of ecclesiology? You may have to unmute Bishop Emmanuel.
Bishop Ande Emmanuel: Thank you very much, Bishop Malone. Thank you, my co-panelists and audience. I am delighted to be part of this webinar. Ecclesiology is the theological understanding of the Church—its nature, purpose, structure, and mission in the world. From a Wesleyan perspective, ecclesiology is not merely about institutional form but about a living, Spirit-filled community shaped by grace. The Church exists as the Body of Christ, called to proclaim the gospel, nurture believers, and serve the world in love.
As a bishop, I understand ecclesiology as both theological and practical. It is expressed through worship, sacraments, discipleship, and our connectional structure. It also defines how authority, leadership, and accountability function within the Church. In the United Methodist tradition, ecclesiology emphasizes connectionalism, shared mission, and mutual responsibility. Importantly, ecclesiology must remain dynamic. It must respond to changing contexts while remaining rooted in Scripture and tradition. In my context across Nigeria, Senegal, and Cameroon, ecclesiology is lived out in diverse cultures, requiring both faithfulness and adaptability. Ultimately, ecclesiology reminds us that the Church does not exist for itself, but as God’s instrument for transforming the world.
Thank you.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Bishop Emmanuel. Angela, if you would respond to this question - How does the Holy Spirit work through connectionalism to unite and empower the church?
Angela Pupino: Sure, Bishop. The United Methodist Church is connectional, which means what it sounds like: We are all connected. Local churches have some freedom in how they live out their faith in local contexts in worship and ministry, but they are still bound to all other United Methodists in a covenant of support and accountability. These connections are spiritual and theological but they are also practical. Connection is an important part of how we do Church together. The Connection allows for regular conferences, regional and international partnerships, our generals boards and agencies, the movement of clergy across churches, and ministries that ultimately cross human boundaries of state, nation, language, culture, and social and economic status.
Individual United Methodists and United Methodist congregations never truly operate in isolation. We are always connected to the Holy Spirit and to one another.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you for that reminder, Angela. So Dave, if you might share with us, from your perspective, in what ways does the Holy Spirit use or move beyond ecclesiology and connectionalism to cultivate courageous leadership? What does that look like? How does the Holy Spirit use or move beyond ecclesiology and connectionalism?
Dave Uriel Angelo Rombaoa: Thank you so much, Bishop. In the Wesleyan tradition, connectionalism forms us to be what I would call missionally interdependent—we don’t lead alone, and we don’t discern alone. Especially in my context in the Philippines, serving across different regions, diverse cultures, and languages, this connection stretches my perspective on how I see the Church.
It reminds me that leadership is not just local—it is shared, accountable, and shaped by a wider body. But the Holy Spirit is not limited to our structures. The Spirit works through connectionalism, forming leaders in community, but also beyond it, especially when systems become slow to respond or struggle to include emerging voices. I’ve seen young leaders step up in moments where formal structures were not enough, during disasters, in digital spaces, and in grassroots ministries.
Courageous leadership, then, is knowing how to remain rooted in the connection while also being open to where the Spirit is moving ahead of it. For young people, this is critical. We are not just inheriting the church, we are participating in how the Spirit is renewing and stretching it for today’s realities.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Dave, for sharing your perspective. I'm going to turn back to Bishop Emmanuel. Bishop Emmanuel, if you can share with us what characteristics does the Holy Spirit stir in a courageous leader? And how do we as bishops, and as a church, create space for the Holy Spirit to develop these, even when they challenge the status quo and institutional norms?
Bishop Ande Emmanuel: Thank you. A courageous leader is grounded in conviction, guided by the Holy Spirit, and willing to act faithfully even in the face of resistance. Such a leader demonstrates integrity, humility, resilience, and a deep commitment to truth and justice. Courageous leadership is not about power, but about obedience to God’s call.
As a bishop, my responsibility is both to model and to cultivate these characteristics. I must create an environment where leaders feel supported to speak truth, challenge unhealthy systems, and pursue innovation without fear. This involves mentoring, spiritual formation, and ensuring accountability structures that encourage faithfulness rather than mere conformity.
