wfn.org | [UMNS-ALL-NEWS] UMNS# 308-Southeastern United Methodists assign bishops

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

>Southeastern United Methodists assign bishops

Jul. 19, 2008    News media contact:   Tim  Tanton * (615) 7425470*
Nashville {308}

NOTE: A photograph is available at http://umns.umc.org.

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS)-The new United Methodist bishop in the
Southeastern United States has been assigned to the denomination's
Alabama-West Florida Area for the next four years.

Bishop Paul L. Leeland will oversee the Alabama-West Florida Annual
(regional) Conference, which encompasses southern Alabama and the
Florida panhandle.

The assignments for 13 episcopal areas were announced July 18 during The
United Methodist Church's Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference and
will take effect Sept. 1. The conference, which began July 16, concludes
July 19 with a consecration service.

Four other active Southeastern bishops who have served in their current
locations for at least four years have received new assignments. They
are:

*	Bishop Lindsey Davis, Louisville Area (covering the Kentucky and
Red Bird Missionary conferences). He is moving from North Georgia.
*	Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster, Charlotte Area (Western North
Carolina Conference); moving from Alabama-West Florida.
*	Bishop James R. King Jr., South Georgia Area (South Georgia
Conference); moving from the Louisville Area. 
*	Bishop B. Michael Watson, North Georgia Area (North Georgia
Conference); moving from South Georgia.

Eight bishops in the jurisdiction will return to their areas for the
next four years. In most instances, a bishop is assigned to an area for
no more than eight years, although she or he may be assigned for 12 for
"missional reasons."

*	Bishop Alfred W. Gwinn Jr., Raleigh Area (North Carolina
Conference); second assignment.
*	Bishop Charlene Payne Kammerer, Richmond Area (Virginia
Conference); second assignment.
*	Bishop James E. Swanson Sr., Holston Area (Holston Conference);
second assignment.
*	Bishop Mary Virginia Taylor, Columbia Area (South Carolina
Conference); second assignment. 
*	Bishop Hope Morgan Ward, Mississippi Area (Mississippi
Conference); second assignment. 
*	Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker, Florida Area (Florida Conference);
third assignment. 
*	Bishop William H. Willimon, Birmingham Area (North Alabama
Conference); second assignment. 
*	Bishop Richard J. Wills Jr., Nashville Area (Memphis and
Tennessee conferences); second assignment.

The Southeastern Jurisdiction is home to United Methodists in Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee and Virginia. The Southeastern is one of five U.S.
jurisdictions along with seven central conferences that serve United
Methodists around the globe.

The jurisdictional conferences are held every four years with the
primary purpose of electing and assigning bishops.

># # #

News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, 615-742-5470, or
newsdesk@umcom.org.

>********************

United Methodist News Service Photos and stories also available at: http://umns.umc.org

----------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe from this group, go to UMCom.org, log in to your account, click on the My Resources link and select the Leave option on the list(s) from which you wish to unsubscribe. If you have problems or questions, please write to websupport@umcom.org.

Powered by United Methodist Communications http://www.UMCom.org