July 18, 2008

East Ohio pastor elected bishop at North Central Jurisdictional Conference

By Daniel R. Gangler,
director of communication
Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Rev. Dr. Julius Calvin Trimble was elected Friday afternoon as a Bishop of The United Methodist Church on the 24th ballot at the North Central Conference of The United Methodist Church meeting in Grand Rapids, Mich. Indiana’s United Methodists are part of this jurisdiction.

Trimble currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Warrensville Heights, Ohio (East Ohio Conference). Under his leadership, the Church has experienced growth and continued commitment to community-based and worldwide mission support.

Trimble is committed to leadership development and the strengthening of our churches as Aldersgate is one of nineteen Congregation Resource Centers across the connection, offering workshops to churches in the areas of financial administration, stewardship, music ministry, health and community outreach and developing lay leadership through the General Church Initiative: Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century.

Trimble’s 25 years as preacher-teacher is an affirmation of his commitment to serving the United Methodist Church using his gifts to equip and instruct clergy and laity to become effective and faithful leaders. He considers this to be a priority in addressing all aspects of revitalizing the Church to make disciples for Jesus Christ.

Trimble served as the District Superintendent of the Cleveland District of the East Ohio United Methodist Conference for seven years. In 2002 he served as Dean of the cabinet and preached at the Annual Conference at Lakeside, Ohio.

As one who enjoys teaching and preaching, Trimble has served as instructor for the United Methodist Women’s School of Mission in both the East Ohio Conference and the Northern Illinois Conference. Since 2001, he has served as an Adjunct Instructor in the Religion Department of Baldwin Wallace College, teaching courses on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the African American Religious Experience. He has preached in South Africa and Zimbabwe and has been the keynote speaker for the National Episcopal Urban Conference held in Cleveland in 1996.

He and his wife Racelder have led workshops together on developing personal mission statements and he has led workshops on Preaching and Urban Theology and Ministry.

Trimble will be consecrated on Saturday morning, July 19, at First United Methodist Church in downtown Grand Rapids, Mich.

Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner arrived Friday afternoon and will part of the consecration service on Saturday. The assignment of the jurisdiction’s bishops will be announced tomorrow.