In the Church, we must normalize holy risk-taking. Too often, institutional norms can discourage courage. Therefore, we must intentionally affirm leaders who step out infaith, even when outcomes are uncertain. Encouragement, theological grounding, and communal discernment are essential. Courageous leadership is especially critical in times of transition and tension. It requires us to remain rooted in Christ while being open to the new things God is doing among us.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Bishop Emanuel. Let me remind us that we're all a part of this webinar across continents and so we may have some challenges with some technology, and there may be times when Bishop Emmanuel, in particular, is speaking where we may lose a few words, but I'm hoping and trusting that we are able to embrace and fully understand the scope of what is being shared. We thank you, Bishop Emmanuel, for joining us
Bishop Ande Emmanuel: Thank you.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: I'm gonna turn back to, Dave. Dave, I want to invite you to, respond to this question. How do we rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance to equip our leaders To courageously thrive in the new spaces of a regional church?
Dave Uriel Angelo Rombaoa: Thank you again, Bishop. With the regional church, leadership is becoming more contextual, more accountable, and more grounded in the realities of our local communities. For me, this shift is not just structural, it is deeply spiritual. While structures allow decisions to be made closer to the people, they do not automatically form leaders who are ready to carry that responsibility. That is where reliance on the Holy Spirit becomes essential.
In my experience working with young people across the Philippines, many are already leading this way, responding to real needs, often without clear templates. They are navigating complex situations with courage, learning as they go. What we need now is not just more direction, but a Church that is willing to trust, form, and walk with leaders as they discern in their own contexts.
I have also seen this through my ministry in the Young People’s Connectional Network, engaging leaders from different regions such as Africa, Europe, the United States, and the Philippines. These experiences remind me that there is no single model for leadership, but the same Spirit is at work in every context.
At the same time, this shift brings both opportunity and tension. We cannot please everyone. So relying on the Holy Spirit means creating space for shared discernment, intentional listening, and courageous decision-making. Because leadership in this season is no longer just about following, it is about taking responsibility for how God’s mission is lived out where we are.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Dave. And Angela, I am going to invite you to respond to the same question, and let me remind us of what that question is. How do we rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance to equip our leaders to courageously thrive in the new spaces of a regional church? If you'll share your perspective, Angela.
Angela Pupino: Thank you, Bishop. So I am currently in The United Methodist Church's ordination process, and so I spend a lot of time in one space where our future clergy leaders are being equipped. And I have to be honest that even talking about the ordination process on a webinar feels a little bit dangerous. I'm being mentored by so many amazing and gifted clergy right now. But even then, there's a lot of focus on what we can't say, what we can't do, horror stories from previous ordination journeys, the phrases or questions from boards of ordained ministry that are, maybe, maybe traps.
Part of that might just be living in the culture of Washington, D.C, but sometimes I wonder if we're going to be able to set down all of that training, and if I'm going to be able to set down all of that training if I do make it to ordination in 4 years.
Will I be able to focus on where the Holy Spirit is leading me? Will I be able to dream and imagine new possibilities for the church the way I do now? Or will I become caught up in training the next generation of leaders the same way?
And I want to be clear that a certain amount of conformity to institutional norms is healthy for systems and people. This is as old as our tradition is, Wesley required it of preachers, as very required it of preachers. I think every Methodist leader since has required it, and accountability, and being responsible to each other is important.
But our history is also full of leaders who pushed against areas of institutional stagnation, and I wonder if courage also means teaching each other to discern the places where the Holy Spirit is calling us to take a stand or challenge a narrative or cycle.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Angela for sharing your wisdom and perspective on how the Holy Spirit can guide and equip leaders, and I'm sure everyone who's listening is also pondering this same question. I'm going to turn now to Bishop Emmanuel. I invite you to respond to the same question. How do we rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance to equip leaders to courageously thrive in the new spaces of a regional church? Bishop Emmanuel? You have to unmute Bishop Emmanuel so we can hear you. Thank you.
Bishop Ande Emmanuel: As a bishop, one of my primary responsibilities is to ensure that leaders are equipped not only with skills but with spiritual depth and courage. Developing courageous leaders requires intentional investment in several key resources.
First, strong theological education is essential. Leaders must be grounded in Scripture and Wesleyan theology so they can discern wisely and act faithfully.
Second, mentorship and coaching are critical. Courage is often nurtured through relationships where leaders are encouraged, challenged, and guided.
Third, we must provide safe spaces for experimentation. Leaders need permission to try new approaches in ministry without fear of failure or punishment. This includes institutional support and flexibility within our structures.
Fourth, spiritual formation is foundational. Prayer, discernment, and reliance on the Holy Spirit sustain courage over time.
Finally, connectional support across regions strengthens leaders. In my episcopal area, where contexts vary greatly, sharing experiences and resources helps leaders grow in confidence and innovation. Courageous leadership does not emerge by accident—it is cultivated through intentional investment, trust, and a willingness to empower others.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you. Thank you.
Bishop Ande Emmanuel: Thank you.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: So, let us go ahead now and move on - and the question is, where in your ministry context are you sensing the Holy Spirit's call to lead more courageously? Dave, if you would respond to that question first, and then Angela, I'm going to ask you to respond to the same question.
Dave Uriel Angelo Rombaoa: Okay, Bishop. In my ministry context with young people, and as the president of our youth fellowship serving across the country here in the Philippines, I sense that the Holy Spirit is calling me to courage in three specific areas. First is… genuine representation. Ensuring that young people and women are not just present, but truly shaping decisions. Leadership must move from token inclusion to shared responsibility.
Dave Uriel Angelo Rombaoa: Second is engaging our social realities more honestly. In the Philippines, we live in a context of political division, where systems of power, like political dynasties, often concentrate leadership among a few, limiting representation and accountability. As a church, this challenges us to ask, what does it mean to live out our social witness faithfully?
Sometimes, or most of the time, I reflect, what would Jesus do? Would he remain only inside the church, or would he walk with people in their struggles? For us, we say in our Filipino language, “Para sa Diyos at bayan”, or, “For God, and for the people.”
Dave Uriel Angelo Rombaoa: I remember visiting communities in Bagong Silang, one of the largest local communities in the Philippines, where families had lost fathers, brothers, sisters, and sons during the drug war under former President Rodrigo Duterte. In those moments, I realized that the church mission is not always to fix, but to see, to listen intentionally, and to stay.
And third, It's intentional leadership formation. Raising young leaders who are not just active, but rooted, focused, and grounded in faith. Thank you, Bishop.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Dave. Thank you. Angela, what might you say? How might you respond to that question?
Angela Pupino: When I first saw this question I laughed, because sometimes I don’t feel like I lead anything. Right now, I’m a youth pastor. I’m on the student council at my seminary.
But I do lead. I spend a lot of time advocating for and trying to lift up the perspective of young people in my church. I am discovering new ways that I want to help church systems to be better. Right now, I lead in ways that a lot of United Methodist laity lead. Hopefully this time next year I will be preparing to lead in ways that provisional clergy lead as well. I can feel God calling me to step out into deeper and more thoughtful leadership in all areas of my life, and that’s the foundation of courageous leadership.
And I think that we Christians should choose courageous leadership because all leadership requires risk. Even bad or cowardly leadership is risky. Saying ‘yes’ to everyone or allowing injustice also risks serious consequences. God’s call, Christ’s model, and the Holy Spirit’s movement will show us the right way to lead. We can choose to lead with or without courage. But we will encounter risk either way.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Angela. So Bishop Emmanuel, I'm going to invite you to respond to that same question. Where in your ministry context are you sensing the Holy Spirit's call to lead more courageously? Where in your ministry context?
Bishop Ande Emmanuel: In my ministry context, courageous leadership is required in several critical spaces. One major area is navigating ecclesial tensions and divisions within the Church. Leading with courage means holding firm to truth while working toward unity and reconciliation.
Another space is engaging rapidly changing social and cultural realities. Issues such as poverty, youth disconnection, and religious dynamics require innovative and sometimes unconventional responses. Courage is needed to move beyond traditional approaches and embrace new methods of ministry.
Additionally, leading across multiple countries—Nigeria, Senegal, and Cameroon—demands cultural sensitivity and adaptability. Courage is required to make decisions that honor diversity while maintaining connectional integrity.
There is also the challenge of raising new leaders. Empowering younger generations and giving them real responsibility requires trust and boldness. Courageous leadership inherently involves risk. It means stepping into uncertainty, making difficult decisions, and sometimes facing criticism. However, as leaders of the Church, we are called to trust God’s guidance and lead faithfully, even when the path is not fully clear. Thank you, Bishop.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Bishop Emmanuel. So here is a question… We have some feedback, but we're going to work through the feedback. The question is, that I would like to invite each of you to respond to is this - When we look at courageous leaders in our past and present, who were moved by the Holy Spirit, who are we missing from that story? When we reflect back and look at courageous leaders that we can recall from our past, and even those in the present who were moved by the Holy Spirit, but who's missing from that story?
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: I'm gonna call on you first, Dave.
Dave Uriel Angelo Rombaoa: Thank you, Bishop. Often, when we talk about courageous leadership, we highlight visible, ordained, or well-known figures. But we miss the everyday leaders who quietly sustain and transform the Church. We are missing the stories of young people, women, lay leaders, and grassroots communities, especially those serving in contexts where resources are limited but faith is strong.
In the Philippines, I’ve seen young people lead ministries, respond to crises, and build communities of faith in ways that are deeply courageous, even without recognition. If we do not name these stories, we unintentionally shape a narrow vision of who leadership is for.
From a youth perspective, this matters deeply. Young people are asking: Do I belong in this story? Is there space for my voice? I believe the Holy Spirit is inviting the Church to expand its imagination of leadership—to recognize that courage is not always loud or visible, but often faithful, consistent, and rooted in everyday service.
If we are not listening to voices at the margins, we may be missing where the Spirit is already at work.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Wow. Thank you, Dave. Angela, what are your thoughts on this question?
Angela Pupino: I deeply appreciate everything that Dave just said. In the U.S. context specifically, I know that we're missing the stories of a lot of spirit-led folks. We definitely, in the United States, overlook courageous leadership from other parts of the world.
The white church overlooks courageous leadership from people of color in our denomination and in other denominations. The leadership of laity, and in my context specifically, of LGBTQIA people is also overlooked in many church spaces.
I also want to highlight that I am part of a generation in the United States that is less than 50% Christian. I myself didn't grow up in church every Sunday and was an atheist for 8 years as a teenager. And so I think we also need to be careful not to overlook the courageous leaders who are coming back into our churches after leaving for a while, or who are entering our churches for the first time.
People who did not grow up in the church see our churches differently than people who have been in the church their whole lives, and they don't have the same nostalgia about the way it's always been. They might need to learn why United Methodists believe what we believe or care about what we care about, but I think people who are coming back into the church or entering it for the first time might become some of the bravest and most creative leaders we have.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Angela. Thank you and Dave for sharing that very helpful perspective of helping us to identify and think about who's missing from the story. Bishop Emmanuel, I'm going to ask you to respond specifically to this question. When we look at courageous leaders in our past and present who were moved by the Holy Spirit, from your context and from your perspective, who are we missing from that story? Bishop Emmanuel?
Bishop Ande Emmanuel: Thank you very much, Bishop. When we reflect on courageous leadership, we must acknowledge that many voices remain unrepresented. We are often missing younger leaders, women, in certain contexts. The voices from different regions is very important, which is mostly missing. In my context, I see the need to intentionally lift up emerging leaders, especially the younger ones who bring fresh perspective and energy. Their voices are essential for the future of the church.
Similarly, we must continue to create a space for women to lead fully and courageously, recognizing their gifts and their calling. We also need to better hear from leaders in diverse cultures and socio-economic settings. The global nature of The United Methodist Church is a strength, but only if all voices are truly included.
As a bishop, I see it as my responsibility to identify, to mentor, to elevate those voices. Courageous leadership is not only about individual strength, It is about ensuring that the full body of Christ is represented. When we are broadened and have broader perspective, we are strengthened, and the witness of the church and its capacity will definitely lead into transformation.
Therefore, voices of young people, voices of women, cultural differences, most especially people from regions that are not represented are very important in leading to courageous leadership.
