NOV. 7 UPDATE: Videos of the sessions are available on the YouTube channel: "Southeastern Jurisdiction UMC." You will need to search for the channel and then subscribe to view the footage.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2 | Nov. 2 Daily Christian Advocate
SEJ Kicks Off With Opening Worship, Morning Business, First Ballot
By Jessica Brodie
LAKE JUNALUSKA, North Carolina—Delegates, reserves, bishops, volunteers and members of the media filled the seats of Stuart Auditorium early Wednesday, Nov. 2, for the first day of the 2022 session of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference.
The morning began with a stirring worship service preached by Bishop James Swanson with a standing ovation and a call to remain a fearless church even amid anxiety over uncertainty, then a time for Holy Communion led by Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett.
Business began as Swanson called the meeting officially to order at 10:39 a.m., with roll call, setting the bar, adoption of the agenda, and the day’s first major item of business: determining how many bishops to elect.
With overwhelming approval by hand vote, the body agreed with the Committee on Episcopacy’s recommendation to elect three bishops this year instead of the authorized five. The COE cited as their main rationale financial responsibility given the uncertainty over disaffiliation, noting two bishops would be asked to serve two areas until September 2024.
The first ballot, to vote on three episcopal nominees, was taken just before noon.
Swanson stated results would not be revealed until after a lunch break, as there were some write-in episcopal nominees beyond the nine nominees currently up for consideration.
Untroubled hearts
Opening worship began with a processional hymn, then a time of congregational centering, wit the body facing first east, then south, then west, then north, as they prayed for guidance, purification and wisdom from the Lord.
“Christ brings healing and celebration,” said Worship Coordinator Dr. Sam Parkes, reminding all that they comprise many families, but “all human.”
After a Scripture reading from John 15, on the vine and the branches, Swanson preached a powerful opening sermon on his key takeaway from that story: Without Jesus, we can’t do anything.
Just as the disciples back then struggled with anxiety over uncertainty, we too have uncertainly.
But even with all that is going on, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled, Southeastern Jurisdiction,” Swanson said.
He noted that even the Avengers got worried and wondered if could defeat Thanos; it is natural to struggle with this.
“So often we get through life by denying what is going on. I’m not going to deny the fear and anxiety that’s in this room right here. But I hear him again: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Despite all the plotting that may be going on, do not let your hearts be troubled.”
Swanson said we often get too tied up in the things we want to see happen. Instead of allowing the Spirit to lead us to God’s vision, “We’ve already designed the church in our own image and likeness.”
We must understand from where our help comes, Swanson preached to resounding applause: Jesus.
“Forget your agenda,” Swanson said. “Stop for a minute and say, ‘Despite what I want, nevertheless—let your will be done.’”
Sacred grounds
Swanson, of the Mississippi Area, presided over the morning service, first calling on retired Bishop Richard C. Looney. Looney led the body in an opening prayer that emphasized the connection of vital local churches
“Let the prayer of St. Francis become our own,” Looney said, asking the Lord to help bring love where there is hatred, faith where there is doubt, hope where there is despair, and light where there is darkness.
After a reminder by Swanson of the importance of the mask requirement “out of utmost care and concern for each,” Conference Secretary Anne Travis came to the podium for roll call and quorum certification.
As she approached the podium, Swanson offered deep thanks at her stepping in to serve as secretary in the unexpected passing of Brad Brady, who was elected in September 2021 and served until his death this February.
In a voice thick with unshed tears, Travis called for remembrance of and a moment of silence for Brady, as well as bishops and delegates who passed away in recent years.
Travis led roll call and set the bar of the conference, then established the agenda, noting their goal was to complete all balloting by lunch Thursday, Day Two of SEJ.
Next, Lake Junaluska Executive Director Ken Howle welcomed all to what he called “these sacred grounds” of Lake Junaluska, noting SEJ began meeting at Lake Junaluska in 1956.
He said Lake Junaluska was a neutral and uniting place of God, “a place where we can come together, put aside our differences and be in worship and fellowship together.”
Body to elect three bishops
Rob Martin then brought the report of the Committee on Plan of Organization and Rules of Order 2022, stating recommended changes include a revision to the number of members for the nominating committee and the tellers from a specific number that can fluctuate (currently set at 30) to the simpler two per annual conference, as conferences have merged and will likely to continue to do so. He also noted the name change from United Methodist Women to United Women in Faith.
Next, Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson brought nominations from the Council of Bishops, noting that Julie Hager Love will step in as new SEJ secretary starting Jan. 1, 2023, and noted the secretary designate after 2024 would be Kathy James.
Travis then provided balloting instructions and led the body in a test vote.
Steve Furr, Committee on Episcopacy chair, next recognized those bishops who retired in September 2021—Bishops Paul Leeland, Hope Morgan Ward, Mary Virginia “Dindy” Taylor and Lawson Bryan—as well as Swanson, who is requesting to retire Dec. 31.
Furr also introduced the COE’s recommendation on electing three instead of five bishops. He said their decision was not a quick one and involved looking at extensive data from the general church and the jurisdiction.
“We think three is the appropriate number of people to elect for the 2022-2024 term,” Furr said.
The vote, taken by hand at 11:45 a.m., passed overwhelmingly.
First ballot taken before lunch break
After a video showcasing the important ministry of Gulfside Assembly, the body participated in another test ballot—this one on favorite color. With a successful test complete, Swanson invited Bishop Ken Carder to lead prayer before the first ballot.
Carder did so, asking the Lord to grant all gathered “purity of motives, calmness of spirit, clarity of mind and unwavering commitment to God’s boundless love and relentless justice for all of creation.”
The first ballot, allowing people to vote for their choice of three episcopal nominees, was taken just before noon and closed at 12:07 p.m.
The body was dismissed for a lunch break, with a return of 2:15 p.m., when the ballot results will be read.
SEJ Elects First Bishop of Session
By Jessica Brodie
LAKE JUNALUSKA, North Carolina—“We have an election.”
With those words from Bishop David Graves, the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference welcomed its first episcopal election of the 2022 session, announcing Tom Berlin as the first-elected bishop.
Berlin, the nominee from the Virginia Conference, was elected on Ballot Four and received 213 of the 208 required votes, or 61.56 percent of the vote.
Berlin received a standing ovation from the room as he headed to the podium to speak on his election, thanking his wife, members of his church who made an eight-hour drive to support him, the other delegates for the ways they have formed his faith and helped in his sanctification, and the bishops who have enabled him to serve.
“You all have been such a great blessing to my life and to be elected as bishop is a singular great honor,” Berlin said. With a nod to the message from opening worship that morning, Berlin added, “We can do nothing without Christ and anything with Christ that Christ desires, and there is nothing good I’ve been a part of that I’ve done myself.
“It is oddly humbling to stand before you and accept this special assignment.”
Front-runners the Rev. Connie Shelton received 201 votes, the Rev. Ken Nelson 161, the Rev. Edith Gleaves 131 and Dr. Iosmar Alvarez 94, but none of these were enough for a second election on that ballot.
Ballots Five and Six also saw no election, as none of the nominees received the needed 210 votes for an election. Shelton, Nelson and Gleaves continued as the top three vote-getters on those ballots, with Alvarez the consistent fourth.
Ballot Seven was declared invalid. By Ballot Eight the slate had shrunk to eight names as candidates withdrew their names from consideration. Up for vote were Shelton, Nelson, Gleaves and Alvarez as well as Sharon Austin, Zachery Bowers, Sharon Bowers and Amy Coles.
The session broke for dinner and will announce results of Ballot Eight in the evening session.
Budget, name change and more
Beyond elections, Wednesday’s late-afternoon session also included approval of the budget put forth by SEJ’s Committee on Finance and Administration, presented by Frank Dunnewind. CFA recommended a $1.5 million budget for the 2021-2024 quadrennium (a reduction of 15.44 percent over the last quadrennium), apportioned to the annual conferences in the SEJ. CFA also so recommended the election of David Dommisse as treasurer again for 2021-2024.
CFA said the budgeted amount for 2021-2024 is projected to be “sufficient for the ongoing operational costs of the jurisdiction and its committees.”
SEJ also officially approved a name-change for the Red Bird Missionary Conference, which will now be called The Central Appalachian Missionary Conference. The Rev. Karen Stigall presented the proposal to change the name, citing their 100-plus-year history of serving the people of Central Appalachia, making disciples, providing Christian education, and facilitating fellowship in that region.
The vote passed overwhelmingly, and then Bishop Leonard E. Fairley prayed over the decision, thanking God for using ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
Also that afternoon, Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson presented nominations from the College of Bishops, and Stephanie Hand presented the oral report for the Committee on Program and Arrangements.
Prayers lifted
Among the highlights of the afternoon were the prayers lifted by various bishops before votes and the announcement of results.
Graves asked Bishop Will Willimon to lead the body in prayer before the results of Ballot Three were announced.
“Look preciously upon your church,” Willimon prayed to a chorus of amens. “Help us to endure your chastisement and baptize us afresh with the Holy Spirit so that, inspired, we might be the church you deserve. Make us bold to speak the truth to one another in love and to love the truth more than our cherished differences or our own placidity.”
And before the announcement of Ballot Four, Bishop J. Lawrence McCleskey offered a prayer, using words from Dr. Jack Harnish in his blessing.
“In a world torn and fragmented, help us to heal everything we touch, and help us to touch everything,” McCleskey said.
After a dinner break, SEJ will reconvene at 7:30 for Wednesday’s evening session.
Ballot 12 Provides Second Bishop-Elect
By Aimee Yeager
On Wednesday evening, as delegates returned to Stuart Auditorium for the day’s final business session, the white lights strung around a giant Christmas tree could be seen across the lake, the reflection shimmering in the water. An usher, in high spirits, called out in a sing-song voice, “Calling all delegates! Let’s elect some bishops!”
It 7:34 p.m. when presiding Bishop Leonard Fairley opened the evening session with the announcement of the results from ballot eight. There was no election during the eighth round of balloting.
The session moved forward with a report from the Agenda Committee by Bishop Swanson. On Wednesday afternoon, the Agenda Committee, organized earlier Wednesday morning, discussed whether the three resolutions presented Wednesday morning would come before the Conference. All three of the resolutions were presented by a progressive arm of the delegations seeking to move The United Methodist Church towards full inclusion of persons in the LGBTQ community.
The responsibilities of the Agenda Committee can be found on page 32 of the Advanced Daily Christian Advocate.
The Agenda Committee determined that all three of the resolutions were out of order and recommended that the resolutions not be printed or distributed to the delegation.
Carley Johnson, lay delegate from the Florida Conference, asked for an appeal of the committee recommendation. The body heard one speaker for this motion and one against.
Bishop Fairley first called for a vote on the request to appeal, which ultimately passed. Paper copies of the resolutions were distributed to the delegates, who were asked to consider the resolutions overnight. The resolutions will be heard and discussed during Thursday morning’s business session.
The business session continued with the ninth round of balloting.
While the results were being tabulated, the delegations saw a video from the Intentional Growth Center before Rev. Lisa Yebuah (North Carolina), Rev. Darryl Dayson (Western North Carolina), Bethany Harting (Kentucky), Maggie Taylor (Tennessee-Western Kentucky), and Sam England (Holston), took the stage for the Young Adults panel discussion on the future of The United Methodist Church.
Rev. Dayson described the place and time we find ourselves in right now as “pivitol” describing the work as “incredibly daunting, but also beautiful.”
“I think we’re in a ‘normal’ time,” says England. “It’s not a good or a bad time. This is a normal time. Both in the history of The United Methodist Church and in The Church, things have been in flux. Things are always changing….At times, I think we can be myopic and fail to situation our present in the church’s history. And that can be to our disadvantage.”
“In the spirit of not doing things the way we have always done things…” Bishop Fairley laughed as he paused the young adult panel to share the results of ballot nine.
“Marinate,” Bishop Fairley encouraged the delegations, “while we look at these ballots.”
During the ninth round of balloting, Rodrigo Cruz from the North Georgia Conference received 11 ballots (one vote more than the 10 needed to make the ballot.)
“This is a holy moment,” Rev. Cruz said, “and I don’t take it for granted that I am standing right here right now. That being said in the next 18 months, we have a lot of work ahead of us.”
While humbled and grateful for this display of love and confidence from those who voted for him, Rev. Cruz declined the nomination.
The full results for the ninth ballot are as follows:
- 352 valid ballots out of 352 ballots cast
- 212 ballots needed to elect
- Ballots Received:
- Connie Shelton – 198
- Edith Gleaves – 174
- Ken Nelson – 150
- Sharon Austin – 62
- Iosmar Alvarez – 57
- Amy Coles – 41
- Rodrigo Cruz - 11
Following Rev. Cruz’s speech, Bishop Fairley opened and closed ballot ten before returning to the young adult panel.
“The last two years have felt like an inflection point in our communities – in the world and in the church,” Rev. Yebuah reflected. “I think what was different was that we were not as distracted because we had to shelter in place, things slowed down, and so we paid attention to things differently. What are things we need to pay attention to now?”
“The mental and physical health of our clergy and lay people,” Taylor quickly replied. “We are wearing people down slowly and surely to where the church is no longer a place of respite, no longer a place of hope. We are obsessed with controlling people and have a deep desire to keep in place systems that require people to check a box. God does not have that box. If we were able to get rid of that box, we could get healthy and move forward as a vital church.”
Once again, Bishop Fairley, paused the panel discussion for the results of ballot ten, which were as follows:
- 350 valid ballots out of 350 total ballots cast
- 210 ballots needed to elect
- Ballots receive:
- Connie Shelton – 197
- Edith Gleaves – 178
- Ken Nelson – 148
- Sharon Austin – 74
- Iosmar Alvarez – 52
- Amy Coles – 43
There was no election from the tenth ballot.
As the clock ticked closer to the scheduled time for adjournment, Bishop Fairley asked the body if they would like to open one last ballot. The question received an overwhelming request to continue the vote. Following the will of the body, Bishop Fairley opened ballot eleven.
Rev. Yehbua continued the young adult panel discussion asking the panelists to share their dreams that feel possible for the Church, “What do you believe She is capable of being?”
“What gives me hope is my Conference,” shared Rev. Dayson. “That we can stand united and share our hopes of who God is calling us to be. As we decide who is leading and who is following, we’ve been able to do that in some really beautiful ways. And I know you all here feel the same way about your communities. You love the church.”
Sam England, a law student, shared, “As someone who spends the year studying law and political science, I reach May and June with an empty gas tank, but I show up summer after summer to work with children and youth that continually amaze me and they give me hope. I know we are divided, and I don’t have the solution. There are a lot of things I don’t know; but this I know, that out of the mouth of babes - who are anything but incompatible - comes prophecy, comes words that can take us beyond anything we can imagine. And if there is anyone here looking to find a fount of hope, I would say get involved in children and youth ministries.
“Our words create worlds,” said Rev Yebuah, who closed by offering up a blessing over the four young adults on the panel, asking the body to lift their hands over them.
The best days of The United Methodist Church are not behind us,” said Bishop Fairley, “they are in front of us. I hope that each of you deep down in your spirits were able to feel the hope. Even though we were stopping and starting [the panel discussion to vote,] the Holy Spirit was right there in the middle letting us know what really matters and what a gift we have been given.”
Results of ballot 11 are as follows:
- 350 valid ballots out of 350 total ballots cast
- 210 ballots needed to elect
- Ballots received:
- Connie Shelton – 206
- Edith Gleaves – 176
- Ken Nelson – 139
- Sharon Austin – 77
- Amy Coles – 50
- Iosmar Alvarez - 42
There was no election from the eleventh ballot.
The body elected to continue their work into the night to hear the monitor’s report and cast ballot 12.
While waiting for the results from the twelfth ballot, the delegations saw videos from Gammon Theological Seminary and Duke Divinity School.
Rev. Connie Shelton was elected as the 2nd new bishop for the Southeastern Jurisdiction during the twelfth round of balloting receiving 213 ballots of the 210 needed to elect.
“Thank you,” Rev. Shelton said as she expressed her gratitude to the delegates. “There are no words… SEJ, let’s not give up on one another. God is inviting us into this new way, through open hearts and open minds and open doors.”
The full results from ballot 12 are as follows:
- 349 valid ballots of 350 ballots cast
- 210 ballots needed to elect
- Ballots received:
- Connie Shelton – 213
- Edith Gleaves – 173
- Ken Nelson – 128
- Sharon Austin – 78
- Amy Coles – 52
- Iosmar Alvarez - 41
The business session closed at 9:34 p.m.
Youth panel discusses the future of the UMC. Photo: Derek Leek
Youth Panelists Share Hopes for the Future Church
by Aimee Yeager
During the Wednesday evening session of the SEJ Conference, Rev. Lisa Yebuah (North Carolina), Rev. Darryl Dayson (Western North Carolina), Bethany Harting (Kentucky), Maggie Taylor (Tennessee-Western Kentucky), and Sam England (Holston), all delegates to the Conference, took the stage for the Young Adults panel discussion on the future of The United Methodist Church.
“In the spirit of not doing things the way we have always done things…” presiding bishop Bishop Leonard Fairley laughed, he paused the young adult panel periodically to take ballots and receive results. “Marinate,” Bishop Fairley encouraged the delegations, “while we look at these ballots.”
Starting the panel discussion, Rev. Dayson described the place and time we find ourselves in right now as “pivitol” describing the work as “incredibly daunting, but also beautiful.”
“I think we’re in a ‘normal’ time,” says England. “It’s not a good or a bad time. This is a normal time. Both in the history of The United Methodist Church and in The Church, things have been in flux. Things are always changing….At times, I think we can be myopic and fail to situation our present in the church’s history. And that can be to our disadvantage.”
“The last two years have felt like an inflection point in our communities – in the world and in the church,” Rev. Yebuah reflected. “I think what was different was that we were not as distracted because we had to shelter in place, things slowed down, and so we paid attention to things differently. What are things we need to pay attention to now?”
“The mental and physical health of our clergy and lay people,” Taylor quickly replied. “We are wearing people down slowly and surely to where the church is no longer a place of respite, no longer a place of hope. We are obsessed with controlling people and have a deep desire to keep in place systems that require people to check a box. God does not have that box. If we were able to get rid of that box, we could get healthy and move forward as a vital church.”
Rev. Yehbua continued the young adult panel discussion asking the panelists to share their dreams that feel possible for the church, “What do you believe She is capable of being?”
“What gives me hope is my Conference,” shared Rev. Dayson. “That we can stand united and share our hopes of who God is calling us to be. As we decide who is leading and who is following, we’ve been able to do that in some really beautiful ways. And I know you all here feel the same way about your communities. You love the church.”
Sam England, a law student, shared, “As someone who spends the year studying law and political science, I reach May and June with an empty gas tank, but I show up summer after summer to work with children and youth that continually amaze me and they give me hope. I know we are divided, and I don’t have the solution. There are a lot of things I don’t know; but this I know, that out of the mouth of babes - who are anything but incompatible - comes prophecy, comes words that can take us beyond anything we can imagine. And if there is anyone here looking to find a fount of hope, I would say get involved in children and youth ministries.
“Our words create worlds,” said Rev Yebuah, who closed by offering up a blessing over the four young adults on the panel, asking the body to lift their hands over them.
The best days of The United Methodist Church are not behind us,” said Bishop Fairley, “they are in front of us. I hope that each of you deep down in your spirits were able to feel the hope. Even though we were stopping and starting [the panel discussion to vote,] the Holy Spirit was right there in the middle letting us know what really matters and what a gift we have been given.”
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3 | Nov. 3 Daily Christian Advocate
Worship band and vocalists at the SEJ Conference. Photo: Ben Smith
SEJ Thursday Morning Brings Strong Word but No Election
By Jessica Brodie
LAKE JUNALUSKA, North Carolina—Day Two of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference started with much hope there would be the third and final episcopal election that morning. But after two invalid votes and the withdrawal from the slate of one nominee, Iosmar Alvarez, the session closed with a vote on Ballot 15 but no results.
Presiding Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson, North Georgia Area, called the Thursday morning session to order after a worship service preached by Bishop R. Lawson Bryan.
Embracing mysticism
In his message, Bryan lifted up the great “mystery” of God’s secret plan and urged all gathered to embrace that mystery as they strive to remain refreshed in the Lord.
Refreshment is key to everything, Bryan reminded the body, from relationships, business and community life to good preaching, yet we often go around feeling tired and worried, not refreshed.
Yet even in a time of much turmoil— political polarization, a pandemic, racial reckoning, economic ups and downs, one nation invading another—we must remember the apostle Paul also experienced difficulty, and he was able to persevere by embracing what really seized his heart: the beautiful mystery of God’s secret plan to unite the Jews and the Gentiles as God’s people.
We should do the same, Bryan urged.
“Is there any arena of life that does not benefit from refreshment?” he asked. “A mystery is not to be figured out but is to be lived.”
All sang Charles Wesley’s hymn “And Can It Be” to close the service.
Ballots 13-15
Haupert-Johnson began the morning business session calling for prayer from retired Bishop Young Jin Cho, who called for a time of silence and stillness before the Lord.
“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth in this place today, and in all other jurisdictional conferences, as it is in heaven,” Cho prayed.
Conference Secretary Anne Travis next offered a moment of deep appreciation for the young adult panelists who spoke the evening prior. While the balloting during their discussion might have felt choppy, it was intentionally orchestrated and provided them more time to dialogue had they not designed it this way.
Before Ballot 13, Haupert-Johnson requested prayer again, this one from South Carolina clergy delegate the Rev. Will Malambri. Malambri lifted up the Spirit of God that moves like a wind and blows through this place, asking that God fit us all for faithful service so “our bones live abundantly for you, and our hearts, heads and hands work for you.”
Following the prayer, Alvarez approached the microphone, thanked all for their support and withdrew his name from the slate of episcopal nominees.
Ballot 13, which contained his name, became invalid, and Haupert-Johnson called for Ballot 14. However, that ballot also was invalid, as it called for a vote of two people, not one.
Ballot 15 came at 10:45, just before the memorial service. Business will resume at 2 p.m. after a lunch break.
Robin Dease is the third bishop-elect in the Southeastern Jurisdiction. Photo: Matt Brodie
‘You are my family’ Dr. Robin Dease elected SEJ’s third bishop
By Jessica Brodie
LAKE JUNALUSKA, North Carolina—It took the entire afternoon and into the evening, but on the 25th ballot of the 2022 session, the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference elected South Carolina’s Dr. Robin Dease as its third and final bishop.
Dease’s 206 votes put her over the edge in the election, which had been close most of the day as she and South Carolina nominee the Rev. Ken Nelson were closely tied, sometimes with Nelson in the lead and sometimes Dease.
Swallowing back tears, Bishop-Elect Dease thanked the body for the honor, noting her parents had all joined the Church Triumphant and most of her 13 siblings as well, with those remaining physically incapable of being there.
“But you are my family,” she said to resounding applause. Then, looking to Nelson in the audience, she added, “And Ken is my brother and my friend.”
Throughout her career, whenever she had the opportunity to lead or serve somewhere new, she’d run home to her parents and celebrate the news, whether that was running an account, graduating from seminary, getting appointed to a church, or becoming a district superintendent.
“They’d say, ‘Now don’t go down there and make us shamed,’” Dease said. Looking again to the room standing in her honor, she said, “My commitment to you is: I will never make you shamed.”
Long day of elections
Dease’s election was by some accounts a surprise, as she was a write-in nominee whose name first appeared on Ballot One Wednesday morning, Nov. 2, after which she declined the nomination.
In declining Wednesday, she’d elaborated on some of her views, noting, “I want to be transparent: I do not believe homosexuality is a sin. I do believe that same-gender-loving persons can love and marry. I also believe they can be called by God, ordained and serve our churches well,” Dease said. “But you also need to know this is not the only issue we face as a church.”
Dease cited several concerns that impact the church, including the Black church, other brothers and sisters of color, the elderly and the young.
“I believe in building bridges, not tearing them down.”
On Thursday, Nov. 3, in a session presided over by South Carolina Resident Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, South Carolina, the early afternoon saw the slate dwindle to four, the Rev. Ken Nelson and the Rev. Edith Gleaves, as well as two write-in candidates, Dr. Zachery Beasley from the Mississippi Conference and Dr. Robin Dease from South Carolina. The Rev. Sharon G. Austin, The Rev. Sharon Bowers and The Rev. Amy Coles all withdrew their names from the slate early Thursday afternoon, as did Dr. Byron Thomas, who had been voted back on the slate and then withdrew a second time.
By 5 p.m., with the withdrawal of Gleaves, the slate contained just three names—Nelson, Dease and Beasley.
Ballots 15-25 were held throughout the afternoon as the slate appeared to nearly even out among Dease, Gleaves and Nelson, each garnering roughly a third of the total votes. Between ballots, the body watched videos on various agencies, college and retired bishops.
Several stood to call out issues of both racism and rumor-mongering among the delegates that they believe were interfering with the voting process, urging the people to stop contaminating the process.
As Thomas stated to applause, practicing the lordship of Christ is different from believing in Christ.
“We can’t do whatever we want to and call it Jesus,” Thomas said. “I ask this body please not to put out any salacious information about people in order to get our candidate across the line.”
Midway through voting, after results of Ballot 19 had been announced, Holston asked to be recused from presiding because two of the nominees were members of his conference, South Carolina. He invited Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett to lead in his stead.
Body votes down motion for four bishops instead of three
Next, under Wallace-Padgett’s presiding, Steve McAlilly, lay delegate from Mississippi, stood and acknowledged the voting impasse, which he said “concerns and grieves me deeply.”
In an effort to remedy this as well as racial concerns and workload troubles, he made a motion to reconsider the election of three bishops, instead changing the number to four.
“I’m an old White guy, and I grieve the damage we’ve done over the years in the name of God,” McAlilly said. “God is the God of what-ifs … what if we elected two more bishops and began to right some of the wrongs done over the years?”
Robert Grizzard, Florida lay reserve delegate, spoke against the reconsideration, noting this might not be an impasse but a flexing point. He also questioned whether it was in order to do this so late in the voting process—that is, that it should have been reconsidered before any voting was done.
Wallace-Padgett read Rule 27 aloud and ruled it was indeed in order.
