NEW YORK — United Methodist leaders are gathering for annual unity workshops in North Carolina, the United Methodist Ecumenical and Interreligious Training (UMEIT). Held in conjunction with the annual National Workshop on Christian Unity, UMEIT affords United Methodists an important opportunity to meet together, build community, compare notes, share best practices, and network across the connection and beyond it.

According to the United Methodists governing theology, Christian unity is not an option; it is a gift to be received and expressed. UMEIT is growing into a global network, with workshops completed in the Philippines, Norway, and a session being planned in Africa.

“There is a clear need to train up United Methodists in things ecumenical and interreligious, especially the imperative to mentor a new generation of ecumenists and interreligionists,” said Stephen Sidorak, ecumenical staff officer, OCUIR. “UMEIT will enable the United Methodist Church to continue to provide outstanding leadership to the ecumenical movement and nurture a growing number of United Methodists prepared and equipped to cultivate a variety of interreligious relationships.”

United Methodist Ecumenical and Interreligious Training (UMEIT) has existed for many years, and is celebrating its seventh annual session at the Christian Unity gathering in Charlotte, North Carolina on April 20 and 21st. “My hope for UMEIT is that it begins attracting more young Christian leaders who are interested in networking with others who care about the witness of the UMC to the upcoming generation,” said Jean Hawxhurst, associate ecumenical staff officer.

United Methodists respond to the theological, biblical, and practical mandates for Christian unity by firmly committing to the cause of Christian unity at local, national, and world levels.

“Many Christians have worked to draw Christians closer together so that when people see people who are called ‘Christian’ they see, most of all, people united in sharing the love of God with all people and caring for the whole of God’s world, said Dr. Glen Alton Messers, associate ecumenical staff officer. “The healing work of active love does not do itself. It needs new leaders in every generation. UMEIT is about empowering and equipping new leaders who will bring new vision and new energy to an essential challenge shared across all generations — to stand together in loving and living as God loves and lives in the world.”