ROME (MEOR) – A group of 10 bishops from three different Methodist churches in the United States embarked on a study pilgrimage in Rome, Italy, from 5-8 March 2024. The bishops were drawn from the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and The United Methodist Church; all three churches are member churches of the World Methodist Council, the international Christian communion of Methodist, Wesleyan, and Uniting churches. The three churches underwent separation during the 19th century due to the sin of slavery and racism. Since 2012, the churches, along with 3 other Methodist churches, are in a special full communion relationship.
The trip was organized by the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome with the generous support of the Kentucky-based Magee Christian Education Foundation. The Rev. Dr. Jean Hawxhurst, ecumenical staff officer of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church, also provided leadership, collaboration, and program development for the study pilgrimage.
The bishops began their program on 5 March with a visit to the necropolis under St. Peter’s Basilica, where the group prayed the Lord’s Prayer near the tomb of Peter the Apostle.
During their visit to Rome, the bishops met with leaders from various departments of the Vatican to learn about dialogue, theologies of Christian unity, and Methodist-Catholic relations. The delegation first met with H.Em. Cardinal Kurt Koch of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity along with dicastery officials to discuss current trends in the modern ecumenical movement and the need for greater consensus on the definition and goal of Christian unity. Additionally, the delegation learned about the Catholic Church’s synodal process at the Synod Office, where they were welcomed by Sr. Nathalie Becquart XMCJ, undersecretary of the Synod Office, and taught by Synod official Sr. Marie Kolbe Zamona.
The bishops also visited the headquarters of the Methodist-Waldensian Church in Italy and the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy. At the Methodist-Waldensian headquarters, the delegation was received by Deacon Alesssandra Trotta, a Methodist deacon serving as the moderator of the General Board (Tavola Valdese), and Pastor Luca Anziani, president of the Methodist permanent committee. The Methodist Church in Italy and the Waldensian Church formed an union in 1975. Pastor Luca Baratto, executive secretary, welcomed the group to the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy and overviewed the Federation’s ministries. Ms. Marta Bernardini and Ms. Fiona Kendall of Mediterranean Hope presented on the Federation’s work with migrants and refugees. Additionally, the Rev. Sarah Mae Gabuyo, a United Methodist elder serving as the pastor of Ponte Sant’Angelo Methodist Church in Rome, led the group in a time of prayer during their visit to the church.
A highlight for the delegation was their encounter with Pope Francis (see related story).
U.S. ambassador to the Holy See Joseph Donnelly and his wife Mrs. Jill Donnelly hosted the delegation for dinner at Villa Richardson, the official ambassadorial residence, where there was a lively exchange on issues affecting the United States and the role of Methodists in American public life, ending with singing of historic Wesleyan hymns.
Other visits included the
- Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue where the group was received by Monsignor Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku K. and Sister Grace Marie Horan FSE and given an orientation to the department’s concept of dialogue and its work,
- Centro Pro Unione, a center promoting Christian unity organized by the Franciscan Friars of Atonement who initiated the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,
- Sant’Egidio Community, a Catholic lay movement committed to peace, dialogue, and serving the poor that received the World Methodist Peace Award in 1998, and
- Focolare Movement, a Catholic lay movement dedicated to charity, encounter, and friendship.
On 8 March, the group toured various churches in central Rome as well as the Abbey of Three Fountains and the Papal Basilica of St. Paul’s-Outside-the-Walls, respectively the sites of the Apostle Paul’s execution and burial.
The program concluded with a special dinner at the Hotel Casa Valdese where the delegation was joined by several ecumenical guests representing various churches.
The bishops who participated in the study pilgrimage were:
- African Methodist Episcopal Church
Bishop Jeffrey N. Leath, AME ecumenical officer - Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick III of the Eighth Episcopal District (Texas and Jamaica) and senior bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Bishop Teresa Snorton, CME ecumenical and development officer
Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas, Sr. of the First Episcopal District (Arkansas and Tennessee)
Bishop Sylvester Williams, Sr. of the Third Episcopal District (the Midwest) - The United Methodist Church
Bishop Sally Dyck, ecumenical officer of the Council of Bishops
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone of the Ohio East Episcopal Area and incoming president of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church
Bishop Jonathan Holston of the Columbia Episcopal Area (South Carolina)
Bishop Frank Beard of the Illinois Episcopal Area
Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi of the Pittsburgh Episcopal Area
The delegation was also accompanied by Director Matthew A. Laferty, Dr. Jean Hawxhurst, and Mrs. Melissa Beard.
Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome 