United Methodist Reporter Blog

Congrats to a new bishop

I reached a milestone last Thursday. Now I feel compelled to brag—not for myself, mind you, but for someone else.

For the first time since I started writing for the Reporter in 2002, someone I've already met has been elected a United Methodist bishop. The Rev. Peggy Johnson, pastor since 1988 at Christ UMC of the Deaf in Baltimore, will soon be leading the Philadelphia Area in the Northeastern Jurisdiction (see Robin’s post below).

I met Bishop Johnson in 2003 when I covered a meeting of the United Methodist Congress of the Deaf. Since then, any time I’ve worked on a similar story, she’s been the first person I call. Always a pleasure to talk to, with a passion for deaf ministry that is nothing short of contagious.

I’m only afraid that she won’t be quite as easy to reach on the phone in years to come! But don’t worry: We expect to have a Q&A ready to run next month. For now let me direct you to Linda Bloom's profile piece for United Methodist News Service.

Bishops' assignments across the U.S.

Here's a roundup of all episcopal assignments made during jurisdictional conferences last week, courtesy of me and the hard-working writers at United Methodist News Service who fanned out across the country:

Northeastern Jurisdiction

Bishop Peggy A. Johnson of Baltimore, pastor of Christ United Methodist Church of the Deaf, elected July 17. Bishop Johnson, 54, has been assigned to the Philadelphia Area and will oversee the Eastern Pennsylvania and Peninsula-Delaware conferences.

The Northeastern Jurisdiction’s College of Bishops is requesting the United Methodist Council of Bishops appoint retired Bishop Susan Hassinger to the Albany Area. She has served there for about two years since the early retirement of Bishop Susan Morrison.

Bishops' election results across the U.S.

Here's a roundup of information that we have so far, courtesy of United Methodist News Service (and, well, me) on the eight United Methodist bishops elected at jurisdictional conferences this week:

Western Jurisdiction (two elected)

The Rev. Grant Hagiya, executive director of Leadership Development and the Center of Leadership Excellence (a joint project of the California Pacific Conference and the Claremont School of Theology), was elected July 18 on the 16th ballot with 54 votes.

A former district superintendent in Los Angeles, Hagiya, 56, is a Japanese-American.

SCJ assignments -- here you go!

Assignments for South Central Jurisdiction bishops went into the wee hours of the morning. Here's a wrap-up of where everyone is heading, courtesy of North Texas Conference communications director Joan LaBarr:

Dr. W. Earl Bledsoe, 57, has been assigned as the new Bishop of the North Texas Annual Conference.  The announcement came at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, July 19, as the Episcopal Committee of the South Central Jurisdiction presented the assignments of the 11 sitting bishops for approval.

Newly elected Bishop James (Jim) Dorff was assigned to the Southwest Texas Conference (San Antonio Area), and Bishop Mike Lowry will lead Central Texas (Fort Worth Area).

Good night and God bless!

Having elected three bishops elected in the South Central Jurisdictional Conference, all that awaits the weary delegates is word on the episcopal assignments. And that could still take awhile.

The Committee on the Episcopacy is meeting (11:35 p.m.), as several dozen delegates are chatting in the plenary room at the Anatole. We are in recess.

As for this scribe, my eyes are bleary and my brain gears are grinding to a halt.

I think it's time to call it a night. It's been a rollercoaster of a day.

Congratulations to our new bishops.

And see complete coverage of the SCJ meetings in the Aug. 8 edition of the Reporter.

Round 23 was the charm -- We have a bishop!

At 10:16 p.m., delegates finally elected frontrunner, the Rev. Jim Dorff, as a bishop in the 23rd round of balloting at the South Central Juridsictional Conference. SEE STORY HERE

Mr. Dorff received 187 of 292 votes cast.

Cheryl Jefferson Bell received 97 votes.

Hallelujah!

Mr. Dorff, 61, is area provost for the North Texas Conference

The Committee on the Episcopacy will now meet to finalize assignments for bishops.

Round 22: Now stop that

At 9:10 p.m. Eduardo Rivera addressed delegates to ask them "in the interest of unity in the body" and also to honor God, to allow his name to be declined in future ballots.

So after the 22nd balloting, delegates threw their votes to just three individuals.

Jim Dorff 164

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 75

Cody Collier 44

Immediately after the results were announced, Cody Collier addressed delegates to tell them he "would like folk to vote for others at this point."

So will we get back to the two frontrunners at last? Stay tuned.

Round 21: What we need is a little white smoke

Catholics who've been through a papal election will know what I mean.

Rodney Steele is still getting votes, even though he reminded delegates that really, he is "at peace with withdrawing."

In the 21st round of balloting at the South Central Jurisdictiona Conference, still no election.

The tally:

Jim Dorff 141

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 88

Eduardo Rivera 19

Rodney Steele 15

Roberto Gomez 13

Gail Ford Smith 9

20 Rounds: It's a resurrection

Well, if Rodney Steele can be put on a ballot again, why not Roberto Gomez? Delegates are writing in names of candidates who withdrew earlier in this conference.

