United Methodist Council of Bishops Accept Resignation of Bishop Edward Paup

Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church
Bishop Roy I. Sano, Executive Secretary
100 Maryland Ave. NE
Washington, D.C. 20002

Contact:
Diane Denton 615. 483.1765
or Stephen Drachler 615. 417.9284

April 21, 2008

United Methodist Council of Bishops Accept Resignation of Bishop Edward Paup

FORT WORTH The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church today accepted the resignation of Bishop Edward Paup (Seattle Area), effective on Aug. 31.

In his letter of resignation, Bishop Paup told the Council he is resigning so that he may accept a new position as general secretary of the denomination's General Board of Global Ministries. His new job begins on Sept. 1.

"We congratulate Bishop Paup on his election as general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries" said Bishop Janice Riggle Huie of Houston, president of the Council of Bishops.

"Ed has us told he believes God is calling him into this new stage of ministry. And we know his heart is in global missions. We wish him God's blessings in his new endeavor."

A native of Oil City, Pa., and 1967 graduate of Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa., Bishop Paup, 62, earned a master of divinity degree from Iliff School of Theology in Denver in 1970.

He was ordained a deacon in the Western Pennsylvania Conference transferred to the Rocky Mountain Conference. He was elected bishop in the Western Jurisdiction in 1996. He served as bishop for the Portland (Ore.) Area until 2004, when he was appointed to the Seattle Area.

A member of the General Board of Global Ministries board of directors since 2004, Bishop Paup serves as president of the United Methodist Committee on Relief.

A new bishop will be appointed to the Seattle Area during the meeting of the Western Jurisdictional Conference to be held July 16-19 in Portland, Ore.