The United Methodist Church in Central and Southern Europe consists of approximately 30.000 members and friends living in 13 countries (you can find a map here), celebrating worship services in about 20 languages and share God’s love in even more languages and expressions.
On this website you will learn more about this unique part of the worldwide family of The United Methodist Church.
Bishop Dr. Patrick Streiff
The United Methodist Church in countries directly or indirectly neighboring to Ukraine is very active in the ministries with and for Ukrainian refugees. Here you can find regular update reports (in English language) on these activities and on the situation in the various countries.
Dash of Thought - November 2022
Thanksgiving
Pictures led us into gratefulness at the harvest thanksgiving service on the last Sunday in October. As an urban congregation, without farmers, only one of the pictures showed a ripe field of corn. The others symbolized other reasons to give thanks: having a home; rejoicing in human fellowship and solidarity; the open arms with which Christ meets every person; fresh water for body and soul. At the end of the service, an amateur beekeeper distributed a jar of honey to each person who attended the service, in gratitude for the abundant yield of his bee colonies.
During the service, we also celebrated the confession of a married couple to Christ and to his body on earth. As professing members, the two want to support The United Methodist Church in its ministry with their gifts and opportunities. That, too, is Thanksgiving!
At the church coffee that followed, the dominant theme was not what was difficult or bad in the world, but that despite difficulties and challenges, we have much reason for a grateful heart. The mood was correspondingly cheerful and hopeful.
In November, the Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe will meet in Basel. Many years ago, we already set a "harvest" theme for it: "The fruit of the Spirit is...". It would be humanly more obvious to speak of the difficult situations in Church and world. But what makes the Church different, is what the Spirit of God produces among us, in persons, in local churches and in the solidarity of the Central Conference. My Bishop's message to the Central Conference will therefore be entitled: "Empowered by the Spirit of Christ". In the hopeful expectation of fruit of the Spirit for future years, a new bishop will also be elected at this Central Conference.
Bishop Patrick Streiff
Stefan Zürcher: New Bishop for a very diverse Episcopal Area
On November 20, Stefan Zürcher was consecrated bishop of The United Methodist Church (UMC) In this interview, he talks about the particular challenges of the current situation in his future Episcopal Area of Central and Southern Europe, a characteristic of his that could be especially helpful, and the future of his Church.
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Stefan Zürcher consecrated as bishop in Basel Cathedral
In a worship service on November 20, 2022, in Basel Cathedral, Rev. Stefan Zürcher (55) was consecrated as the new bishop for the UMC in Central and Southern Europe. He will succeed Bishop Patrick Streiff.
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Clear Yes to the Proposals of the Round Table
On Thursday, November 17, 2022, and Friday, November 18, 2022, delegates to the Central Conference of the UMC in Central and Southern Europe, meeting in Basel from November 16-20, 2022, considered a proposal developed by a Round Table. After lengthy, animated and at times emotional discussions and various additional loops, its proposals were accepted by a large majority.
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New bishop of the UMC in Central and Southern Europe
On November 18, delegates to the Central Conference in Basel elected Stefan Zürcher from Switzerland as bishop of the Evangelical Methodist Church in the Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe. He received exactly the number of 41 votes needed for election in the 4th ballot.
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Results of the Fourth Ballot of the Election of a new Bishop
The 68 voting delegates to the extraordinary session of the Central and Southern Europe Central Conference held a fourth ballot for the election of a successor to Bishop Patrick Streiff on Friday evening, November 18, 2022.
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