We're back after dinner. Presiding Bishop Scott Jones just informed the delegates we have the ballroom at the Anatole Hotel until 4 a.m., but that the Episcopacy Committee could use some time to make assignments. So he urged delegates to finish by 1 a.m.

He forgot about the poor schmucks who have to write about it all after it's all said and done.

Tally: Jim Dorff 107

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 90

Rodney Steele 44

Eduardo Rivera 21

Gail Ford Smith 15

Roberto Gomez 6

Round 19: And delegates are having a time of silent prayer

Seems like it's going from bad to worse, and a delegate has asked for a 3-minute time of silent prayer, to listen "really listen" to how God might be directing them for the next round of balloting.

In the 19th round, even more write-in candidates have emerged--including Rodney Steele, who withdrew earlier in the day--and taking votes from the two front-runners. Sigh.

Here's the tally:

Jim Dorff 123

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 108

Eduardo Rivera 20

Gail Ford Smith 14

David Wilson 10

Rodney Steele 9

Round 18: If this were golf it would be over

But no, it's the wheels of the democratic process of the United Methodist Church. So on we press.

After 18 rounds of balloting, delegates still lack one bishop. And so once again, they are circling up to discuss where they're at in the process.

The tally? Gail Ford Smith has cropped up again in the results. Go figure.

Jim Dorff 154

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 128

Gail Ford Smith 5

Round 17: Rolling along at a snail's pace

After the 17th round of balloting at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference, delegates moved two votes to Cheryl Jefferson Bell, who still trains Jim Dorff by 39 votes. Delegates have a 30-minute recess to talk it over.

Somebody's gotta budge.

The tally:

Jim Dorff 166

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 127   

Round 16: Exactly the same

Balloting results from round 16 at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference. Same as last round.

No comment.

Jim Dorff 168, Cheryl Jefferson Bell 125

Round 15: But then, who's counting?

OK, we're back after the lunch break. Results from the fifteenth round of balloting at the South Central Jurisdiction show no bishop has been elected.

Since Gail Ford Smith has not had any votes in several rounds (nor has she formally withdrawn), I'm going to remove her name for now.

Candidates needed 178 to be elected.

Tallies: 

Jim Dorff 168

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 125

14th Round: Dorff moves ahead

Delegates have completed their 14th round of balloting at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference. No bishop has been elected this round. Candidates needed 178 to be elected.

Delegates are meeting for a few minutes and will cast another ballot before lunch. Results won't be announced until this afternoon, though.

Word on the floor is that North Texas and Central Texas delegates are throwing their weight behind Jim Dorff, and the balloting shows.

Here's the tallies:

Jim Dorff 161

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 130

Gail Ford Smith 0

Another candidate withdraws

Rodney Steele has withdrawn his name from consideration for the episcopacy in the South Central Jurisdiction.

The 62 votes he received in the last round are up for grabs. Delegates are voting as we speak. Bell or Dorff?

Stay tuned.

13th Round: Perfecting their balloting at SCJ

Results of the 13th round of balloting here at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference have just been announced.

Delegates did not elect a bishop this round, but hey, they're getting the hang of balloting. All of the ballots cast were valid ballots this round. That means people voted for just one person who was eligible to serve as bishop.

Just before the ballot was taken, Roberto Gomez withdrew his candidacy, about 10:55 a.m.

Here's the neck-'n'-neck tallies:

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 117

Jim Dorff 114

Rodney Steele 62

Gail Ford Smith 0

Round 12: mixing it up

Delegates have reshuffled the candidates a bit in the 12th round of balloting at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference. There's wheeling and dealing going on now, with just one bishop left to elect.

Following Mike Lowry's election in the last round, here's the new tallies (with 178 needed for election):

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 109

Jim Dorff 86

Rodney Steele, 83

Roberto Gomez 15

Gail Ford Smith 0

We have another bishop!

Rodney Steele 124

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 123

Jim Dorff 94

Roberto Gomez 34

Gail Ford Smith 0

At about 9:55 a.m., on the eleventh ballot, the Rev. John Michael “Mike” Lowry has been elected a bishop by the South Central Jurisdiction. SEE STORY HERE

Dr. Lowry is executive director for New Church Development and Transformation for the Southwest Texas Conference,

He received 189 ballots out of 294 cast. He only needed 177 to be elected.

Rest of the tallies are as follows:

Tenth balloting: SO close

Friday morning at the Anatole Hotel, and they've just announced the tenth round of balloting at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference. We're getting closer, folks.

With 178 votes needed, Mike Lowry lacked just two votes. Hopefully on the next round.

Here's the rest of the tallies:

Rodney Steele 131

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 127

Jim Dorff 91

Roberto Gomez 42

Gail Ford Smith 6

Stay tuned.

Ninth round: and holding

So at 9:15 p.m., results of the ninth balloting have been announced. Guess what? No election. I think that's it for today.

One ballot was invalid because someone voted for Earl Bledsoe, who was elected on the third round. Are we getting tired or what?

