Council of Bishops welcomes thirteen newly elected bishops
November 07, 2022
By Rev. Dr. Maidstone Mulenga
Photo credit Ben Smith, SEJ and Holston Conference
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Council of Bishops (COB) of The United Methodist Church is welcoming thirteen (13) bishops who were elected during last week’s jurisdictional conferences in the United States.
“It is a joy to welcome this new class of leaders to the Council of Bishops. I anticipate that the impact of their leadership will be felt as soon as they arrive on the scene,” said COB President Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton.
“This is a historic class that adds needed diversity to the work of our council. They also represent some of the shifts needed in the denomination at this point in our life together. I truly look forward to the collaboration and mutual discernment that will unfold as we build trust and team work together,” Bishop Bickerton said.
The new bishops in order of their election, their jurisdiction and their assignment are:
“It is a joy to welcome this new class of leaders to the Council of Bishops. I anticipate that the impact of their leadership will be felt as soon as they arrive on the scene,” said COB President Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton.
“This is a historic class that adds needed diversity to the work of our council. They also represent some of the shifts needed in the denomination at this point in our life together. I truly look forward to the collaboration and mutual discernment that will unfold as we build trust and team work together,” Bishop Bickerton said.
The new bishops in order of their election, their jurisdiction and their assignment are:
- Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai - North Central - Iowa
- Bishop Thomas Martin Berlin - Southeastern - Florida
- Bishop Dee Williamston - South Central - Louisiana
- Bishop Laura Merrill - South Central - Arkansas
- Bishop David Wilson - South Central - Great Plains
- Bishop Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez - Northeastern - Upper NY
- Bishop Lanette Plambeck - North Central - Dakotas/Minnesota
- Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton - Southeastern - North Carolina
- Bishop Dan Schwerin - North Central - Northern Illinois
- Bishop Robin Dease - Southeastern - North Georgia
- Bishop Carlo A. Rapanut - Western - Desert Southwest
- Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth - Western - Greater Northwest
- Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank - Western - Cal-Pacific