United Methodist Council of Bishops
Encyclopedia
The United Methodist Council of Bishops is the organization of which all active and retired Bishop
s in the United Methodist Connection are members. In the United Methodist system of polity, the Council of Bishops is the Executive Branch of United Methodist Church government.
Bishop Gregory Vaughn Palmer of the Illinois Episcopal Area currently serves as President of the Council of Bishops. Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster
of the Charlotte Episicopal Area will become the president in 2010. Bishop Janice Riggle Huie
of the Texas Annual Conference
(Houston area), is the immediate past president of the Council of Bishops. The Bishops of The United Methodist Church, both individually and collectively through the Council of Bishops, provide spiritual leadership to more than 11 million United Methodists in a broad range of settings on four continents, including North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Since the founding of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the Christmas Conference in Baltimore in 1781, United Methodist Bishop
s have presided over Annual and Central Conferences (regional areas of the church). They play an important leadership role in helping to set the direction of the church and its mission throughout the world. United Methodist Bishops preside over geographic areas of ministry, known as Annual Conference
s, and supervise the appointment and ministry of each Annual Conference
's clergy and the mission and ministry of each Annual Conference
's congregations. Bishops are elected every 4 years (quadrennium) by each of the 5 Jurisdictional Conferences in the United States and the Central Conferences outside the United States. Once elected each Bishop is consecrated to the episcopacy for life and they serve in the Jurisdiction by which they were elected and consecrated. Just as all United Methodist clergy
itinerate within the Annual Conference
of which they are members, once elected Bishops itinerate within the Jurisdiction they are members of, serving a specific Annual Conference for 4 year terms, after which they may be reappointed or moved to another Annual Conference
, on the recommendation of each Jurisdictional Committee on the Episcopacy and the authority of the full Jurisdictional Conference acting on those recommendations.
Bishops are responsible for supervising the ordination and character of the clergy under their leadership, and for fixing the appointment of each clergy member of an Annual Conference
each year to a particular congregation, charge, circuit or other place of ministry and mission. The Bishop of each Annual Conference
also presides over each session of the Annual Conference
and is the executive officer of each Annual Conference
. Each Bishop presides over a cabinet of District Superintendent
s, who are the Bishop's assistants who more directly supervise the ministry of clergy within each district within an Annual Conference. Districts are regionally based units within each Annual Conference, each of which is presided over by a District Superintendent (who must be an Elder in Full Connection with the Annual Conference
in which they serve) and which has its own officers and structures that are accountable to the Bishop
and the Annual Conference
for the conduct of their mission and ministry.
While the United Methodist Council of Bishops is the Executive Branch of Church government, it is ultimately and only the General Conference
of the United Methodist Church
, which constitutes the Legislative Branch of Church government, that speaks for and sets the policies, missions and ministries of the United Methodist Church
through its sole authority to maintain and change the United Methodist Discipline, the book that structures and rules United Methodism. Ultimately, the General Conference
speaks for the United Methodist Church.
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...
s in the United Methodist Connection are members. In the United Methodist system of polity, the Council of Bishops is the Executive Branch of United Methodist Church government.
Bishop Gregory Vaughn Palmer of the Illinois Episcopal Area currently serves as President of the Council of Bishops. Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster
Larry M. Goodpaster
-Birth and Family:Bishop Goodpaster was born 23 April 1948 in Memphis, Tennessee. He married Deborah Cox 26 September 1971. They have two daughters: Amy and Lucy ; and three grandchildren: Amelia Grace Bradley, Thomas Martin Bradley, and Audrey Elizabeth Bradley.-Education:Bishop Goodpaster...
of the Charlotte Episicopal Area will become the president in 2010. Bishop Janice Riggle Huie
Janice Riggle Huie
Janice Riggle Huie was elected bishop by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1996.She is married to Robert Huie. They have two sons: David and Matthew...
of the Texas Annual Conference
Texas Annual Conference
The Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church is the regional body of congregations and ministries in East Texas, from Texarkana west to approximately Cedar Creek Lake in the north, Thorndale, Tx in the west, and Bay City in the southwest and down to the Gulf Coast and back east to the...
(Houston area), is the immediate past president of the Council of Bishops. The Bishops of The United Methodist Church, both individually and collectively through the Council of Bishops, provide spiritual leadership to more than 11 million United Methodists in a broad range of settings on four continents, including North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Since the founding of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the Christmas Conference in Baltimore in 1781, United Methodist 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...
s have presided over Annual and Central Conferences (regional areas of the church). They play an important leadership role in helping to set the direction of the church and its mission throughout the world. United Methodist Bishops preside over geographic areas of ministry, known as Annual Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
s, and supervise the appointment and ministry of each Annual Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
's clergy and the mission and ministry of each Annual Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
's congregations. Bishops are elected every 4 years (quadrennium) by each of the 5 Jurisdictional Conferences in the United States and the Central Conferences outside the United States. Once elected each Bishop is consecrated to the episcopacy for life and they serve in the Jurisdiction by which they were elected and consecrated. Just as all United Methodist clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
itinerate within the Annual Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
of which they are members, once elected Bishops itinerate within the Jurisdiction they are members of, serving a specific Annual Conference for 4 year terms, after which they may be reappointed or moved to another Annual Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
, on the recommendation of each Jurisdictional Committee on the Episcopacy and the authority of the full Jurisdictional Conference acting on those recommendations.
Bishops are responsible for supervising the ordination and character of the clergy under their leadership, and for fixing the appointment of each clergy member of an Annual Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
each year to a particular congregation, charge, circuit or other place of ministry and mission. The Bishop of each Annual Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
also presides over each session of the Annual Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
and is the executive officer of each Annual Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
. Each Bishop presides over a cabinet of District Superintendent
District Superintendent
District Superintendent may be:*District Superintendent *A rank in the London Metropolitan Police in use from 1869 to 1886, when it was renamed Chief Constable...
s, who are the Bishop's assistants who more directly supervise the ministry of clergy within each district within an Annual Conference. Districts are regionally based units within each Annual Conference, each of which is presided over by a District Superintendent (who must be an Elder in Full Connection with the Annual Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
in which they serve) and which has its own officers and structures that are accountable to the 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...
and the Annual Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
for the conduct of their mission and ministry.
While the United Methodist Council of Bishops is the Executive Branch of Church government, it is ultimately and only the General Conference
General Conference
In the United Nations system of specialized agencies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency or UNESCO, General Conferences are the recurring meetings of Member States. General Conference sessions are usually held yearly or biennially at the headquarters of the Agency...
of the United Methodist Church
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...
, which constitutes the Legislative Branch of Church government, that speaks for and sets the policies, missions and ministries of the United Methodist Church
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...
through its sole authority to maintain and change the United Methodist Discipline, the book that structures and rules United Methodism. Ultimately, the General Conference
General Conference
In the United Nations system of specialized agencies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency or UNESCO, General Conferences are the recurring meetings of Member States. General Conference sessions are usually held yearly or biennially at the headquarters of the Agency...
speaks for the United Methodist Church.