178 votes were needed this round. Here's the tally:

Mike Lowry 164

Rodney Steele 130

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 125

Jim Dorff 101

Roberto Gomez 40

Gail Ford Smith 12

Eighth balloting: Nope, not yet

It's 8:20 p.m. and after eight rounds of balloting, we still haven't elected the second bishop for the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church.

Cheryl Jefferson Bell's stats have just leapfrogged over Jim Dorff again.

It really looks like someone needs to withdraw, or delegates need to strategize to elect first one, then their next favorite. They're all on a break at the moment, busily discussing it all.

Here's the tallies, with 177 votes needed:

Mike Lowry 157

Rodney Steele 142

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 113

Jim Dorff 107

Roberto Gomez 35

Gail Ford Smith 15

Sixth round: wrangling to follow

The sixth round of balloting in the South Central Jurisdictional Conference has resulted in no election.

Delegates are huddled to strategize about the next round, as we speak. Seems a few more candidates need to withdraw and open up some votes.

Here's the tally (177 votes were needed to make it this round):

Mike Lowry 157

Rodney Steele 134

Jim Dorff 114

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 101

Roberto Gomez 43

Gail Ford Smith 17.

Five rounds, and counting

OK, folks. Fifth round of balloting has resulted -- once again -- in no bishop elected.

Jim Welch, a district superintendent in the Texas Conference, has withdrawn his candidacy.

177 votes were needed in this round. Here's the tally:

Mike Lowry 150

Rodney Steele 131

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 109

Jim Dorff 107

Roberto Gomez 48

Gail Ford Smith, 22.

Fourth round of balloting at SCJ

Once again, no election has resulted after the fourth round of balloting at the South Central Jurisdiction Conference. Candidates needed at least 173 votes to be elected.

Tim Bruster withdrew at the start of the 2 p.m. session.

Here's the tally of 287 valid ballots out of 294 cast:

Endorsed candidates:

Mike Lowry 136

Rodney Steele 112

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 105

Jim Dorff  85

Roberto Gomez  47

Jim Welch 35

Texas Conference District Superintendent Gail Ford Smith 29

We have a bishop!

On the third ballot, at 11:55 a.m., Earl Bledsoe was elected to the episcopacy in the South Central Jurisdiction with 186 votes. He needed 174 to be elected. SEE STORY HERE

Candidate Steve Rankin, who received 16 votes, withdrew his name from consideration.

Endorsed candidate tallies were as follows:

Earl Bledsoe 186; Mike Lowry 131; Cheryl Jefferson Bell 112 ; Rodney Steele 108; Jim Dorff  89 ; Roberto Gomez  51 ; Jim Welch  37;  Tim Bruster  21 ; Steve Rankin   16

Texas Conference District Superintendent Gail Ford Smith received 34.

Still no bishop after second round in SCJ

With 287 valid ballots this round, here's the tallies for endorsed candidates. (A total of 173 votes is needed for someone to be elected bishop.)

Earl Bledsoe 163

Mike Lowry 126

Cheryl Jefferson Bell 109

Rodney Steele, 106

Jim Dorff, 92

Roberto Gomez, 67

Jim Welch, 51

Tim Bruster, 30

Steve Rankin, 16 

Texas Conference District Superintendent Gail Ford Smith now has 24 votes.

No bishop yet in SCJ

Well, the first balloting results are in at the South Central Jurisdictional conference.

No bishop yet. Here's the votes for endorsed candidates:

Earl Bledsoe, 137;

Mike Lowry, 117;

Cheryl Jefferson Bell, 101;

Rodney Steele, 97;

James Dorff, 88;

Roberto Gomez, 65;

Jim Welch, 62;

Tim Bruster, 56;

Steve Rankin, 23.

Texas Conference District Superintendent Gail Ford Smith received 20 votes.

Stay tuned.

SEJ elects a bishop

Jurisdictional conferences of the United Methodist Church are in the process of electing their bishops.

This just in: Delegates in the Southeastern Jurisdiction have elected the Rev. Paul L. Leeland, 59, to the episcopacy.

He was endorsed by the North Carolina Conference.

Electing Bishops: Too Political?

It's a little different in each of the five U.S. jurisdictions, but no matter how they conduct the process, toward the end of this week they'll be electing new episcopal leaders to fill the slots vacated by those who are retiring.

Andrew Conard has a discussion going over at his blog, and it's clear that candidates in the Southeastern and North Central Jurisdictions have crossed a line with him by having their own Web sites. Andrew and I are both in the South Central Jurisdiction, the one that has posted candidate bios on its site. He thinks that move is OK, but the individual Web sites aren't.

I have mixed opinions on using political methods to get our spiritual leaders. Sometimes I feel we're using the best tools at humans' disposal; other times I feel we've cheapened the whole thing by our actions. Usually, I'm somewhere in between. I've heard that even when it didn't appear this political in the past, it still was; we're just more up front these days by letting the politics take place out in the open.

As we go into this "time of discernment" (or "end of feverish campaigning," depending upon how you see it), I'm praying that the Holy Spirit works through the UMC--or in spite of it. Whichever is needed.