Your privacy is our policy. See our new Privacy Policy.


Goodpaster, Wenner win election to lead bishops


Bishop Larry Goodpaster Bishop Rosemarie Wenner

By Kathy Gilbert*
Nov. 4, 2009 | LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS)

Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster of Western North Carolina will be the next president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops.

The council at its fall meeting on Nov. 4 elected Goodpaster president and Bishop Rosemarie Wenner of Germany president-elect by a "staggering" majority, announced Bishop Gregory Palmer, current council president.

Goodpaster will take over leadership of the worldwide council May 6, 2010. Wenner will serve as president in 2012. The bishops serve for two-year terms.

"It was exciting two years ago when I was in Bishop Wenner's place as president-elect, but now making it official I also feel the weight and the excitement of the possibilities," said Goodpaster, 61. "I am energized for this great opportunity to do something for Christ and his church that will have lasting benefits."

Power in the connection


United Methodist Bishops Larry M. Goodpaster (left) and Rosemarie Wenner are prayed over by other bishops.
A UMNS photo by Kathy L. Gilbert.

Goodpaster was appointed to serve as the leader for the Western North Carolina Annual (regional) Conference at the 2008 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference.Elected to the episcopacy in 2000, Goodpaster led the Alabama-West Florida Conference for eight years. Before his election, he served as a pastor and district superintendent in the Mississippi Conference.

His pastoral experience includes a five-church rural charge, a new congregation and several larger membership churches. He has taught in a variety of settings and published in various denominational publications. His latest book, "There's Power in the Connection," was published in 2008 by Abingdon Press.

Goodpaster earned a bachelor of arts degree from Millsaps College, Jackson, Miss., and master of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees from Candler School of Theology in Atlanta.

A sign of trust

Wenner, 54, was elected bishop in 2005, becoming the denomination's first woman elected to the episcopacy outside the United States.

"When you are one of the central conference bishops, you don't come here thinking you are going to be a leader for the Council of Bishops," she said. "It was surprising when they asked me and a great sign of trust and expectations. The past presidents have set the stage for us to focus on the most important thing in the world, to make disciples for the transformation of the world."

We invite you to join the dialogue. Share your comments.

Post a comment

A native of Eppingen in southern Germany, she had served as superintendent of the church's Frankfurt District since 1996. She studied at the United Methodist Theological Seminary in Reutlingen and has held pastorates in Karlsruhe, Hockenheim and Darmstadt.

The Council of Bishops represents 11.5 million United Methodists in the United States, Africa, Europe and Asia. It includes 69 active and 98 retired bishops.

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or [email protected].

RELATED VIDEOS

Church Goes Green

Planting Climate Change

Keeping Earth Clean

Gas-Saver Pastor

Related Articles

Bishops' letter pledges to protect God's creation

Hearings address nuclear weapons, environment

Texas church builds on eco-friendly foundation

Santa Cruz United Methodist church goes green

Ministers promote environmental stewardship

Give up gas for God

Environment: Related Articles

Hearings address nuclear weapons, environment

Resources

Council of Bishops

Board of Church and Society

Comments will be moderated. Please see our Comment Policy for more information.
Comment Policy

Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Annual Conferences
Dancer Briana Hanson joyfully helps introduce a report from United Women in Faith during the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. After a season of church disaffiliations, United Methodists are moving forward with a new vision, declaring members should “love boldly, serve joyfully and lead courageously.” The Arkansas and Oklahoma conferences have created ad campaigns to support that work and showcase the denomination’s resiliency and values. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Bold new era declared for church

The Arkansas and Oklahoma conferences are planning advertising and social media campaigns this fall to follow up on The United Methodist Church’s new vision statement.
Church Leadership
Steven Odhiambo of the Kenya-Ethiopia Conference is consecrated as a home missioner by retired United Methodist Bishop Joaquina F. Nhanala during the Africa Region Deaconess/Home Missioner consecration service on July 9 at the Lutheran Uhuru Hostel and Conference Centre in Moshi, Tanzania. The ceremony marked the first time a United Methodist deaconess/home missioner consecration was held on African soil. Photo courtesy of Laurel Akin.

Diaconal vision for Africa becomes reality

For the first time, a United Methodist deaconess/home missioner consecration is held on African soil, as 15 candidates are consecrated for service.
Faith Stories
Ethiopian Episcopal Church Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana (in black) congratulates 102-year-old Janet Gowe (seated) on the realization of her decades-long dream for a United Methodist church in her farm community of Murewa, Zimbabwe. United Methodist Bishop Gift K. Machinga (left) led the dedication of Hoyuyu United Methodist Church’s Nzira Sanctuary on May 25. At right is Kingston Kajese, Gowe’s son, who spearheaded the construction of the sanctuary. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News.

102-year-old church planter fulfills sanctuary dream

After more than three decades of pushing to have a permanent United Methodist church built in her Zimbabwe community, a mother’s dream became reality.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved