From ResourceUMC: The purpose of the Leadership Gathering will be to gather hope, vision and imagination for the future of the UMC from across the connectional landscape.

Participants will include all active bishops and COB officers; three leaders from each Episcopal Area selected by the bishop in consultation with the lay and clergy leadership of the Episcopal Area; and the general secretaries.

The 2026 Leadership Gathering is expected to overflow with fresh energy—thought-provoking keynotes, creative workshops, worship that awakens new possibilities, and opportunities to form life-changing connections. Bishops and leaders will rally around breakthrough ideas, share wisdom, and craft bold responses to the challenges ahead.

Building on the momentum of the 2020/24 General Conference, this gathering calls the church to awaken hope, amplify vision, and set the stage for a renewed movement of faith.

The NM Conference will be sending Rev. Josh Kouri, Ellice Whiteaker and Lijah Medina to the event. When asked what he hopes for the gathering, Josh said this: “My main hope for the gathering is that different voices would help us hear things that we haven’t wanted to hear for some time. I’m mindful (and humbled) that I am roughly double the age of our two stellar New Mexico Conference lay-representatives at this gathering. That the Bishops emphasized giving a voice to young people, people of color and from indigenous communities, people from the LGBTQ+ community, and others who have rarely had a seat at the table shows me that there is something new happening in the United Methodist Church. I think we should do something truly radical. When these communities speak, we should listen and seriously pursue what they are advocating. Right now, I’m reading Acts in my personal Bible study, and I am noticing as I read how often the voice of the outsider is speaking for the Holy Spirit. Maybe that’s happening now in our denomination.” 

Bishop Carlo, Josh, Ellice and Lijah will be sending photos from the event and sharing their reflections. We lift them up in prayer as they prepare their hearts and minds for this difficult and important work.

Morning and evening worship services will be livestreamed. Because of space limitations, only a handful of journalists will be onsite. They will report daily. Click for more information and stay tuned for the livestream of the worship.