Four jurisdictions will each lose one bishop

By J. Richard Peck*

FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS) — Delegates to the 2008 General Conference of The United Methodist Church approved a plan that will result in one less bishop in each of four of the five U.S. jurisdictions, beginning in 2012.

In an April 29 legislative session, delegates agreed that savings from those reductions will be used to fund new episcopal areas outside the United States. Those new areas -- each to be led by a bishop -- will not be created until the 2012 General Conference

The North Central, Northeastern, South Central and Western jurisdictions will each have one less bishop under a new formula for determining the number of bishops. The action will not affect the Southeastern Jurisdiction, as it already has one less bishop than the present formula allows, and it is not requesting an additional Episcopal leader.

The new formula will not take effect until Jan. 1, 2009, so it will not affect the numbers of bishops to be elected in the U.S. in July.

A Task Force to Study the Episcopacy, mandated by the 2004 General Conference, proposed the reduction, but the legislative committee considering the petition voted 44 to 13 not to recommend the new formula to the entire 992-member body. Only eight laypersons served on that 57-member committee.

The Rev. Thomas Eblen, delegate and director of congregational development for the Kentucky Annual (regional) Conference, noted that a task force has been studying the issue for four years, “so let’s listen to them.”

The Rev. Deborah Fisher of Northern Illinois opposed any reduction in the number of bishops. “Our own bishop is leading our conference to growth,” she said. “Reduction in the number of bishops says we give in to decline, not staff for growth.”

The Rev. Robert Long of Oklahoma City did not see any relationship between the number of bishops and church growth. He said he started a new congregation and did not see a bishop until his church reached 3,000 members.

The assembly adopted the proposal from the task force, 457 to 401. The conference then agreed, 435 to 394, that the $4.8 million anticipated savings will be used to fund new episcopal areas outside the United States.

Present and future formulas

At present, each jurisdiction having 500,000 church members or fewer is entitled to six bishops. Jurisdictions with more than 500,000 members are entitled to one additional bishop for each 320,000 members. There is a provision for additional bishops if episcopal areas average more than 55,000 square miles.

The task force noted that the current formula results in great inequities in the number of churches per bishop (256 to 928) and the number of members per bishop (58,970 to 225,814).

The new formula provides for one bishop for every 150,000 members or one bishop for 100,000 members in jurisdictions where episcopal areas average more than 55,000 square miles.

*Peck is a retired United Methodist clergyman and four-time editor of the Daily Christian Advocate now serving as an editor for United Methodist News Service during General Conference