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Resident Bishop (United Methodist)
Encyclopedia
A Resident Bishop in the United Methodist Church
is a Bishop
appointed to a specific Episcopal Area
(i.e., the Bishop resident in the Area; unless a Bishop happens to be retired and simply residing in the Area, not assigned to it). A Resident Bishop also is the Presiding Bishop of any and all Annual (i.e., regional) Conferences of the Church within the Area. Such Bishops are said to have residential as well as presidential duties within his/her Area.
, bishops serve as administrative and pastoral superintendents of the church. They are elected for life from among the ordained elders
(Presbyters) by vote of the delegates in regional (called Jurisdictional) conferences, and are consecrated by the other bishops present at the conference through the laying on of hands. In The United Methodist Church bishops are not ordained in the traditional sense
(i.e. belonging to the threefold ministry of bishop, presbyter, deacon) but remain members of the "Order of Elders
" while being consecrated to the "Office of the Episcopacy." Within The United Methodist Church only bishops are empowered to consecrate bishops and ordain clergy. Among their most critical duties is the ordination and appointment of clergy to serve local churches as pastor, presiding at sessions of the Annual, Jurisdictional, and General Conferences, providing pastoral ministry for the clergy under their charge, and safeguarding the doctrine and discipline of the Church. Furthermore, individual bishops, or the Council of Bishops as a whole, often serve a prophetic role, making statements on important social issues and setting forth a vision for the denomination, though they have no legislative authority of their own. In all of these areas, bishops of United Methodist Church function very much in the historic meaning of the term. According to the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, a bishop's responsibilities are
being the first woman to be consecrated a bishop in 1980.
is known is the Council of Bishops. The Council of Bishops speaks to the Church and through the Church into the world and gives leadership in the quest for Christian unity and interreligious relationships. The Conference of Methodist Bishops includes the United Methodist Council of Bishops plus bishops from affiliated autonomous Methodist or United
Churches.
consecrated Thomas Coke a "General Superintendent," and directed that Francis Asbury
also be consecrated for the United States of America
in 1784, where the Methodist Episcopal Church
first became a separate denomination
apart from the Church of England
. Coke soon returned to England, but Asbury was the primary builder of the new church. At first he did not call himself bishop, but eventually submitted to the usage by the denomination.
Notable bishops in United Methodist history include Coke
, Asbury
, Richard Whatcoat
, Philip William Otterbein
, Martin Boehm
, Jacob Albright
, John Seybert
, Matthew Simpson
, John S. Stamm
, William Ragsdale Cannon
, Marjorie Matthews
, Leontine T. Kelly
, William B. Oden
, Ntambo Nkulu Ntanda, William Willimon, and Thomas Bickerton
.
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
is a Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
appointed to a specific Episcopal Area
Episcopal Area
An Episcopal Area in the United Methodist Church is a basic unit of this denomination. It is a region presided over by a resident bishop that is similar to a diocese in other Christian denominations. Each annual conference in the UMC is within a single episcopal area; some episcopal areas...
(i.e., the Bishop resident in the Area; unless a Bishop happens to be retired and simply residing in the Area, not assigned to it). A Resident Bishop also is the Presiding Bishop of any and all Annual (i.e., regional) Conferences of the Church within the Area. Such Bishops are said to have residential as well as presidential duties within his/her Area.
Duties
In The United Methodist ChurchUnited Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
, bishops serve as administrative and pastoral superintendents of the church. They are elected for life from among the ordained elders
Elder (Methodism)
An Elder in the Methodist Church — sometimes called a Presbyter or Minister — is someone who has been ordained by a Bishop to the ministry of Word, Sacrament, Order, and Service...
(Presbyters) by vote of the delegates in regional (called Jurisdictional) conferences, and are consecrated by the other bishops present at the conference through the laying on of hands. In The United Methodist Church bishops are not ordained in the traditional sense
Historical episcopate
The episcopate is the collective body of all bishops of a church. In the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Rite Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, Old-Catholic, Moravian Church, and Independent Catholic churches as well as in the Assyrian Church of the East, it is held that only a...
(i.e. belonging to the threefold ministry of bishop, presbyter, deacon) but remain members of the "Order of Elders
Elder (Methodism)
An Elder in the Methodist Church — sometimes called a Presbyter or Minister — is someone who has been ordained by a Bishop to the ministry of Word, Sacrament, Order, and Service...
" while being consecrated to the "Office of the Episcopacy." Within The United Methodist Church only bishops are empowered to consecrate bishops and ordain clergy. Among their most critical duties is the ordination and appointment of clergy to serve local churches as pastor, presiding at sessions of the Annual, Jurisdictional, and General Conferences, providing pastoral ministry for the clergy under their charge, and safeguarding the doctrine and discipline of the Church. Furthermore, individual bishops, or the Council of Bishops as a whole, often serve a prophetic role, making statements on important social issues and setting forth a vision for the denomination, though they have no legislative authority of their own. In all of these areas, bishops of United Methodist Church function very much in the historic meaning of the term. According to the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, a bishop's responsibilities are
Annual Conference
In each Annual Conference, United Methodist bishops serve for four year terms, and may serve up to three terms before either retirement or appointment to a new Conference. United Methodist bishops may be male or female, with the Rev. Marjorie MatthewsMarjorie Matthews
Marjorie Swank Matthews was an American Bishop of the United Methodist Church. She was born 11 July 1916 in Onaway, Michigan....
being the first woman to be consecrated a bishop in 1980.
Council of Bishops
The collegial expression of episcopal leadership in the United Methodist ChurchUnited Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
is known is the Council of Bishops. The Council of Bishops speaks to the Church and through the Church into the world and gives leadership in the quest for Christian unity and interreligious relationships. The Conference of Methodist Bishops includes the United Methodist Council of Bishops plus bishops from affiliated autonomous Methodist or United
United and uniting churches
United and uniting churches are churches formed from the merger or other form of union of two or more different Protestant denominations.Perhaps the oldest example of a united church is found in Germany, where the Evangelical Church in Germany is a federation of Lutheran, United and Reformed...
Churches.
Origins of Methodist Episcopacy
John WesleyJohn Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
consecrated Thomas Coke a "General Superintendent," and directed that Francis Asbury
Francis Asbury
Bishop Francis Asbury was one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, now The United Methodist Church in the United States...
also be consecrated for the United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1784, where the Methodist Episcopal Church
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
first became a separate denomination
Religious denomination
A religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity.The term describes various Christian denominations...
apart from the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. Coke soon returned to England, but Asbury was the primary builder of the new church. At first he did not call himself bishop, but eventually submitted to the usage by the denomination.
Notable bishops in United Methodist history include Coke
Thomas Coke (bishop)
Thomas Coke was the first Methodist Bishop and is known as the Father of Methodist Missions.Born in Brecon, south Wales, his father was a well-to-do apothecary...
, Asbury
Asbury
Asbury may refer to:* Francis Asbury, an early Methodist bishop and key figure in the development of religion in the United States* Herbert Asbury, an American journalist and writer...
, Richard Whatcoat
Richard Whatcoat
Richard Whatcoat , was the third Bishop of the American Methodist Episcopal Church.-History:Whatcoat was born in Gloucestershire, England and, although reared in the Church of England, became a Methodist at age 22...
, Philip William Otterbein
Philip William Otterbein
Philip William Otterbein was a U.S. clergyman. He was the founder of the United Brethren in Christ, a group that is a forerunner of today's United Methodist Church.-Biography:...
, Martin Boehm
Martin Boehm
Martin Boehm was an American clergyman and pastor. He was the son of Jacob Boehm and Barbara Kendig who settled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania...
, Jacob Albright
Jacob Albright
Jacob Albright was an American Christian leader, founder of Albright's People which was officially named the Evangelical Association in 1816...
, John Seybert
John Seybert
John Seybert was an American bishop of the Evangelical Association. He was only the second Bishop of this denomination, a predecessor to the Evangelical United Brethren Church...
, Matthew Simpson
Matthew Simpson
Matthew Simpson , was an American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected in 1852.-Early life and family:...
, John S. Stamm
John S. Stamm
John Samuel Stamm was an American bishop of the Evangelical Church, elected in 1926.Stamm was born on a Sunday morning , 23 March 1878, a son of Hanz and Mary Stamm...
, William Ragsdale Cannon
William Ragsdale Cannon
William Ragsdale Cannon was an American Bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1968.-Birth and Family:...
, Marjorie Matthews
Marjorie Matthews
Marjorie Swank Matthews was an American Bishop of the United Methodist Church. She was born 11 July 1916 in Onaway, Michigan....
, Leontine T. Kelly
Leontine T. Kelly
Leontine Turpeau Current Kelly is a retired American Bishop of the United Methodist Church. She was born 5 March 1920 in Washington, D.C., one of eight children. Her father, David D. Turpeau, Sr., was a prominent Methodist minister, who later served four terms in the Ohio House of Representatives...
, William B. Oden
William B. Oden
William Bryant Oden is a retired American Bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1988. He was born 3 August 1935 in McAllen, Texas. He is married to Marilyn Brown Oden, the author of over eight books. They have four children and four grandchildren....
, Ntambo Nkulu Ntanda, William Willimon, and Thomas Bickerton
Thomas Bickerton
Thomas J. Bickerton is a US Methodist bishop.Born July 2, 1958, Bishop Tom Bickerton was reared in West Virginia and graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology/Psychology. Subsequently, he entered seminary at Duke University Divinity School and...
.