wfn.org | Assign South Central U.S. Bishops

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3071 notes).

Note 3066 by UMNS on July 22, 1996 at 16:06 Eastern (4188 characters).

SEARCH: bishops, assignment, South Central, United Methodist,  
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CONTACT: Linda Green                            352(14-21SC){3066}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470             July 22, 1996

South Central United Methodists elect woman bishop;
assign 11 to episcopal areas

     KANSAS CITY, Mo. (UMNS) -- With only one bishop to elect
during their quadrennial United Methodist South Central
Jurisdictional Conference, delegates elected the Rev. Janice
Riggle Huie.
     Huie, 49, is superintendent of the San Angelo District of the
Southwest Texas Annual (regional) Conference.  She was elected to
the episcopacy July 17 on the 16th ballot.  Sixty percent of the
total 332 votes was necessary for election.
     She will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Bishop
Richard Wilke of the Arkansas Area.   
     Huie becomes one of 11 active bishops, serving in the eight-
state region. She is the second woman elected in the jurisdiction.
The first was Bishop Ann B. Sherer who was elected in 1992 and
assigned to the Missouri Area. 
     Huie's episcopal responsibilities become effective Sept. 1.
     Endorsed by the South Central Jurisdiction clergywomen, she
also received support from the Coalition for an Inclusive
Episcopacy.
     The conference was comprised of 332 lay and clergy delegates
who represented 1.8 million United Methodists in Arkansas, Kansas,
Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
     The last time the South Central Jurisdictional Conference
elected only one bishop was in 1968.
     Before becoming a district superintendent in the Southwest
Texas Annual Conference, Huie served in a variety of appointments,
ranging in size from 21 to 1,000 members in both rural and
metropolitan areas. In addition, she has been involved in ministry
with mentally and physically-challenged adults as well as campus
ministry at the University of Texas.
     Huie graduated with honors from the University of Texas in
Austin and earned a master of theology degree from Perkins School
of Theology in Dallas. She was awarded a doctor of ministry degree
from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta,
where she focused on homiletics and liturgy.
     Married to the Rev. Robert Huie, also a United Methodist
clergyman and pastoral counselor at the Samaritan Center in San
Angelo, she is the mother of Matthew, a sophomore at Texas A&M
University. Another son, David, died in June 1994.
     Episcopal assignments for the 11 bishops of the South Central
Jurisdiction were finalized here July 17.  Four areas in the
eight-state region will receive bishops under new assignment.
     All assignments are effective Sept. 1, and are for four-year
terms.
     A United Methodist bishop is elected for life and normally
serves no more than eight years in one episcopal area but may be
reassigned to the same area for a third term.
     Three bishops received new assignments because they have
served eight years in their current locations.  The newly elected
bishop will go to Arkansas, filling a vacancy created by the
retirement of Bishop Richard B. Wilke.
     Oklahoma will receive Bishop Bruce Blake, who leaves the
Dallas area after eight-years.  His new area includes the Oklahoma
Indian Missionary Conference and the Oklahoma Annual Conference.
     Bishop William Oden, completing eight years in Louisiana, now
moves to the Dallas Area.  Bishop Dan E. Solomon moves to the
Louisiana Area after serving Oklahoma United Methodists for eight
years.
     The seven bishops returning to their current assignments are:
Bishop J. Woodrow Hearn, Houston Area; Bishop Alfred Norris Sr.,
Northwest Texas-New Mexico; Bishop Joe A. Wilson, Fort Worth Area;
Bishop Ann B. Sherer, Missouri Area; Bishop A.F. "Fritz" Mutti,
Kansas Area; Bishop Raymond Owen, San Antonio Area; Bishop Joel
Martinez, Nebraska Area.
                              #  #  #
     NOTE: A photo of the new bishop is available from Mike DuBose
(615) 742-5150.

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