wfn.org | UMNS# 04437-United Methodist bishops open office in Washington

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United Methodist bishops open office in Washington 

Sep. 27, 2004	 News media contact:   Stephen	Drachler * (615) 7425411* 
Nashville {04437}

NOTE: Photographs of Bishop Peter Weaver and Bishop Roy Sano are available at
http://www.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=2&mid=5732.

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - The United Methodist Church's Council of Bishops has
opened its international headquarters at the historic United Methodist
Building on Capitol Hill.

The opening marks the first time the council has had a permanent office, said
Bishop Peter D. Weaver, the council's president, in making the Sept. 27
announcement. The building, which also houses other United Methodist and
ecumenical agencies, is across the street from the U.S. Capitol and the U.S.
Supreme Court.

The church has 68 active bishops, including 50 in the United States and 18 in
Africa, Europe and the Philippines. 

"United Methodist bishops have much to offer to the church and to the world,"
said Weaver, who leads United Methodists in New England. "As a council, we
believe we are better positioned and better equipped to provide effective
leadership and communications by being located in one of the world's most
important centers of communication."

Retired Bishop Roy I. Sano, the council's executive secretary, is staffing
the office. His appointment is one of several changes in leadership and
administration of the council. Weaver's term of office as president covers
two years, instead of the traditional one. The president-elect is Bishop
Janice Riggle Huie of Houston. Bishop Ernest S. Lyght of the church's West
Virginia Area is secretary, while retired Bishop William B. Oden of Dallas
serves as the council's ecumenical officer. Previously, the council hired a
part-time administrative assistant who served out of the office of the
council's secretary.

Sano was elected bishop in 1984, leading United Methodists in Denver and Los
Angeles until his retirement in 2000. He is the first Japanese-American
United Methodist bishop. In addition to serving churches in southern
California, he was a college and seminary chaplain and professor. He earned
his bachelor of arts degree from the University of California at Los Angeles,
master of divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York; master
of theology degree from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkley, Calif.,
and a doctorate from Claremont (Calif.) Graduate School. 

The Council of Bishops office is in Suite 320, 100 Maryland Ave. NE,
Washington, D.C. 20002. The telephone number is (202) 547-7620. Jo Ann
McClain serves as the office's administrative assistant. 

News media contact: Stephen Drachler, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5411 or
sdrachler@umcom.org.

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United Methodist News Service
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