The United Methodist Conference in Zimbabwe says it is a case of churches staying in the UMC
This story was produced in collaboration with The Pulitzer Center.
Ruwa, Zimbabwe – United Methodist Pastors and Laity happily greet the Zimbabwe Bishop Rev’s Rev. Gift T. Machinga, let’s accept him and his vision for the South African nation.
Machinga, who was elected in March, is expected to continue leading the United Church of Zimbabwe. The same cannot be said for other African nations, where confusion and disagreement over legal changes in the system have crippled large sections of Mandela.
Bishop Rev’s Machinga addresses the guests at the second day of the United Methodist Church Conference in Ruwa, Zimbabwe, on Saturday, Oct. 2025.
But Machinga and its founder, the Bishop of Rev’s, have taken up impressive educational campaigns to ensure the commitment of their people to the United Methodist Church (UMC). A joyful celebration of Machinga at the annual conference of UMC ZIMBABWE East during Oct. 25 Gathering It is shown that the pressure of the United Methoseli Pedelity meant.
Shortly thereafter, 637 delegates voted on whether to renew the plan to reorganize the denomination. The results of this conference vote, so that the system is known as regions, will not be known until all the regional conferences in the continuous vote around the world are drawn in early November.
Attendees hold completed filings as they vote on the denomination’s reorganization plan, known as districts, on the second day of the United Methodist Church Church Bald.
The following role of -isitionaling is seen as a critical step to maintain the UMC’s global meeting that is following a costly predominance – including disagreements about LGBTQ + rights. The Nashville-based historic reorganization plan will allow United WEPSEMS around the world to maintain policies and procedures that adapt to local cultures and laws.
The region allows the UMC to remain “one big family but with different understandings based on different regions,” said Tazvionepi Nyarota at the annual conference of Zimbabwe in the east. Nyarota represents a special group of living Zimbabweans living overseas who have joined their UMC conference back home. He is from Canada, but there are other Zimbabwean immigration churches in the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Australia.
Many Zimbabweans see the regions as an opportunity to forge their own distinct identity within the UMC. But that’s not the only reason for United Waysm.
In the presentation at the beginning of Oct. 25, the guests heard the guests of the newly built business premises of the Bishop’s business. The new arm, an independent business with its own Board of Directors and staff, will seek other sources of income beyond the Parish checks. This includes renting property owned by the conference for office space or renting other property owned by the church for agriculture or mining. This additional funding will support other strategic measures, a plan that the conference leadership revealed by Oct. 25.
Pilgrims take a short break during the second day of the United Methodist Church Bald.
“Now we will enjoy life, we have suffered enough,” said help from Shona, part of the Bantu language family in many parts of Zimbabwe, following a business development presentation.
Total membership in Zimbabwe Churches has declined in recent years. The two Zimbabwean conferences have targeted a membership of 146,023 by 2025. But the conferences also added new churches a year, which was decided to do in Zimbabwe’s annual conference.
“This is when they apply for the closing of churches (UMC) KAHULU (UMC). In another place, we apply for the opening of churches,” Machinga told the guests.
Rev. Taurai Maforo, Director of Communications at Mamakhi, provided translation services for the Tennessean from Shona to English.
More reporting from Zimbabwe: ‘Whoo whoo, our elephant!’ United Waychists in Zimbabwe are putting forward a historic decision
Liam Adams covers the Tennessean cult, part of the USA Today network. Reach him at Ladams@teningslean.com or on Social Media @liamsadams.
This article originally appeared in the Nashville Tennessean: Wedy Waychists in Zimbabwe celebrate bishop, vote to rebuild