Thank you, Bishop.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Bishop Emmanuel, and thank you to all three of you for those helpful perspectives on that question. And here's another question I think it's helpful for us to hear from you on, and I think everyone listening would appreciate this as well.
Where do you see the Holy Spirit calling The United Methodist Church to step into greater courageous leadership in the world In the near future? Dave, I invite you to lead us in responding to that question.
Dave Uriel Angelo Rombaoa: Thank you, Bishop. I believe the Holy Spirit is calling The United Methodist Church, as a global church, toward deeper discipleship, shared leadership and spaces of belonging.
First, discipleship that truly transformed people. Not just participation, but… transformation. Many young people are searching for purpose and grounding, and the church is called to respond with intentional formation.
Dave Uriel Angelo Rombaoa: Second is creating a space for emerging voices, specifically for young people, we are not just the future of the church, we are part of its present. And courageous leadership means trusting new generations, even when it stretches existing structures that we have.
Third, and I see a stronghold toward building communities that feel like home. In the Philippines, our youth movement is entering a new season for the biennium 2026-2028, as I would end my term this 2026 of May as a president. So, we… we have our team for this biennium, this upcoming biennium, as Tahanan, which means home. It reflects our desire to become spaces where young people, or anyone, Should we belong? Are we heard and are nurtured. Mot only equipped for leadership, but also supported in their well-being and feed. Because after standing courageously for truth, For justice, for their faith, young people are also… do also need spaces for rest, healing and renewal.
And I believe that is part of where the Spirit is leading the church: Not just to send people out, but to become a place where people can truly come home to.
Thank you, Bishop.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Dave, for giving voice to this need and opportunity. Angela, we welcome your perspective and sharing at this time.
Angela Pupino: Thank you, Bishop. So, I think that repentance and reconciliation with anyone who has been harmed by the institutional church are a form of courageous leadership that the church and the world really need right now.
In the US, and I suspect in other places in the world, people are increasingly unwilling to apologize or even talk about wrong done in society, let alone try to, try to hold… have accountability, and reconciliation of it. But I… I think that the UMC can model this, and I think in a lot of ways, the United Methodist Church does model this.
Our Book of Resolutions has many different apologies in it already, and I hope, personally, to see many, many more. I want to be in a denomination that is never afraid to say that it's sorry, to stand with the Holy Spirit, to stand with God, to stand with Jesus Christ in saying that it is sorry. And I also want to be in a denomination that is not afraid to put concrete action steps and accountability before and after those apologies.
Repentance and reconciliation are gifts of God's grace, to us. I also think that public apologies can empower and begin to heal the church as it exists today. I was working in a prayer room at my annual conference after the session where the bishop read the apology from the United Methodist Church to survivors of sexual misconduct from the 2024 General Conference, and the people who came in seeking prayer afterwards were not who I expected.
I was expecting a lot of younger people like me in kind of the cultural realities we're in right now, but instead, it was a lot of elders telling me stories of misconduct by United Methodist clergy and laity from 50 or 60 years ago. And that means that our pews are already full of people for whom an apology is a first step in a healing process, that, the church's previous silence, has delayed.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Angela, for sharing from your head and from your heart of what you hope for in the denomination, our denomination.
Let me turn to you, Bishop Emmanuel, as you respond to that same question, where do you see the Holy Spirit calling The United Methodist Church to step into greater courageous leadership in the world in the near future? Bishop Emmanuel?
Bishop Ande Emmanuel: Thank you, Bishop. The world today is in great need of courage and Christ-centered leadership. The United Methodist Church has been uniquely positioned to respond to this need. One of the areas of importance that God is calling The United Methodist Church to continue to walk into the future is to address injustice and inequality.
Injustice and inequality remain one of the major areas of needs, most especially in the context of Africa. Courageous leadership requires us to speak prophetically against systems that oppress and marginalize people. This is something that The United Methodist Church needs to key in and continue to work as we get into a promising future.
Secondly, It is very important that the United Methodist Church should engage the younger generation in a meaningful way. This call for innovation, adaptability, Willingness to rethink the traditional models of ministry.
And thirdly, in a world marked by division, The United Methodist Church is called to be a witness of unity in diversity. We have to re-echo this again into the future. Our unity does not necessarily mean uniformity.
