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United Methodists elect, assign U.S. bishops for 2009-12

Jul. 21, 2008    News media contact:   Tim  Tanton * (615) 7425470*   Nashville {311}

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org. Additional  stories on individual bishops' elections and other jurisdictional  conference news are available by clicking on the "Bishops' Elections"  button and then "News Coverage."

A Special Report By United Methodist News Service*

United Methodists in the U.S. elected and assigned eight new bishops and  re-assigned the rest during jurisdictional meetings held in five regions  last week.

It was an often-intense week as delegates worked to fill leadership  vacancies created by seven retirements, one resignation and a death.  Bishops are the top clergy leaders of the denomination, and the 50 or so  U.S. bishops oversee some 7.9 million of the church's 11.5 million  members worldwide.

The United Methodist Southeastern Jurisdiction wasted no time, taking  its first ballot on opening day, July 16, and announcing the first  elected bishop of the 2008 group-Paul Leeland-the next morning. The  Northeastern Jurisdiction, which began meeting two days earlier than the  other jurisdictions, also took its first ballot July 16 and finished  choosing a bishop the next day.

The process took longer elsewhere. The Western Jurisdiction, which had  two bishops to elect, went into the wee hours of the morning July 19  before completing its selections. The South Central Jurisdiction started  quickly, electing the first of three bishops on the third ballot before  noon on July 17, and then worked until late in the evening July 18 to  elect the third. The North Central Jurisdiction experienced slow going,  at one point disqualifying a ballot because of a chocolate chip cookie  smudge, but it managed to complete its work July 18.

The newly elected bishops expressed feelings of humility and gratitude,  and also shared glimpses of their personal visions.

"I claim my baptism this day and the special callings to which God has  called me," said Bishop Elaine J.W. Stanovsky, at the Western conference  in Portland, Ore. "... May God lead us faithfully forward in the name of  Jesus Christ."

At the South Central gathering in Dallas, Bishop John Michael Lowry said  a bishop needs to be the spiritual leader "casting a vision for God's  people and God's kingdom that is really inclusive." Most of the people  the church makes decisions about are not in the church, he said.

Also in Dallas, Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe said his philosophy is that "the  church is either growing or dying, and if it is standing still, it is  dying." In a briefing after his election, he said the connectional  system, the diversity of theological thought and differences of opinion  are what he views as hopeful about The United Methodist Church. "We are  a church that allows people to develop their faith and grow in their  faith experience," he said.

In addition to choosing and assigning bishops, delegates in the  jurisdictions acted on other items:

- In the South Central Jurisdiction, delegates approved a regional  mission council's decision to give Southern Methodist University  permission to lease land for a President George W. Bush Presidential  Center. SMU in Dallas is operated by the South Central Jurisdiction.  Leasing land for building the center, which would be part of a Bush  presidential library, has generated debate. Some United Methodists  support it, while opponents say Bush's policies on major issues  contradict church positions and that the center would be a partisan  think tank.

- In the Western Jurisdiction, delegates adopted four statements  challenging the denomination's position that homosexuality is  "incompatible with Christian teaching." One resolution celebrated a May  15 ruling by the California Supreme Court clearing the way for gay  marriages in that state. Another asks that church leaders look for  "creative ways" to "be in full ministry with all who come to us." The  resolutions followed others passed in June by the California-Pacific and  California-Nevada annual conferences in support of United Methodist  clergy who choose to perform same-sex marriages - an action forbidden by  the church's Book of Discipline. The Northeastern Jurisdictional  Conference also voiced support for those clergy.

- In the Northeast, church members approved a redrawing of annual  conference boundaries, decreasing the number of episcopal areas from 10  to nine by 2010.

- North Central delegates gave permission July 18 to the North Indiana  and South Indiana annual conferences to unite into one new Indiana  Conference. Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner has called both conferences to  attend a special session Oct. 4 to finalize details.

The jurisdictional gatherings are held every four years. Bishops for the  church in Africa, Europe and Asia are elected at other times in central  conference gatherings.

Of the eight new bishops elected, two are women and six are men. One is  Asian American, two are African American and five are white.

The bishops' new assignments take effect Sept. 1.

>South Central

The Bush library issue received much discussion and media attention at  the South Central Jurisdictional Conference. During the deliberation, a  delegate raised a question about whether the jurisdiction was going to  get fair market value in the transaction. Bishop Robert E. Hayes Jr.,  presiding over the conference session, said he would seek a declaration  of law from the Judicial Council, the denomination's top court, on the  matter.

In another matter, South Central delegates accepted a motion on holy  conferencing from the SC Black Methodists for Church Renewal, in  response to jokes from the floor and the treatment of a woman bishop as  she led a session. The motion called the conference "to a time of  prayerful discernment to reaffirm our commitment to holy conferencing."

"Today we have witnessed the sexist jokes, the disrespectful addressing  of a female presiding officer and responses such as laughter after  demeaning comments, which perpetuates a hostile environment that limits  inclusive dialogue," the motion stated. "These type of behaviors and  attitudes are not consistent with holy conferencing and are not  compatible with Christian teachings. Therefore sexist and/or racist  remarks and demeaning language have no place in our conferencing."

The statements reflected the concerns not only of the SC BMCR but also  of the SCJ Black Clergywomen, the SCJ Methodist Association Representing  the Cause of Hispanic Americans, the SCJ Women's Leadership Team, and  individuals.

Newly elected bishops in the South Central Jurisdiction are:

- Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe, who succeeds Bishop Alfred L. Norris in the  North Texas Annual Conference. Norris, who retired in 2004, re-entered  active service following the 2006 death of Bishop Rhymes Moncure Jr. A  new bishop, Bledsoe was superintendent of the Bryan/West District in the  Texas Conference.

- Bishop James E. "Jim" Dorff, San Antonio Area (Rio Grande and  Southwest Texas conferences). A new bishop, he was area provost of the  North Texas Conference. He succeeds Bishop Joel Martinez, who is  retiring.

- Bishop John Michael Lowry, who succeeds retiring Bishop Ben R.  Chamness in the Fort Worth Area (Central Texas Conference). Lowry was  executive director of new church development and transformation of the  Southwest Texas Conference.

Bishops returning to their geographical assignments are:

- Bishop Charles N. Crutchfield, Arkansas Area (Arkansas Conference). 
- Bishop Robert E. Hayes Jr., Oklahoma Area (Oklahoma and Oklahoma  Indian Missionary conferences). 
- Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, Houston Area (Texas Conference). 
- Bishop William W. Hutchinson, Louisiana Area (Louisiana Conference). 
- Bishop Scott Jones, Kansas Area (Kansas East and Kansas West  conferences). 
- Bishop Robert C. Schnase, Missouri Area (Missouri Conference). 
- Bishop Ann B. Sherer, Nebraska Area (Nebraska Conference). 
- Bishop D. Max Whitfield, Northwest Texas-New Mexico Area (Northwest  Texas and New Mexico conferences).

>Southeastern

Bishop Paul L. Leeland, the new Southeastern bishop, was assigned to the  Alabama-West Florida Area (Alabama-West Florida Conference) for the next  four years. He has been serving as assistant to the bishop in the  Raleigh (N.C.) Area. Leeland succeeds Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster, who is  moving to the Charlotte Area (Western North Carolina) from Alabama-West  Florida.

Three 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 (Kentucky and Red Bird  Missionary conferences). He is moving from North Georgia.

- 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 will return to their areas:

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

>North Central

United Methodists in the North Central Jurisdiction, meeting in Grand  Rapids, Mich., elected Julius Calvin Trimble as a new bishop. Bishop  Trimble was assigned to the denomination's Iowa Area for the next four  years.

