“We repent from the harm that has been caused in our midst, in our system, and the harm that we ourselves have caused.” — Statement approved by Western Jurisdictional Conference delegates meeting in closed session.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
2 jurisdictions tackle racism in bishop elections
SALT LAKE CITY (UM News) — Two United Methodist jurisdictions on opposite sides of the U.S. interrupted their work to grapple with racism faced by some of their bishop candidates. The Western Jurisdiction met in a highly unusual closed session to discuss the racism, sexism and homophobia experienced during the meeting — especially by some of its diverse group of episcopal candidates. Meanwhile, the Southeastern Jurisdiction adopted a resolution to have its committee on episcopacy create a task force to study the impact of racial bias in the nomination and selection process for bishop candidates. Heather Hahn and Tim Tanton report.
Read story
Western Jurisdiction elects Rapanut in historic vote
SALT LAKE CITY (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s Western Jurisdictional Conference elected the first Filipino American bishop, the Rev. Carlo A. Rapanut, on the 13th ballot. He also is the first U.S. bishop ordained in a central conference. Rapanut, an elder in the Pacific Northwest Conference, has served as assistant to the bishop in the Greater Northwest Area since 2021. He is the first of three bishops to be elected in the jurisdiction. Once the others are elected, UM News will post stories on our episcopal election page.
Read story
Visit UM News election page
US bishops receive assignments
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — After electing new bishops, some of the denomination’s U.S. jurisdictional conferences announced episcopal assignments effective Jan. 1. Jurisdictional leaders recommended electing 14 new bishops; however, that number is expected to be 13 after the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference voted to suspend its rules and delay the election of a second bishop until the 2024 jurisdictional conference. UM News staff reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Commission on the General Conference
General Conference heads to Charlotte
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Commission on the General Conference announced that the 2024 United Methodist General Conference will be April 23-May 3 at Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Western North Carolina and North Carolina conferences will co-host the event. “Our people are hospitable and welcoming, and we trust that the delegates who gather for what promises to be a historic gathering will be blessed by the city of Charlotte and the state of North Carolina and its warmth and beauty,” said Bishop Kenneth H. Carter of the Western North Carolina Conference.
Read press release
MARCHA
Caucus responds to Western Jurisdiction statement
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Church’s Hispanic/Latino caucus has responded to a statement from the Western Jurisdiction regarding complaints against California-Nevada Conference Bishop Minerva Carcaño, who has been suspended since March. In a press release, MARCHA condemns the statement for delivering “misleading communication” and raises several questions, including the purpose and timing of the statement.
Read press release
EVENTS
Tuesday, Nov. 15
Webinar: What Has the Church Learned from the Pandemic?
Sunday, Nov. 27
United Methodist Student Day Sunday
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
South Central Jurisdiction elects 3 bishops, makes history
HOUSTON (UM News) — 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. David Burke has the stories.
Delores “Dee” Williamston
Laura Merrill
David Wilson
Northeastern Jurisdiction elects Burgos-Núñez in a first
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (UM News) — Delegates to the Northeastern Jurisdiction elected the Rev. Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez bishop on the third ballot, making him the first Hispanic/Latino bishop elected in that region of the church. Burgos-Núñez, superintendent of the Central District in the Greater New Jersey Conference, was elected with 94 votes out of 150 cast. The Rev. Erik Alsgaard reports.
Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez
Southeastern Jurisdiction elects three bishops
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UM News) — The Rev. Robin Dease, a South Carolina Conference pastor and former district superintendent, has been elected bishop in The United Methodist Church’s Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. She was elected on the 25th ballot with 206 votes and is the third and final bishop elected at the jurisdictional session. She joins the Rev. Connie Mitchell Shelton, a district superintendent in the Mississippi Conference, and the Rev. Tom Berlin, a pastor of the Virginia Conference, both of whom were elected on the first day of the Nov. 2-4 meeting. Conference communicators have the stories.
Tom Berlin
Connie Mitchell Shelton
Robin Dease
Final bishop elected in North Central Jurisdiction
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (UM News) — The North Central Jurisdictional Conference has elected the Rev. Dan Schwerin bishop on the sixth ballot, with 100 votes. Schwerin, assistant to the bishop for the Wisconsin Conference, was the third and final bishop elected by the jurisdiction. On Nov. 2, the Rev. Kennetha Bigham-Tsai, chief connectional ministries officer for the Connectional Table, was elected in the first round of voting, and the Rev. Lanette Plambeck, assistant to the bishop and director of clergy and leadership excellence in the Iowa Conference, was elected on the third ballot. Conference communicators have the stories.
Kennetha Bigham-Tsai
Lanette Plambeck
Dan Schwerin
Three bishops accused of aiding disaffiliation
HOUSTON (UM News) — A South Central Jurisdictional Conference delegate asked the jurisdiction’s college of bishops to address the conduct and status of three episcopal leaders he said had provided “promotion and support” to the Global Methodist Church. That new breakaway denomination has been receiving churches disaffiliating from The United Methodist Church. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Small church’s music festival draws big crowds
BOONEVILLE, Iowa (UM News) — What began as a small way for Booneville United Methodist Church to reach out to the community has blossomed into an annual event attracting hundreds. Courtney Levin and Joey Butler have the story.
Read story
Former Africa University vice chancellor dies at 82
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Former Africa University vice chancellor Rukudzo J. Murapa is being remembered for his vision, networking and leadership, including helping to establish the United Methodist university’s Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance. Murapa died at age 82 on Oct. 27. Eveline Chikwanah reports.
Read obituary
Debate looming on how low budget should go
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The two bodies that develop the denomination-wide budget that goes before General Conference agree that deep cuts are needed. However, disagreements are brewing between the Connectional Table and General Council on Finance and Administration board on what stewardship requires in a time of mounting church disaffiliations. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read General Council on Finance and Administration press release
Ask The UMC
What is the communion of saints?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — What is the “communion of saints” United Methodists say they believe in when reciting the Apostles Creed? Hint: It’s not something mysterious. In honor of All Saints Day this week, Ask The UMC has more on the creed and Christian fellowship.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
TODAY’S HEADLINES
2 jurisdictions tackle racism in bishop elections
SALT LAKE CITY (UM News) — Two United Methodist jurisdictions on opposite sides of the U.S. interrupted their work to grapple with racism faced by some of their bishop candidates. The Western Jurisdiction met in a highly unusual closed session to discuss the racism, sexism and homophobia experienced during the meeting — especially by some of its diverse group of episcopal candidates. Meanwhile, the Southeastern Jurisdiction adopted a resolution to have its committee on episcopacy create a task force to study the impact of racial bias in the nomination and selection process for bishop candidates. Heather Hahn and Tim Tanton report.
Read story
Western Jurisdiction elects Rapanut in historic vote
SALT LAKE CITY (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s Western Jurisdictional Conference elected the first Filipino American bishop, the Rev. Carlo A. Rapanut, on the 13th ballot. He also is the first U.S. bishop ordained in a central conference. Rapanut, an elder in the Pacific Northwest Conference, has served as assistant to the bishop in the Greater Northwest Area since 2021. He is the first of three bishops to be elected in the jurisdiction. Once the others are elected, UM News will post stories on our episcopal election page.
Read story
Visit UM News election page
US bishops receive assignments
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — After electing new bishops, some of the denomination’s U.S. jurisdictional conferences announced episcopal assignments effective Jan. 1. Jurisdictional leaders recommended electing 14 new bishops; however, that number is expected to be 13 after the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference voted to suspend its rules and delay the election of a second bishop until the 2024 jurisdictional conference. UM News staff reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Commission on the General Conference
General Conference heads to Charlotte
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Commission on the General Conference announced that the 2024 United Methodist General Conference will be April 23-May 3 at Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Western North Carolina and North Carolina conferences will co-host the event. “Our people are hospitable and welcoming, and we trust that the delegates who gather for what promises to be a historic gathering will be blessed by the city of Charlotte and the state of North Carolina and its warmth and beauty,” said Bishop Kenneth H. Carter of the Western North Carolina Conference.
Read press release
MARCHA
Caucus responds to Western Jurisdiction statement
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Church’s Hispanic/Latino caucus has responded to a statement from the Western Jurisdiction regarding complaints against California-Nevada Conference Bishop Minerva Carcaño, who has been suspended since March. In a press release, MARCHA condemns the statement for delivering “misleading communication” and raises several questions, including the purpose and timing of the statement.
Read press release
EVENTS
Tuesday, Nov. 15
Webinar: What Has the Church Learned from the Pandemic?
Sunday, Nov. 27
United Methodist Student Day Sunday
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
South Central Jurisdiction elects 3 bishops, makes history
HOUSTON (UM News) — 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. David Burke has the stories.
Delores “Dee” Williamston
Laura Merrill
David Wilson
Northeastern Jurisdiction elects Burgos-Núñez in a first
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (UM News) — Delegates to the Northeastern Jurisdiction elected the Rev. Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez bishop on the third ballot, making him the first Hispanic/Latino bishop elected in that region of the church. Burgos-Núñez, superintendent of the Central District in the Greater New Jersey Conference, was elected with 94 votes out of 150 cast. The Rev. Erik Alsgaard reports.
Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez
Southeastern Jurisdiction elects three bishops
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UM News) — The Rev. Robin Dease, a South Carolina Conference pastor and former district superintendent, has been elected bishop in The United Methodist Church’s Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. She was elected on the 25th ballot with 206 votes and is the third and final bishop elected at the jurisdictional session. She joins the Rev. Connie Mitchell Shelton, a district superintendent in the Mississippi Conference, and the Rev. Tom Berlin, a pastor of the Virginia Conference, both of whom were elected on the first day of the Nov. 2-4 meeting. Conference communicators have the stories.
Tom Berlin
Connie Mitchell Shelton
Robin Dease
Final bishop elected in North Central Jurisdiction
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (UM News) — The North Central Jurisdictional Conference has elected the Rev. Dan Schwerin bishop on the sixth ballot, with 100 votes. Schwerin, assistant to the bishop for the Wisconsin Conference, was the third and final bishop elected by the jurisdiction. On Nov. 2, the Rev. Kennetha Bigham-Tsai, chief connectional ministries officer for the Connectional Table, was elected in the first round of voting, and the Rev. Lanette Plambeck, assistant to the bishop and director of clergy and leadership excellence in the Iowa Conference, was elected on the third ballot. Conference communicators have the stories.
Kennetha Bigham-Tsai
Lanette Plambeck
Dan Schwerin
Three bishops accused of aiding disaffiliation
HOUSTON (UM News) — A South Central Jurisdictional Conference delegate asked the jurisdiction’s college of bishops to address the conduct and status of three episcopal leaders he said had provided “promotion and support” to the Global Methodist Church. That new breakaway denomination has been receiving churches disaffiliating from The United Methodist Church. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Small church’s music festival draws big crowds
BOONEVILLE, Iowa (UM News) — What began as a small way for Booneville United Methodist Church to reach out to the community has blossomed into an annual event attracting hundreds. Courtney Levin and Joey Butler have the story.
Read story
Former Africa University vice chancellor dies at 82
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Former Africa University vice chancellor Rukudzo J. Murapa is being remembered for his vision, networking and leadership, including helping to establish the United Methodist university’s Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance. Murapa died at age 82 on Oct. 27. Eveline Chikwanah reports.
Read obituary
Debate looming on how low budget should go
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The two bodies that develop the denomination-wide budget that goes before General Conference agree that deep cuts are needed. However, disagreements are brewing between the Connectional Table and General Council on Finance and Administration board on what stewardship requires in a time of mounting church disaffiliations. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read General Council on Finance and Administration press release
Ask The UMC
What is the communion of saints?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — What is the “communion of saints” United Methodists say they believe in when reciting the Apostles Creed? Hint: It’s not something mysterious. In honor of All Saints Day this week, Ask The UMC has more on the creed and Christian fellowship.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
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