This is something that God requires us: to be courageous, to hold together a different perspective, while remaining united and rooted in Christ's grace. So these are the areas that I see The United Methodist Church keying into a future that takes us to a Christ kingdom here on Earth.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Bishop Emmanuel.
All I can say is, wow. I am so grateful to you, Angela, to Dave, and to Bishop Emmanuel for the way in which you have held those questions and responded to those questions, and I'm trusting that everyone who's listening have learned a lot, and you've given all of us so much to be thinking about, as we celebrate who we are as United Methodists and how the Holy Spirit is leading us into the future.
We're going to now turn to some questions from our participants. And so, what I would want to do…we have one question that I see in the chat that I will, put before us.
And I'm going to give each of you an opportunity to briefly say a word. We're mindful that we only have so much more time, and we want to be able to respond to as many questions as possible. So, let me give you the question.
What does courageous leadership look like in today's world of division, uncertainty, and rapid change?
I think you may have spoken to some of that in some of your questions, but this is one of the questions, if one of you would like to respond to that. And let's start with you, Angela. What does courageous leadership look like in today's world of the vision, uncertainty and rapid change.
Angela Pupino: The first thing that came to mind for me was that, is that, God didn't give us a spirit of fear. I think one of the, the most powerful ways that the church can respond to the division, the war, violence, any of the concerning things that are going on in our world is not living and not leading in a spirit of fear. There's a lot of insecurity in our denomination right now, just because of some of the realities that we are entering into, the new cultural realities, and…Christ-centered leadership is not anxious, it is not fearful, it is… it is brave, it is grounded and rooted, it is connected to other people, it's not siloed, and it… it's… it's bold.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Angela. Dave, would you like to respond to that question as well?
Dave Uriel Angelo Rombaoa: Sure, Bishop. So, as I've heard the question, one thing, or one phrase that immediately popped on my mind, is what I mentioned also earlier, is when… when in today's world of division, what's, in… in that question, is I always just ask - whatever the situation is, or the social realities that we are in right now, is I ask the question, what would Jesus do?
As I always reflect on that phrase whenever I am in confusion, or when I'm in a difficult situation, is that, what would Jesus do when He is in this situation? So…
What he would just do is intentional listening, push with Christ-centered situations, and how he would react with compassion to whatever was happening to our world right now. Thank you, Bishop.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you. Bishop Emmanuel, might you want to respond to that question? What does courageous leadership look like in today's world of division, uncertainty, and rapid change?
Bishop Ande Emmanuel: Yes, Bishop, one of the things that comes to my mind is openness. In a world marked by division. In a world made by rapid changes, Courageous leadership requires boldness. There are a lot of systems that threaten the truth and justice in our society. Without boldness, Sometimes we are limited in terms of courageous leadership. And another thing that I reflect about is… God has not given us the spirit of fear as cited by Angela. That is really powerful.
We are created by God, And God has given us the Spirit of Truth. And to stand for that which is right. That spirit of discernment, that gift of discernment, I believe God has given to each one of us. In a world that is marked by this kind of division, rapid change, it is very important that we become bold. It is very important that we become truthful. It is very important that we become open. If we get those elements, I believe courageous leadership will be very effective in our respective ministry. Thank you, Bishop.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you.
I understand that we have received a question about the denominational survey. We do want to let everyone know that the survey is now closed, and we are in the process of compiling the filings from the responses that were received and the information will be shared later this spring. Okay, so that information will be shared later.
We do have another question. And I'm going to invite our panelists to think on this for a moment, and then I'll call on someone who's ready to respond. How best can our church leaders help us in congregations to bridge the gap to reach people who are skeptical of religious institutions in order to serve joyfully and lead courageously?
I'm gonna repeat that. How best can our church leaders help us in congregations to bridge the gap in order to reach people who are skeptical of religious institutions in order to serve joyfully and lead courageously?
Dave, let us hear your perspective on that question.
Dave Uriel Angelo Rombaoa: Thank you so much, Bishop. I think one of, the things that, came to my mind is the intentional listening and staying, how we should listen, really, on how we can bridge the gap between, between people of, especially in, in our leadership, in, and in the people in, in, in the patient, in, in the people like me.
