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Bishops

General Conference
The Virginia Conference’s Bishop Sharma D. Lewis (upper right corner) leads the devotional during the April 30 session of the United Methodist Council of Bishops spring meeting. The bishops maintained that no elections of bishops or agency board members would be held this year, despite some delegates urging otherwise. Screengrab courtesy of the Council of Bishops via ZOOM by UM News.

Bishops: No episcopal elections until 2022
United Methodist bishops declined General Conference delegates’ calls for episcopal elections this year but opened the door to a vote on new leaders in 2022.
Local Church
During an April 26 press conference given by Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, Jody Ray surrenders his clergy credentials in response to being reassigned by Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson. Church leaders also announced the congregation is beginning the process of disaffiliating from The United Methodist Church. Screenshot of livestream courtesy of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church.

Megachurch seeks exit over appointment strife
Leaders of the largest church in the North Georgia Conference say their pastor’s appointment process was mishandled. The bishop gives a different account.
General Church
United Methodist Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey gives the presidential address during an online meeting of the denomination’s Council of Bishops. Harvey challenged both bishops and General Conference delegates to focus on shared mission, not frustrations. UM News screenshot via Zoom.

Bishops, delegates called to mission focus
At a time when many United Methodists feel stuck, Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey challenged church leaders to focus on what they can do instead.
General Church
Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr. addresses the Liberia Annual Conference meeting in Gbarnga, Liberia, in March. Quire is among African bishops in The United Methodist Church who have been discussing a denominational split and what that might mean for them and their conferences. Photo by E Julu Swen, UM News.

African bishops not united on church future
Three episcopal leaders from Africa signal they would go with a new traditionalist denomination if The United Methodist Church splits, but others aren’t joining in such statements.

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