Trimble was elected to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of  Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher. Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, president of  the Council of Bishops, will move to the Illinois Area, where  Christopher was leading the church's Illinois Great Rivers Conference.  Palmer has been serving the Iowa Area (Iowa Conference).

The North Central College of Bishops requested that Bishop Bruce R. Ough  remain in the Ohio West Area (West Ohio Conference), where he has  already served two terms.

The seven other active North Central bishops are being reassigned for  second terms in their areas:

- Bishop Michael J. Coyner, Indiana Area (North and South Indiana  conferences). 
- Bishop Sally Dyck, Minnesota Area (Minnesota Conference). 
- Bishop John L. Hopkins, Ohio East Area (East Ohio Conference). 
- Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Chicago Area (Northern Illinois Conference). 
- Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton, Michigan Area (Detroit and West Michigan  conferences). 
- Bishop Deborah Lieder Kiesey, Dakota Area (Dakotas Conference). 
- Bishop Linda Lee, Wisconsin Area (Wisconsin Conference).

>Northeastern

Meeting in Harrisburg, Pa., United Methodists in the Northeastern  Jurisdiction elected Peggy Johnson bishop. Johnson has been serving as  pastor of Christ United Methodist Church of the Deaf in Baltimore. She  was assigned to the Philadelphia Area, comprising the Eastern  Pennsylvania and Peninsula-Delaware conferences.

Because of an earlier vote to redraw conference boundaries, two  episcopal areas - New York West and Albany (N.Y.) - will be changed in  2010, becoming part of a new Upper New York Area. Bishop Marcus  Matthews, who has led the Philadelphia Area, has been assigned to the  New York West Area, covering the North Central New York and Western New  York conferences.

The jurisdiction's college of bishops is requesting the United Methodist  Council of Bishops appoint retired Bishop Susan Hassinger to the Albany  Area, according to Bishop John Schol. She has served there since the  early retirement of Bishop Susan Morrison in 2006.

Seven other Northeastern bishops were assigned for second terms to their  areas:

- Bishop Peter Weaver, Boston Area (New England Conference). 
- Bishop Jane Allen Middleton, Harrisburg Area (Central Pennsylvania  Conference). 
- Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar, New Jersey Area (Greater New Jersey  Conference). 
- Bishop Jeremiah J. Park, New York Area (New York Conference). 
- Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, Pittsburgh Area (Western Pennsylvania  Conference). 
- Bishop John Schol, Washington Area (Baltimore-Washington Conference). 
- Bishop Ernest Lyght, West Virginia Area (West Virginia Conference).

>Western

In Portland, Ore., delegates to the Western Jurisdictional Conference  elected Grant Hagiya and Elaine J.W. Stanovsky as bishops.

Hagiya was appointed to lead the Seattle-based Pacific Northwest  Conference and the Alaska Missionary Conference. A former district  superintendent in Los Angeles, he is most recently executive director of  Leadership Development and the Center of Leadership Excellence, a joint  project of the church's California-Pacific Annual Conference and the  Claremont School of Theology.

Stanovsky is being sent from Seattle, where she has been a district  superintendent, to the Denver Area, where she will oversee the Rocky  Mountain and Yellowstone conferences.

Bishop Warner H. Brown Jr., who has served the Denver Area for eight  years, is returning to the San Francisco Area (California-Nevada  Conference), where he served for 20 years as a pastor, district  superintendent and conference council director.

Bishops returning to their current areas for second terms are:

- Bishop Minerva Carcaño, Phoenix Area (Desert Southwest Conference). 
- Bishop Robert Hoshibata, Portland Area (Oregon-Idaho Conference). 
- Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, Los Angeles Area (California-Pacific  Conference).

># # #

*This report was written with information from UMNS staff at the  jurisdictional conferences, as well as from Neill Caldwell at the  Southeastern gathering and Dan Gangler at the North Central conference.

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

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

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