July 17, 2008

NCJ 2008 Wednesday afternoon, evening

Hoosier bishops remembered at opening of NCJ Conference

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – During the opening worship service of the North Central Jurisdictional Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Wednesday, July 16, delegates remembered Bishops Leroy Hodapp and David Lawson. Both had ministry roots in Indiana. Both were elected while serving in the South Indiana Conference. Hodapp served the Illinois and Indiana episcopal areas. Lawson served the Wisconsin and Illinois episcopal areas. Both died this past year.

Bishop Hee-Soo Jung of the Chicago Area used the story of Nicodemus from chapter three of John’s Gospel for his memorial sermon. He said, “We are born for the sake of others,” the theme of the Nicodemus “you must be born again” story.

Jurisdiction must realign for one less bishop in next four years

Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher announced that the General Conference mandated that each of four of the five jurisdictions need to lessen the number of bishops in those jurisdictions by one bishop. The Southeastern Jurisdiction was excused since the delegates of that conference already have one less bishop than the current formula allows, and it is not requesting an additional episcopal leader.

The current formula entitles each jurisdiction with 500,000 church members or fewer to have six bishops. Jurisdictions with more than 500,000 members are entitled to one additional bishop for each 320,000 members.

The new formula provides for one bishop for every 150,000 members or one bishop for 100,000 members in jurisdictions where Episcopal area average more than 55,000 square miles.

The General Commission on Finance and Administration estimates that lessening four bishops will save the denomination $4.8 million a year.

Christopher reminded delegates that according to the church’s Discipline, the College of Bishops of each jurisdiction determines the boundaries of conferences and the boundaries of episcopal areas.

The Alban Institute will begin working with delegates during the Friday, July 18, session to begin the discussion on new conference and episcopal area boundaries.

First three ballots for bishop received

The first ballot was received at 5:30 p.m. and 11 out of 17 candidates received more than 10 votes. Indiana’s Frank Beard was one of the 11. Following the results of the ballots, delegates recessed for supper. Delegations used the next several hours interviewing candidates. A second ballot was received at 10 p.m. The second ballot results were announced at 10:30 p.m. A third ballot was received and will be announced on Thursday morning.

Earlier Wednesday, the Black Methodist for Church Renewal sponsored an episcopal candidate forum. Each of twelve candidates was given 10 minutes to answer two questions related to ministry. The first question was written by North Indiana delegate Dr. Carolyn Johnson of West Lafayette. The second question was picked by each candidate from a bowl of questions written delegates during the forum.