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Church and Society Hosts Members of U.S. Congress for Dinner at the United Methodist Building

Members of Congress, United Methodist bishops and ecumenical leaders gathered to strengthen partnerships and discuss faith, democracy and civic participation.

General Board of Church and Society July 23, 2026

Members of Congress, United Methodist and ecumenical leaders in a group photo, at a conference room in the United Methodist Building. — Front row, from left: The Rev. Camille Henderson-Edwards, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Bennie Thompson, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Bishop Julius C. Trimble, Rep. Nikema Williams, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, The Rev. Dr. Copeland-Tune, The Rev. Dr. Liberato (Levi) Bautista, Rev. Angelique Mason. Back row, from left: Rev. Dr. Brian Tillman, Bishop Delores Williamston, Bishop Tom Berlin, Colleen Moore, Bishop Ruben Saenz, Darina Regio. Members of Congress, United Methodist bishops and ecumenical leaders gathered at the United Methodist Building for dinner and discussion.

Last week, members of U.S. Congress gathered with United Methodist bishops, ecumenical leaders and Church and Society staff at the United Methodist Building for a dinner hosted by Bishop Julius Trimble, general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society.

Over a shared meal, the group discussed faith, democracy and the church’s role in public life ahead of Good Trouble Lives On, a national weekend of action honoring the late Congressman John Lewis and his lifelong commitment to civil rights and voting rights.

Among the guests were Reps. Emanuel Cleaver, Lizzie Fletcher, Jahana Hayes, Rick Larsen, Delia Ramirez, Bennie Thompson and Nikema Williams, along with United Methodist bishops and ecumenical leaders from the National Council of Churches.

Bishop Julius C. Trimble and Rep. Nikema Williams engage in conversation.

The members of Congress spoke about how their faith informs their work and called on the church to continue engaging in the democratic process, sharing their concern for the most vulnerable—including immigrants, children and people living in poverty. Church and Society staff highlighted the agency’s advocacy priorities, while bishops and ecumenical leaders offered words of encouragement and prayer.

Church and Society staff member Darina Regio (left), Rep. Delia Ramirez (center) and Ramirez Chief of Staff Ellen Ray (right).

Bishop Trimble called the evening a time of mutual encouragement. He reflected on the moral and biblical clarity found in the church’s Social Principles and emphasized the importance of exercising the right to vote.

“The church can and should be encouraging people to vote as one way to build a more perfect and compassionate democracy,” he said.

The Rev. Dr. Levi Bautista, assistant general secretary for United Nations and international affairs, encouraged lawmakers to view national and global citizenship as complementary rather than competing responsibilities.

“You are uniquely positioned to inspire your constituents to hold together both love of country and love of neighbor—not only locally, but globally—as Christ calls us to do.”

As the nation marks 250 years, the United Methodist Building continues a witness that began in 1924. For more than a century, it has stood across from the Capitol as a testament to the church’s commitment to justice and peace and its engagement in the public square.