wfn.org | [UMNS-ALL-NEWS] UMNS# 307-Three South Central areas to welcome new bishops

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Three South Central areas to welcome new bishops

Jul. 19, 2008    News media contact:   Linda  Green * (615) 7425470*
Nashville {307}

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org.

>By Linda Green

DALLAS (UMNS)-United Methodists in three episcopal areas of the South
Central Jurisdiction will welcome new bishops Sept. 1.

Assignments for 11 South Central bishops - including three who are newly
elected - were announced July 19 during the pre-dawn hours of the final
business session of the jurisdiction's 2008 gathering in Dallas. The
bishops will serve an eight-state region, with assignments running
through Aug. 31, 2012.

The new bishops were consecrated later in the morning July 19 at First
United Methodist Church, Dallas. The service concluded the
jurisdictional conference, which began July 16. The conference is held
every four years with the primary purpose of electing and assigning
bishops.

Assignments for the new bishops serving in the South Central
Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church:

*	Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe, 57, succeeds Bishop Alfred L. Norris in
the Dallas Area (North Texas Annual Conference). Norris, who retired in
2004, re-entered active service following the 2006 death of North Texas
Conference Bishop Rhymes Moncure Jr. A new bishop, Bledsoe was
superintendent of the Bryan/West District in the Texas Conference.
*	Bishop James E. "Jim" Dorff, 61, is assigned to the San Antonio
Area (Rio Grande and Southwest Texas conferences).  He was area provost
of the North Texas Annual Conference. He succeeds Bishop Joel Martinez,
68, who is retiring after serving the area since 2000.
*	Bishop John Michael Lowry, 58, succeeds retiring Bishop Ben R.
Chamness, 68, in the Fort Worth Area (Central Texas Conference).
Chamness has served the area since 2000. Lowry was executive director of
new church development and transformation of the Southwest Texas Annual
Conference.

Assignments were also announced for the eight other active bishops in
the jurisdiction. In most instances the returning bishops are serving a
second term in the area.

*	Bishop Robert E. Hayes Jr., 60, remains in the Oklahoma Area
(Oklahoma and Oklahoma Indian Missionary conferences).
*	Bishop Charles N. Crutchfield, 64, returns as episcopal leader
of the Arkansas Area (Arkansas Conference). 
*	Bishop Scott Jones, 54, remains in the Kansas Area (Kansas East
and Kansas West conferences). 
*	Bishop William W. Hutchinson, 66, will continue for a third term
in the Louisiana Area (Louisiana Conference). 
*	Bishop Robert C. Schnase, 50, remains in the Missouri Area
(Missouri Conference). 
*	Bishop Ann B. Sherer, 65, remains in the Nebraska Area (Nebraska
Conference). 
*	Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, 61, returns to the Houston Area
(Texas Conference). 
*	Bishop D. Max Whitfield, 63, continues for a third term in the
Northwest Texas-New Mexico Area (Northwest Texas and New Mexico
conferences).

Bishops may serve one episcopal area for up to 12 years. The traditional
tenure is two four-year terms. However, the third term is allowable for
"missional reasons." Bishops in The United Methodist Church are elected
for life but must retire from active administration at the
jurisdictional conference following their 68th birthday.  The 2008
General Conference raised the retirement age for bishops from 66 to 68.

Bishops are charged by the church's Book of Discipline to "guard the
faith, order, liturgy, doctrine and discipline of the church" and "lead
all persons entrusted to their oversight in worship, in the celebration
of the sacraments, and in their mission of witness and service in the
world." They are also charged "to be prophetic voices and courageous
leaders in the cause of justice for all people."

># # #

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in
Nashville, Tenn.

News Media Contact: Linda Green, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470,
newsdesk@umcom.org.

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

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

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