Nov. 12, 2003
Bishops strengthen leadership, set up office in D.C.

WASHINGTON (UMNS) — In an effort to provide stronger leadership across the denomination, United Methodist bishops have voted to lengthen the term of their president and establish a permanent, staffed office.

With the new structure approved during a Nov. 2-7 meeting, the Council of Bishops’ president will serve two years instead of the traditional one-year term. Bishop Peter Weaver of the Philadelphia Area was elected to that post. He will succeed Bishop Ruediger Minor of the Eurasia Area during General Conference.

The council’s new office will be in the United Methodist Building, across the street from the Capitol and the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington.

The bishops elected additional officers, including president-designate, Bishop Janice Riggle Huie of the Arkansas Area; secretary, Bishop Ernest Lyght of the New York Area; and ecumenical officer, Bishop William Oden of Dallas. Minor will remain on the council’s Executive Committee as immediate past president. Huie will take office during General Conference, and Oden will take office Sept. 1. Lyght’s effective date could not be confirmed at press time.

In a newly created position, an executive secretary will serve as chief operating officer for the council. The executive secretary will be a retired bishop who will serve a four-year term and receive compensation. Bishop Roy Sano of Oakland, Calif., was chosen as the first executive secretary. He will take office Sept. 1.

The changes in leadership structure and the approval of a permanent office capped several years of work by the council. An earlier plan to have an active bishop serve as executive secretary met with rejection from the United Methodist Judicial Council, which ruled that such a "set-aside" bishop would be against the church’s constitution.

"We’re at a time in the church where it’s really critical that the council have some continuity and some clear direction on how it leads the church, and this new leadership team, this new structure, will allow that," said Bishop Bruce Ough, who leads the church’s West Ohio Area.

"In my judgment, so far as the life and style of leadership which the Council of Bishops gives, this is the most significant meeting we have had since I’ve been a bishop," said Bishop William Boyd Grove of Charleston, W.Va. Technically retired, Grove was elected bishop in 1980.

The council’s semiannual meeting drew 112 active and retired bishops from around the world to Washington. The bishops represent about 10 million United Methodists in the United States, Africa, Asia and Europe.