So, that's one thing that came to my mind, Bishop, is the intentional listening on how we can serve with our ears with compassion and love, on how we can serve joyfully and live courageously with our churches and congregations.
Thank you so much, Bishop.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Dave. Angela, would you like to respond to that question as well?
Angela Pupino: Yes, I think my answer is kind of similar to Dave's. I think being willing to listen and hear criticism are a way that we can help to bridge the gap between people who are skeptical of the church.
I'm teaching a confirmation class right now, and on the first day, I asked the youth what they had heard about Christians, in their day-to-day lives, in school, wherever, and they thought it was… they thought I was tricking them, and so the first question was like… or the first answer was, you know, I've heard that Christians love God, and they serve their communities, and I was like, alright.
I'm gonna write that down on the board, but what else have you heard? And the second student to offer an answer, you know, I was like, what have you really heard, was talking about Christian nationalism, had questions about the history of racial violence in the KKK in this country, and once they realized that it was safe for them to bring their questions, to bring their criticism, to bring the things that they've heard, they're just more willing to engage and find out what this entire Christianity, this entire church thing is.
And so I think having open hearts and open minds to hear some things that are uncomfortable to us, or make us pause for a moment, is a really good way to begin to bridge that gap.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Angela.
Bishop Emmanuel, would you like to respond to that question as well?
Bishop Ande Emmanuel: Bishop, I live in the part of the world that, Churches are flooded every Sunday with people. People not only every Sunday. In the part of the world that I live, people almost sleep in the church. You will have services on Sunday, you are required to come back on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for some kind of practices, or a particular event that is happening within the church. So, for me, the church where I live evolves around people.
People's lives and the community lives is revolving around what the church is offering in that particular community. Whether from the Muslim perspective or from the Christian perspective, one of the things that is very important for the leaders to do, in my own context to make people respond to the needs of the church is for them to identify what is the needs in that community. As leaders, if we can identify the needs in our community, we are opening the doors for people to engage us, for people to listen to us. This has been one of the key areas where you see a lot of people floating in churches and in Africa, most especially the younger people.
Most of the congregation that I have pastored for the 20 years that I've been a pastor, more than 75% of people who attend this church are people between the age of 13 and 26. More than 80% of them are persons within the age of 13 and 26. So, the older ones are few. So, one of the key areas that makes that possible is for us to identify what are the needs of those communities. As leaders, we must continue to identify what are the needs of our communities.
Thank you, Bishop.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you. Thank you.
So here is what I am going to invite us to do before we begin to wrap up this webinar, and I turn our time back over to Stephanie. What gives you hope? When you think about our new vision as a church, United Methodists, who forms disciples of Jesus Christ, who, empowered by the Holy Spirit to Love boldly, serve joyfully, lead courageously in our communities and worldwide connections. What gives you hope? If you'll just take a few moments and think on that and then share with all of us who are listening.
What gives you hope, especially in a climate that we're living in right now, where there's so much division, and uncertainty, and anxiety. What gives you hope when you think about the church and the future of the church, and what our role is? In how we speak and lead in these times. What gives you hope?
Angela? If you would share a few moments.
Angela Pupino: Sure, Bishop. When you asked what gives us hope, the first thing that came to mind for me is my hope for our future is grounded in our Methodist history, I think. It's grounded in our church history. The church has been… the church universally has been nimble and contextual and spirit-led and courageous before. The United… the Methodist movement, which has become, for us, the United Methodist Church, has also been nimble, thoughtful, contextual, led by the Holy Spirit, willing to go to places that other people were not willing to go, willing to, to minister in very real gaps, in places where people didn't have community, or care, or love, or the material things that they needed. And our human history is full of moments that are have just as much insecurity as now. And so continuing to look back at the models of leadership that, Christians and the people called United Methodist have already demonstrated gives me hope for the future, it grounds me, it roots me in tradition, and it encourages me, to be creative and to think about how to push beyond some of our, human-made barriers as well.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Angela. And Dave, let me invite you to respond to that same question. What gives you hope as we live into our new vision as The United Methodist Church.