The chair of the Committee on Episcopacy, Steve Furr, noted it would cost about $1 million over the quadrennium to fund an additional bishop.
Grizzard appealed the ruling of Wallace-Padgett, but the appeal failed.
Then Wallace-Padgett called the vote on reconsideration, which also failed. The number of bishops will remain at three.
Immediately after this, Ballot 20 was held, then Ballot 21. Neither resulted in an election.
After Ballot 21, Gleaves withdrew her name from the slate, citing a wish to help the conference move forward—hopefully to a better day and a better time.
“It has been an honor,” Gleaves said. “It also breaks my heart to see how far we haven’t come. We’ve come a mighty long way, and we’ve got a mighty long way to go. I believe someday we’ll get there because this church belongs to Jesus Christ and not to us.”
Ballots 22-25 continued throughout the late afternoon, and Dease’s election came at 6:07 p.m.
Hope in the storm
SEJ also took time to lift up prayer, compassion and awareness for those impacted by recent storms, including the devastating floods in Kentucky and Hurricane Ian in southwest Florida.
Florida Bishop Kenneth Carter stood to offer prayer about the disasters as well as in the SEJ balloting process, thanking God for being among us in midst of the storm.
Kentucky Bishop Leonard Fairley also offered prayer, noting he’s never been so grateful for the green shirts of disaster responders. Church is at its best when helping those who are hurting, Fairley added.
“There is hope even in the midst of the storm,” Fairley prayed.
SEJ will continue Thursday after a dinner break with the evening session.
The Justice and Empowerment Resolution was passed after one word was amended. Photo: Ben Smith
SEJ Passes Three Resolutions in Evening Session
By Jessica Brodie
LAKE JUNALUSKA, North Carolina—With episcopal elections finished, delegates to the 2022 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference turned their attention to three resolutions, ultimately passing all of them Thursday night even amid much debate and a peaceful protest on the floor.
The three resolutions—“Leading with Integrity,” “Queer Delegates’ Call to Center Justice and Empowerment for LGBTQIA+ People in the UMC” and “Resolution in Support of a U.S. Regional Conference”—had previously been submitted for consideration by the SEJ’s newly created Agenda Committee. However, that committee recommended on Wednesday that the resolutions not be considered by the body, believing them to violate a jurisdictional rule or process or exceeding authority set forth in the Book of Discipline.
The body disagreed, voting 222-128 to appeal the committee’s decision and allow the resolutions be considered Thursday when episcopal elections were complete.
Under presiding Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, the submitters of each resolution were called forward to explain the details so the body could more thoroughly understand what they were voting upon.
Leading with Integrity
“Leading with Integrity,” submitted by Tennessee lay delegate Jim Allen and newly elected Bishop Robin Dease, South Carolina, passed without amendment.
The resolution urges those who intend to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church to recuse themselves from leadership roles in the UMC in an effort to move forward in fairness and integrity. It also encourages annual conference boards to develop codes of conduct to manage conflicts of interest.
Speaking for Allen, who was in a meeting of the Committee on Episcopacy, Tennessee-Western Kentucky lay delegate Tom Lee said the church can no longer finance the attack on its own institutions from within.
”If you are leaving, God bless you, go with grace, but we will not let you burn the house down on the way out the door,” Lee said.
He emphasized that the resolution is an aspirational one with nothing mandatory or directive.
The Rev. Fitzgerald Lovett, clergy reserve delegate from the Mississippi Conference, moved to amend the resolution by adding to those who are encouraged to recuse “those who intend to intentionally violate the Book of Discipline.”
The motion to amend failed.
Michael Cheatham, South Carolina lay delegate, was one of those who gave a speech against the resolution. Noting he is a lifelong United Methodist whose great-great-grandfather as a circuit rider, Cheatham said, he supports the current language in the Book of Discipline on sexuality.
“There is no path for me to leave my United Methodist Church other than closing down and losing a million in a half dollars’ worth of property,” he said, adding, that the church has voted but it’s the bishops and annual conferences who have refused to accept the vote. “Paragraph 2553 was written for churches who disagree with the Discipline, not written for people like me.”
After speeches for and against the original resolution, the vote was called and the resolution passed.
Justice and Empowerment for LGBTQIA+ People
“Queer Delegates’ Call to Center Justice and Empowerment for LGBTQIA+ People in the UMC,” submitted by nine queer delegates in the SEJ, passed with one amendment changing a word in the resolution from “commit” to “aspire” in an effort to make the resolution more aspirational for the SEJ and, therefore, legal.
The resolution urges the SEJ to support LGBTQIA+ people, affirm a moratorium on lawsuits and complaints surrounding sexual orientation, not pursue (or resolve in a non-punitive and just manner) complaints against bishops around their sexual orientation or who officiate LGBTQIA+ weddings, and support elections of bishops who uphold this.
Helen Ryde, lay delegate from Western North Carolina Conference who spoke on behalf of the submitters, said queer people have been doing the work many years but were always “hidden away in stained glass closets.”
“We don’t want special treatment. We want to be seen as fully human. Some of you don’t know what it’s like to stand at a microphone and ask for this,” Ryde said, “Will you accept our full humanity, our call, our marriages?”
Holston ruled the resolution out of order because its language seemed to call the SEJ to violate the Discipline.
