Liam Adams
@liamsadams.bsky.social
Religion reporter at The Tennessean. From New England to D.C. to Colorado to Tennessee.
ICYMI: The streets of Harare were covered w/ motorists driving the massively popular Toyota HiLux, bright purple flowers blossoming from jacaranda trees & billboards advertising the recent appearance of Benny Hinn.
Why Hinn matters to the UMC in Zimbabwe: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
Why Hinn matters to the UMC in Zimbabwe: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
November 21, 2025 at 6:27 PM
ICYMI: The streets of Harare were covered w/ motorists driving the massively popular Toyota HiLux, bright purple flowers blossoming from jacaranda trees & billboards advertising the recent appearance of Benny Hinn.
Why Hinn matters to the UMC in Zimbabwe: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
Why Hinn matters to the UMC in Zimbabwe: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
In our final report from our trip to Zimbabwe, I examine a sense of normalcy that UMC leaders in Africa have sought to restore and new pressures it may face — from the prosperity gospel's rise, to generational changes in views on LGBTQ+ rights. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
November 20, 2025 at 3:46 PM
In our final report from our trip to Zimbabwe, I examine a sense of normalcy that UMC leaders in Africa have sought to restore and new pressures it may face — from the prosperity gospel's rise, to generational changes in views on LGBTQ+ rights. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
ICYMI: The PCA, an influential Reformed denomination, is designed to assess claims of abuse or wrongdoing and pursue accountability. But women said the inverse happened at churches from Georgia to Philly to Ft. Lauderdale. Find it on 1A today or online (www.tennessean.com/story/news/2...).
November 19, 2025 at 6:52 PM
ICYMI: The PCA, an influential Reformed denomination, is designed to assess claims of abuse or wrongdoing and pursue accountability. But women said the inverse happened at churches from Georgia to Philly to Ft. Lauderdale. Find it on 1A today or online (www.tennessean.com/story/news/2...).
Andrew Nelles and I, journalists w/ a metro daily paper in a city that's an HQ for the globally influential UMC, traveled to Zimbabwe to tell a story of local relevance and international import. Now, @usatoday.com circulated our reporting for national audiences: www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
November 17, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Andrew Nelles and I, journalists w/ a metro daily paper in a city that's an HQ for the globally influential UMC, traveled to Zimbabwe to tell a story of local relevance and international import. Now, @usatoday.com circulated our reporting for national audiences: www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
“I got to the point that I raised the alarm enough and warned them for three straight years. And they have done nothing,” Caroline told me. www.tennessean.com/story/news/2...
November 17, 2025 at 4:18 PM
“I got to the point that I raised the alarm enough and warned them for three straight years. And they have done nothing,” Caroline told me. www.tennessean.com/story/news/2...
Elzey remains skeptical.
“In our opinion, it’s highly deceptive because it’s framed like this is how they handled it all along. So, We feel now they are covering up the way they mishandled this,” she told me.
“In our opinion, it’s highly deceptive because it’s framed like this is how they handled it all along. So, We feel now they are covering up the way they mishandled this,” she told me.
November 17, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Elzey remains skeptical.
“In our opinion, it’s highly deceptive because it’s framed like this is how they handled it all along. So, We feel now they are covering up the way they mishandled this,” she told me.
“In our opinion, it’s highly deceptive because it’s framed like this is how they handled it all along. So, We feel now they are covering up the way they mishandled this,” she told me.
“The truth is that Tenth has cared well for my physical needs, and for that I am truly grateful,” Caroline said in a July 2024 letter to church elders. “However, the one area in which your care…has been sorely lacking has been in the area of shepherding and caring for my soul.”
November 17, 2025 at 3:41 PM
“The truth is that Tenth has cared well for my physical needs, and for that I am truly grateful,” Caroline said in a July 2024 letter to church elders. “However, the one area in which your care…has been sorely lacking has been in the area of shepherding and caring for my soul.”
But Caroline said in a complaint against the church that when she had trouble keeping up with mandatory counseling with a Tenth Presbyterian pastor and a small group on parenting, church leadership looked down on her. www.tennessean.com/story/news/2...
November 17, 2025 at 3:41 PM
But Caroline said in a complaint against the church that when she had trouble keeping up with mandatory counseling with a Tenth Presbyterian pastor and a small group on parenting, church leadership looked down on her. www.tennessean.com/story/news/2...
Joyce Rohe faced consequences after she came forward with allegations of sexual and emotional abuse in her marriage. www.tennessean.com/story/news/2...
November 17, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Joyce Rohe faced consequences after she came forward with allegations of sexual and emotional abuse in her marriage. www.tennessean.com/story/news/2...
Goligher would later confess to adult clergy sexual abuse and three other charges, leading to his ouster from ministry in the PCA. byfaithonline.com/an-update-on...
November 17, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Goligher would later confess to adult clergy sexual abuse and three other charges, leading to his ouster from ministry in the PCA. byfaithonline.com/an-update-on...
Susan Elzey came forward w/ allegations of clergy sexual abuse to elders at Philadelphia's Tenth Presbyterian Church against senior minister Liam Goligher. The church elders' initial move was to investigate Elzey for what they saw as adultery and nearly excommunicated her.
November 17, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Susan Elzey came forward w/ allegations of clergy sexual abuse to elders at Philadelphia's Tenth Presbyterian Church against senior minister Liam Goligher. The church elders' initial move was to investigate Elzey for what they saw as adultery and nearly excommunicated her.
Domingos told us, “Let’s learn according to the experience of other people. How they deal with the theology, how they deal with justice and reconciliation… it’s important we know we are not all the same.”
November 13, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Domingos told us, “Let’s learn according to the experience of other people. How they deal with the theology, how they deal with justice and reconciliation… it’s important we know we are not all the same.”
Domingos, and many others, hope regionalization inspires those conversations about difference across regions while preserving an awareness of the collective. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
November 13, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Domingos, and many others, hope regionalization inspires those conversations about difference across regions while preserving an awareness of the collective. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
There have been cases like Zimbabwe, where United Methodists applied the church’s structure and beliefs to overturn political oppression and out of those ashes reimagined a faith that served the population whom it helped liberate.
November 13, 2025 at 5:38 PM
There have been cases like Zimbabwe, where United Methodists applied the church’s structure and beliefs to overturn political oppression and out of those ashes reimagined a faith that served the population whom it helped liberate.
With difference, “we have a reason for us to be together,” Domingos, the AU chancellor, told us. “Because if everything is the same, we don’t need to cooperate.” www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
November 13, 2025 at 5:37 PM
With difference, “we have a reason for us to be together,” Domingos, the AU chancellor, told us. “Because if everything is the same, we don’t need to cooperate.” www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
We visited Africa University, where students shared about their experience growing closer because of their different nationalities and interest in each other’s’ unique national identity. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
November 13, 2025 at 5:37 PM
We visited Africa University, where students shared about their experience growing closer because of their different nationalities and interest in each other’s’ unique national identity. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
Machinga was not available for an interview with The Tennessean but responded to a request for comment: “What was expected to be a great exodus turned into a testimony of God’s sustaining power for the remnant stayed, and the Church remained strong.”
November 13, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Machinga was not available for an interview with The Tennessean but responded to a request for comment: “What was expected to be a great exodus turned into a testimony of God’s sustaining power for the remnant stayed, and the Church remained strong.”
But it could have gone a different direction.
In March, Matonga ran against Machinga for bishop and if he succeeded, would have tried to lead the whole UMC in Zimbabwe out of the denomination. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
In March, Matonga ran against Machinga for bishop and if he succeeded, would have tried to lead the whole UMC in Zimbabwe out of the denomination. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
November 13, 2025 at 5:35 PM
But it could have gone a different direction.
In March, Matonga ran against Machinga for bishop and if he succeeded, would have tried to lead the whole UMC in Zimbabwe out of the denomination. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
In March, Matonga ran against Machinga for bishop and if he succeeded, would have tried to lead the whole UMC in Zimbabwe out of the denomination. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
The sheer excitement was a vote of confidence in Machinga’s leadership, which delegates expressed other moments that day. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
November 13, 2025 at 5:33 PM
The sheer excitement was a vote of confidence in Machinga’s leadership, which delegates expressed other moments that day. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
We visited the UMC Zimbabwe East Annual Conference, where bishop Rev. Gift Machinga unveiled new cabinet members and to great fanfare. The person whom Machinga just named proceeded to the front, but with 3-4 of their peers dragging them as if the news shocked them into paralysis.
November 13, 2025 at 5:33 PM
We visited the UMC Zimbabwe East Annual Conference, where bishop Rev. Gift Machinga unveiled new cabinet members and to great fanfare. The person whom Machinga just named proceeded to the front, but with 3-4 of their peers dragging them as if the news shocked them into paralysis.
“For me, you can’t say he’s a hero. He’s not,” Matonga said in an interview.
Matonga deepened alliances with a well-resourced traditionalist movement that criticized many United Methodist bishops, Nhiwatiwa included, as institutionalists who made compromises.
Matonga deepened alliances with a well-resourced traditionalist movement that criticized many United Methodist bishops, Nhiwatiwa included, as institutionalists who made compromises.
November 13, 2025 at 5:33 PM
“For me, you can’t say he’s a hero. He’s not,” Matonga said in an interview.
Matonga deepened alliances with a well-resourced traditionalist movement that criticized many United Methodist bishops, Nhiwatiwa included, as institutionalists who made compromises.
Matonga deepened alliances with a well-resourced traditionalist movement that criticized many United Methodist bishops, Nhiwatiwa included, as institutionalists who made compromises.
Plaques on many buildings that commemorate dedications by former Zimbabwe bishop Rev. Eben K. Nhiwatiwa, whose tenure in leadership began in 2004 and ended with his retirement in March 2025, are visible reminders of the UMC’s role in civic life following Zimbabwe’s independence.
November 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Plaques on many buildings that commemorate dedications by former Zimbabwe bishop Rev. Eben K. Nhiwatiwa, whose tenure in leadership began in 2004 and ended with his retirement in March 2025, are visible reminders of the UMC’s role in civic life following Zimbabwe’s independence.
Student Charlaine Charuma told me pastoral staff on campus help her mature “not only spiritually but also emotionally. Sometimes we do bad things unfortunately and they remind us how to humble ourselves and to live in community.” www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
November 13, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Student Charlaine Charuma told me pastoral staff on campus help her mature “not only spiritually but also emotionally. Sometimes we do bad things unfortunately and they remind us how to humble ourselves and to live in community.” www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
We visited Murewa High School, where students’ hype during an Oct. 27 chapel resembled more closely the enthusiasm of a pep rally for homecoming. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
November 13, 2025 at 5:30 PM
We visited Murewa High School, where students’ hype during an Oct. 27 chapel resembled more closely the enthusiasm of a pep rally for homecoming. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
We visited the Old Mutare Mission hospital, where at least 50 patients were waiting to meet with one of only two doctors on staff. The doctors tend to ailments that range from pediatric infections to trauma victims who suffered an accident working in nearby mines.
November 13, 2025 at 5:29 PM
We visited the Old Mutare Mission hospital, where at least 50 patients were waiting to meet with one of only two doctors on staff. The doctors tend to ailments that range from pediatric infections to trauma victims who suffered an accident working in nearby mines.