Church called to ‘rise up’ amid loneliness, AI

The United Methodist Church could be an antidote to the loneliness that blankets a world ironically more connected than ever through technology.

Charting the denomination’s future begins with the new vision statement introduced by the Council of Bishops and Connectional Table in May, said speakers at the SCD 2026 — RISE UP: Love, Serve, Lead conference, held Aug. 2-5 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus.

The Rev. Theon Johnson III, senior pastor at Campbell United Methodist Church in Campbell, California, spoke on courageous leadership.

“We are living in remarkable times, are we not?” Johnson said. “Times marked by rapid technological innovation. Times marked by deep political polarization. Times of profound loneliness.

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