However, as he prepared to move to the next resolution before the body, a peaceful protest began on the floor. Several submitters and supporters of the resolution stood in solidarity, some standing directly in front of the stage where the bishop sat. One man asked for a rule of law objecting to Holston’s decision, and some threw their credentials onstage and walked out of Stuart Auditorium. Others gathered up front in protest.
Holston called for a short recess. When the session resumed, Florida lay delegate Matt Daly offered an amendment changing a word in the resolution, asking the SEJ to “commit” to this effort to, instead, asking the SEJ to “aspire” to it.
The amendment passed, and then the question was called.
The amended resolution passed to much applause.
A U.S. Regional Conference
“Resolution in Support of a U.S. Regional Conference,” submitted by the Rev. Lisa Yebuah, North Carolina clergy delegate, and Martha E. Stokes, Virginia lay delegate, also passed, though like the others, with much debate.
The resolution urges the SEJ to support proposals and expedite processes to help create a regional conference and support the Christmas Covenant and the Connectional Table’s proposals in that vein.
Yebuah said the resolution comes after a realization that “we are incredibly western and U.S.-centric in the way we do our work.”
Some spoke against the amendment, including the Rev. Tiwirai Kufarimai, a clergy delegate from the North Alabama Conference originally hailing from Zimbabwe, who said the SEJ doesn’t need to vote for Africans; they can vote for themselves.
“Africans the have power to vote, and we don’t want you to vote on our issues. We want to vote on our issues,” he said.
Odell Horne, lay delegate from the North Georgia Conference, said the resolution would “only further support White supremacy in The United Methodist Church.”
The Rev. Magrey deVega, clergy delegate from the Florida Conference, spoke for the resolution, noting it “offers an exciting and hopeful vision of The United Methodist Church,” affirming our unity across the world and shows us how to be the church amid a changing global landscape.
The hand vote was close, so the question was called by electronic ballot. The resolution passed 203-115.
Task Force Proposed
Also during the session, a motion was posted onscreen for the body. That motion, proposed by The Rev. Jeremy Troxler, clergy delegate from the WNC Conference, would establish a task force to study the impact of racial bias in the episcopal nomination and election process.
The language states that the task force be created “to study the impact of racial bias in the process of selection of Episcopal Committee potential reforms to the process that might reduce the harmful effects of racial bias in the nomination and selection process for episcopal candidate; furthermore, that such a task force be composed of greater than 50 percent representation from under-represented groups; and that the task force interview recent and past episcopal candidates to hear of their experiences and to solicit their input.”
The Rev. Esther Rodriguez-Perez, clergy delegate for the Florida Conference, amended the motion, recommending that those on the task force be given an honorarium and reimbursed for travel expenses. The amendment was approved and then sent to the Committee on Finance and Administration.
Celebration of Retiring Bishops
Next, Bishop Kenneth Carter took the stage to usher in a special Celebration of Retiring Bishops—the four SEJ bishops who retired in 2021 and Bishop James Swanson, who will retire in December.
Calling it a “really significant ritual,” Carter asked the bishops and their spouses to stand as they were recognized:
- Swanson, and his wife, Delphine, who was elected in 2004 and will retire in 2022;
- Hope Morgan Ward and her husband, Mike, elected in 2004 and retired in 2021;
- Mary Virginia Taylor and her husband, Rusty, elected in 2004 and retired in 2021;
- Paul Leeland and his wife, Janet, elected in 2008 and retired in 2021; and
- Lawson Bryan and his wife, Sherrill, elected in 2016 and retired in 2021.
A brief personal introduction and video were then shared for each bishop celebrating their service.
Tomorrow’s plan
The evening ended with annual conference celebrations. The conference will end Friday morning, Nov. 4, with a modified scheduled. The body will gather at 9 a.m. in session to handle unfinished business, including hearing from the Committee on Episcopacy on assignments.
The consecration service will be at 10:30 a.m. to close the conference.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4 | Nov. 4 Daily Christian Advocate
Three bishops were consecrated on Friday in the closing service of the Southeastern Jurisdiction Conference. Photo: Ben Smith
Bishop Assignments Revealed at Final Business Session; Bishop Consecrecation Closes Conference
By Jessica Brodie
LAKE JUNALUSKA, North Carolina—It’s official: the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference will keep Bishop Bill McAlilly as its episcopal leader through 2024.
Hundreds from around the region gathered Friday, Nov. 4, for the final session of the 2022 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church, which handled a few remaining items of business before announcing much-anticipated episcopal assignments and then consecrated the SEJ’s three newly elected bishops.
Cheers resounded through Stuart Auditorium after Steve Furr, chair of the SEJ Committee on Episcopacy, announced the assignments, which they had worked on until 2 a.m. the night before.
“They are tired, but they are joyous,” said presiding Bishop Kenneth Carter, applauding their hard work.
The SEJ’s newest bishops are Tom Berlin (Virginia Conference, elected on Ballot 4), Dr. Connie Shelton (Mississippi Conference, elected on Ballot 12) and South Carolina’s Dr. Robin Dease (elected late Thursday on Ballot 25).
The assignments are as follows and will begin Jan. 1, 2023:
- Alabama-West Florida: Bishop David Graves
- Florida Conference: Bishop Tom Berlin
- Holston Conference: Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett
- Kentucky and Central Appalachian Missionary Conferences: Bishop Leonard Fairley
- Mississippi Conference: Bishop Sharma Lewis
- North Alabama Conference: Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett
- North Carolina Conference: Bishop Connie Shelton
- North Georgia Conference: Bishop Robin Dease
- South Carolina Conference: Bishop L. Jonathan Holston
- South Georgia Conference: Bishop David Graves
- Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference: Bishop Bill McAlilly
- Virginia Conference: Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson
- Western North Carolina Conference: Bishop Ken Carter
Task force to study racial bias approved
The morning started at 9 a.m. with an abbreviated business session to handle a few items of business.