And, as we are the church in the world and in a time where there's so much division and uncertainty and anxiety, what brings you hope? As to how you see the role of the church in the midst of all of that.
Dave Uriel Angelo Rombaoa: Thank you so much, Bishop. It actually makes me somehow emotional inside whenever I hear these kinds of questions regarding our church, because I have so much hope with our church, with our… with our new vision statement to… empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and live courageously.
It just takes me back to our mission. That, or our vision, or our, whether you call that tagline for The United Methodist Church, we have our open minds, open doors, and open… hearts, and of just being… just being an inclusive church, welcoming, having love and compassion for each other. That's just, one of the foundations of why I have… I have this kind of big, big hope for the church, because in my context here in the Philippines, leading the youth organization, having to see different cultures.
Leading… leading together to have this kind of… vision and our mission and ministries for the church is really… I… this really makes me see the vision and hope for our church, and to have this kind of, full of challenging times with, with our global, with our global, struggles, and also with our local struggles, with… with our church that is continually voicing out our expressions of how our, and how we see our faith to be aligned with what's happening, not just locally, but also globally, is what I really love with our church. So, with those things that I mentioned, I think it's a lot, but that's… those kinds of things is what gives me hope for our church, The United Methodist Church.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Thank you, Dave. Thank you for sharing your hope. And Bishop Emmanuel, let me invite you to respond to the same. What gives you hope in light of our new vision as we live into this new, next expression of who we are and who we're called to be as a church, and especially, being the church in a time that we're in, where there's so much division and anxiety and fear. What gives you hope when you think about our work and role as a church?
Bishop Ande Emmanuel: Thank you, Bishop. One of the things that gives me hope about The United Methodist Church, it's our courage to reach places despite all odds, even in the midst of division, in the midst of disagreement.
I have seen The United Methodist Church doing great things before now. The United Methodist Church has been doing everything possible. I tell people to bring the Kingdom of God here on earth. The work The United Methodist Church is doing with General Board of Global Ministry around the world.
The work The United Methodist Church is doing with UMCOR, providing relief to the suffering communities around the world, those are remarkable gestures that push us up hope for us that see this from a distance.
And again, our worldwide regionalization, how The United Methodist Church is becoming a worldwide church, where each region of this church is giving, the… the… some certain autonomy to do ministry within its own context, to respect each other's context, so this is something that has given me hope, and I look forward in the future to see how fully we can live into this worldwide regionalization, to love broadly, to serve joyfully, and live courageously.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Amen, amen. To God be the glory for this wonderful webinar, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to moderate, and I'm so thankful to Angela and Dave and Bishop Emmanuel for engaging us in this time of shared learning.
And so, beloved, we are at the end of our webinar, and I am going to turn our time back over to Stephanie. Stephanie, it is yours.
Stephanie Henry: Thanks so much, Bishop Malone. I want to thank you, Bishop Malone, and to our incredible panelists, Bishop Emmanuel, Angela, Dave, thank you for your time today. I also want to give appreciation to the United Methodist communications team for supporting us.
As a reminder, today's webinar is recorded. That recording and transcript will be available as soon as possible at resourceumc.org backslash leadership gathering. I hope others have seen that…about how to get registered for that, so participants of the leadership gathering should pay attention to their emails.
Stephanie Henry: And so, I will, close us out this…
Stephanie Henry: through The United Methodist Church.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Stephanie, you're muted.
Stephanie Henry: Did we… Am I still here?
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: You may want to… your closing prayer again.
Stephanie Henry: Okay.
Stephanie Henry: Did you… we heard the other parts, though, right? The, about the resources.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: You went in and out, you may want to repeat it.
Stephanie Henry: Okay, yes, so, we're being recorded, the transcript will be, available. Apologies for my, unstable technology. And then, the next for the leadership participants is April 25th, so look for communications, they will be emailed.
Stephanie Henry: Creator God, thank you for all of the people here today. Thank you for the technology that brings us together. May we be… Emboldened to love, be joyful, and to lead as your spirit leads us.
In your Son's holy name we pray. Amen.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Amen.
Bishop Ande Emmanuel: Thank you.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone: Take care, everybody.