NEWS AND FEATURES
North Central elects Bigham-Tsai in historic vote
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (UM News) — The Rev. Kennetha Bigham-Tsai was elected bishop by the North Central Jurisdictional Conference on the first ballot on Nov. 2. She was the first bishop elected during the 2022 jurisdictional conferences underway this week. Bigham-Tsai of the Michigan Conference is the chief connectional ministries officer of the Connectional Table. James Deaton has the story.
Read story
Southeastern Jurisdiction elects Berlin as bishop
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UM News) — The Rev. Thomas M. Berlin, lead pastor of Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, Virginia, has been elected as bishop in The United Methodist Church’s Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. Delegates elected Berlin on the fourth ballot. Madeline White has the story.
Read story
South Central Jurisdiction elects 3 bishops, makes history
HOUSTON — The South Central Jurisdictional Conference elected three bishops on the first ballot on Nov. 2, and made history in doing so. The Rev. Delores “Dee” Williamston is the first Black female bishop for the jurisdiction. Delegates also elected the Rev. Laura Merrill and the Rev. David Wilson. Wilson is the first Native American to be a United Methodist bishop. Stories on each new bishop will be posted soon on UM News’ episcopal elections landing page.
Visit UM News election page
Northeastern Jurisdiction elects Burgos in a first
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (UM News) — Delegates to the Northeastern Jurisdiction have elected the Rev. Héctor Burgos bishop on the third ballot, making him the first Hispanic/Latino bishop elected in that region of the church. Burgos, superintendent of the Central District in the Greater New Jersey Conference, was elected with 94 votes out of 150 cast. UM News will be following up with a full story.
Visit UM News election page
Stay up to date on bishop elections
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — UM News, collaborating with conference communicators, is providing full coverage of this week’s episcopal elections, including voting updates, features on newly elected bishops and a wrap-up on episcopal assignments. See all the latest news at umnews.org/episcopal-elections-2022. You also can sign up to receive updates via Facebook Messenger by typing “follow” at https://www.messenger.com/t/umnews. Follow United Methodist News on Twitter @UMNS (hashtag #UMCElections) and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/umnews.
Status and Role of Women
Charts show gender breakdown of US bishops
CHICAGO — The United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women has put together charts that show the percentage of female and male bishops previously elected to serve in the U.S. as of January 2017, currently in office as of 2022 and the potential for change during bishop elections this week.
See charts
Mississippi Conference
Church response to water crisis continues
JACKSON, Miss. — The thought of more than 180,000 people without access to one of life’s necessities could have been a cause for hopelessness, but United Methodists in Mississippi were determined to be a shining example of Christian hope. After distributing clean water, churchgoers are advocating elected leaders take action to ensure a safe water supply in the state capital. Matthew Johnson reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference
Bishop McAlilly takes temporary medical leave
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference Bishop Bill McAlilly plans to take medical leave in November and December to continue his recovery from a car accident this summer. After intense physical therapy and more surgery, he said he expects “to start 2023 in complete wholeness as your bishop.” Retired Bishop Joe Pennel has agreed to be on call as needed.
Read statement
Africa Initiative
Group calls for bishop elections in Africa
MONROVIA, Liberia — The Africa Initiative, a traditionalist advocacy group within The United Methodist Church, is calling for bishop elections to be held in the African central conferences. U.S.-based jurisdictional conferences are holding bishop elections this week, and the Africa Initiative calls it a “gross injustice” that African central conferences aren’t scheduled to hold such elections until 2024.
Read press release
RECENT HEADLINES
Small church’s music festival draws big crowds
Community rallies around barbershop evangelist
EVENTS
Tuesday, Nov. 15
Webinar: What Has the Church Learned from the Pandemic?
Monday, Nov. 28-Friday, Dec. 23
Online course: Prepare the Way for the Lord
North Central elects Bigham-Tsai in historic vote
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (UM News) — The Rev. Kennetha Bigham-Tsai was elected bishop by the North Central Jurisdictional Conference on the first ballot on Nov. 2. She was the first bishop elected during the 2022 jurisdictional conferences underway this week. Bigham-Tsai of the Michigan Conference is the chief connectional ministries officer of the Connectional Table. James Deaton has the story.
Read story
Southeastern Jurisdiction elects Berlin as bishop
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UM News) — The Rev. Thomas M. Berlin, lead pastor of Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, Virginia, has been elected as bishop in The United Methodist Church’s Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. Delegates elected Berlin on the fourth ballot. Madeline White has the story.
Read story
South Central Jurisdiction elects 3 bishops, makes history
HOUSTON — The South Central Jurisdictional Conference elected three bishops on the first ballot on Nov. 2, and made history in doing so. The Rev. Delores “Dee” Williamston is the first Black female bishop for the jurisdiction. Delegates also elected the Rev. Laura Merrill and the Rev. David Wilson. Wilson is the first Native American to be a United Methodist bishop. Stories on each new bishop will be posted soon on UM News’ episcopal elections landing page.
Visit UM News election page
Northeastern Jurisdiction elects Burgos in a first
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (UM News) — Delegates to the Northeastern Jurisdiction have elected the Rev. Héctor Burgos bishop on the third ballot, making him the first Hispanic/Latino bishop elected in that region of the church. Burgos, superintendent of the Central District in the Greater New Jersey Conference, was elected with 94 votes out of 150 cast. UM News will be following up with a full story.
Visit UM News election page
Stay up to date on bishop elections
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — UM News, collaborating with conference communicators, is providing full coverage of this week’s episcopal elections, including voting updates, features on newly elected bishops and a wrap-up on episcopal assignments. See all the latest news at umnews.org/episcopal-elections-2022. You also can sign up to receive updates via Facebook Messenger by typing “follow” at https://www.messenger.com/t/umnews. Follow United Methodist News on Twitter @UMNS (hashtag #UMCElections) and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/umnews.
Status and Role of Women
Charts show gender breakdown of US bishops
CHICAGO — The United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women has put together charts that show the percentage of female and male bishops previously elected to serve in the U.S. as of January 2017, currently in office as of 2022 and the potential for change during bishop elections this week.
See charts
Mississippi Conference
Church response to water crisis continues
JACKSON, Miss. — The thought of more than 180,000 people without access to one of life’s necessities could have been a cause for hopelessness, but United Methodists in Mississippi were determined to be a shining example of Christian hope. After distributing clean water, churchgoers are advocating elected leaders take action to ensure a safe water supply in the state capital. Matthew Johnson reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference
Bishop McAlilly takes temporary medical leave
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference Bishop Bill McAlilly plans to take medical leave in November and December to continue his recovery from a car accident this summer. After intense physical therapy and more surgery, he said he expects “to start 2023 in complete wholeness as your bishop.” Retired Bishop Joe Pennel has agreed to be on call as needed.
Read statement
Africa Initiative
Group calls for bishop elections in Africa
MONROVIA, Liberia — The Africa Initiative, a traditionalist advocacy group within The United Methodist Church, is calling for bishop elections to be held in the African central conferences. U.S.-based jurisdictional conferences are holding bishop elections this week, and the Africa Initiative calls it a “gross injustice” that African central conferences aren’t scheduled to hold such elections until 2024.
Read press release
RECENT HEADLINES
Small church’s music festival draws big crowds
Community rallies around barbershop evangelist
EVENTS
Tuesday, Nov. 15
Webinar: What Has the Church Learned from the Pandemic?
Monday, Nov. 28-Friday, Dec. 23
Online course: Prepare the Way for the Lord
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