Carter began by reding a prayer penned by his mentor, the late Tom Langford, former dean of Duke Divinity School.
“Oh, God, your intention to give exceeds our readiness to receive. Your boundless love is restricted by our small vessels. Your generosity far exceeds our reception. Your richness is restrained by our poverty of expectation. Your expansiveness is channeled through our small hearts. Enlarge our capacity, increase our receptivity, open us to our full life and make us more able to receive your generous grace,” Carter prayed.
Next, he called to the podium SEJ Committee on Finance and Administration’s Frank Dunnewind to address what Carter called the amended “Troxler motion,” which had been referred to CFA the day prior.
That motion, proposed by The Rev. Jeremy Troxler, clergy delegate from the WNC Conference, would establish a task force to study the impact of racial bias in the episcopal nomination and election process. It would comprise greater than 50 percent representation from under-represented groups, plus interview recent and past episcopal candidates to hear their experiences and solicit their input. The Rev. Esther Rodriguez-Perez, clergy delegate for the Florida Conference, added a friendly amendment recommending an honorarium and travel expense reimbursement go to those on the task force. The amendment was approved and then sent to CFA.
Dunnewind said CFA met yesterday and determined there are funds available in the COE budget line to accommodate the motion with funding through the end of the 2021-2024 quadrennium.
“So in essence, CF&A supports the motion,” Dunnewind said.
Both Troxler and Rodriguez spoke in support of this response. The vote was called, and the body overwhelmingly approved the amended motion to create the task force.
Comfort and self-awareness
Next, Florida lay delegate Carlene Johnson gave the report of the Journal Committee, noting they have certified the minutes of yesterday’s session, and they will be in the journal.
Then Jennifer Davis, WNC lay delegate, took the stage for a second monitoring exercise, asking the body to vote on 10 questions. They plan to print the results of the responses in the conference journal with suggestions for how people can use this information.
“This was intended to be a self-reflective exercise to raise self-awareness and give suggestions on how to be comfortable with people or in situations where you are not always comfortable,” Davis said.
The questions were as follows:
- Have you had an opportunity to engage in conversation with others you did not know?
- Did you initiate the conversation or were you approached by someone else?
- How comfortable were you during the conversation?
- Do you feel your thoughts and opinions were respected and accepted by others?
- Did you learn something about yourself or others that will enhance your faith journey as a disciple of Jesus Christ?
- Have you gained helpful knowledge about the issues facing the church today?
- Do you feel better equipped/prepared to share your knowledge, thoughts and feelings with others who may differ from you in appearance and/or beliefs?
- Will you seek to engage in difficult conversations with others when you return to your home state
- Have you been aware of our efforts to be inclusive and embrace the diversity of our conference in worship and administration?
- Do you consider the self-monitoring process to be helpful enough that we should continue its use?
All voted.
“I think monitoring sometimes carries a negative tone with it, but it is very important,” Davis said, noting it calls us to notice people who may not be participating, whether because they are afraid, unsure, uncomfortable or some other reason. “My goal for myself and for all you is to be good with who you are wherever you are. I felt a great deal of pain yesterday, but I also experienced a great deal of joy.”
Davis said she is Black but also Native American and White, and if she were a dog she’d be called a mutt.
“But this I know: God loves me.”
Following this, Conference Secretary Anne Travis announced the totals for the offerings collected at SEJ. She said the offering for United Methodist Committee on Relief and Native American Ministries totaled $3,475 to date, and they are still receiving checks. She said the offering for pages was a little more than $4,000.
Carter then invited Furr and the COE to the stage for the episcopal assignments. These were announced to much applause, then officially affirmed by the body at 9:48 a.m.
Consecration service
At 10:30 a.m. the body gathered again for the Consecration of Bishops, with Bishop Paul L. Leeland preaching and Bishop Hope Morgan Ward consecrating.
Drawing from the day’s Scriptures, Isaiah 61:1-4, Colossians 1:15-20, Colossians 1:25-29 and Mark 10:35-45, Leeland brought a message on “To Admonish and To Teach.”
Leeland focused on the apostle Paul’s reminder that, because we follow Jesus Christ, we become servants. That is the crux and most important part of our service and of the consecration of these bishop.
“The church is about Jesus Christ, not about our organizational development, not about leadership initiatives, ordination or commissioning or even conferences; it’s about Christ,” Leeland said.
It’s why bishops were elected: to admonish, teach and present everyone perfect in Christ.
He said the world is gripped in anger, brokenness, darkness, chaos, confusion and evil. The world at this moment yearns in the darkness to see a great light, for original sin is the one thing that unites all of us.
“It’s not a matter of if you lead or not—it’s whether you do it well or not,” Leeland said.
He noted that when David was first consecrated, we’re told the Spirit of God rushed upon him. He hopes the same will happen for the bishops consecrated that day,
“This is the mystery: Christ in you,” Leeland said. “Go and lead.”
The examination of the newly elected bishops came next, followed by prayer and the laying-on of hands, before Bishop Ward presented the newly consecrated bishops to the body.
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