Key points:
- Delegates added a host of new faces to the groups that make important decisions for The United Methodist Church.
- The final slate of the 25 people elected May 2 to the Commission on the General Conference included one youth member. The Rev. Aleze M. Fulbright was elected secretary-designate of the commission.
- Church members were elected to the University Senate, the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters, general boards and agencies, and the board of trustees for the historic John Street United Methodist Church in New York.
General Conference has elected more than 175 people to a variety of commissions and councils, including the Commission on the General Conference, the topic of heavy dialogue earlier in the week regarding youth representation.
Delegates began elections in the afternoon of May 1 and concluded May 2, adding a host of fresh faces to the groups that make important decisions for The United Methodist Church.
Two days prior, when the body first addressed nominations for elected office April 29, delegate Ian Urriola of the Upper New York Conference requested a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council regarding the required membership of the Commission on the General Conference.
Urriola noted a lack of youth among the nominees and asked the court what the body should do, as Book of Discipline Paragraph 511.1 a and b mandate that a youth be among the commission’s nominees.
Later that day, the denomination’s top court issued its ruling: If no youth are represented among the nominees, then the General Conference is requested to identify, nominate and elect “at least one youth who meets those qualifications set forth.”
The next day, the body reopened nominations for the Commission on General Conference to allow for nominations of youth.
Delegates Maggie Taylor of the Tennessee Conference and Connor Prusha of the East Ohio Conference presented six youth names for consideration, and two others were proposed from the floor: Landon Balmos-Ruddock (West Ohio), Kaneza Channelle (Burundi), Kaitlyn Coakley (North Georgia), Kenani Kaira (Zambia), Anastasia Mykhtoniuk (Ukraine-Moldova Provisional), Amisi Ngongo (East Congo), Dave Uriel (Central Luzon Philippines) and Konrad Westad (Norway).
The final slate of the 25 people elected May 2 to the Commission on the General Conference did, indeed, include one youth member.
The slate of those elected follows:
Class of 2028:
- Godelieve Manirakiza (Africa Central Conference)
- Robert Shakikupe Kilembo (Congo Central Conference)
- Michel Djonga Kasongo (Congo Central Conference)
- Andrew Call (North Central Jurisdiction)
- Dawn Taylor-Storm (Northeastern Jurisdiction)
- Veli Loponen (Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference)
- Ra’Gene DeAndre Johnson (South Central Jurisdiction)
- Ellen Beasley (Southeastern Jurisdiction)
- Isa Dunah (West Africa Central Conference)
- Monalisa Salakielu Tuitahi (Western Jurisdiction)
- Landon Balmos-Ruddock (West Ohio, Youth)
Class of 2032:
- Togara Bobo (Africa Central Conference)
- Shepherd Mpemba (Africa Central Conference)
- Lea Hafner (Central and Southern Europe Central Conference)
- Betty Musau Kazadi (Congo Central Conference)
- Germain Mupasa (Congo Central Conference)
- Werner Philipp (Germany Central Conference)
- Luis Reyes-Rosario (North Central Jurisdiction)
- Lydia Muñoz (Northeastern Jurisdiction)
- Rommel Montiel (Philippines Central Conference)
- Karli Pidgeon (South Central Jurisdiction)
- Jasmine Rose Smothers (Southeastern Jurisdiction)
- Muriel Nelson (West Africa Central Conference)
- Emma Austin (Western North Carolina Conference, Young Adult)
- Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey (appointed, ex officio)
“Your General Commission has been elected,” Presiding Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett said to applause when voting finished.
Wallace-Padgett clarified that while none of the youth nominees was a seated delegate, that issue will be addressed.
General Conference Secretary the Rev. Gary Graves noted that a vacant seat on the commission will belong to the chair of the local host committee, so when that information is known, the seat will be filled.
The Commission on the General Conference has responsibility for overseeing the preparation for the sessions of the General Conference, including selecting the site and dates, planning the orders of the day, working to assure full participation of all delegates, and producing the Advance Edition of the Daily Christian Advocate and the Daily Christian Advocate.
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Secretary-designate elected
The day prior, the body elected the secretary-designate of the General Conference, the Rev. Aleze M. Fulbright. The election required no ballot, as Fulbright was the only nominee, so Presiding Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey declared her the secretary-designate.
Harvey called Fulbright to the stage so General Conference could welcome her.
Nominated by the Council of Bishops, Fulbright is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church who serves as a superintendent in the Central and West districts of the Indiana Conference. Before entering full-time ministry in 2008, she was the assistant controller for the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Inc.
Four elected to University Senate
Beyond these elections, delegates elected four people to the University Senate, an elected body of professionals in higher education that evaluates United Methodist-related schools.
Delegates elected two CEOs to the body: Bishop Grant Hagiya (president, Claremont School of Theology) and the Rev. Candace Lewis (president and dean, Gammon Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center).
They also elected two in the category of “Other Positions Relevant to Academic or Financial Affairs or Church Relationships”: Lisa Garvin (chaplain, Southern Methodist University) and Kim Ingram (director of ministerial services, Western North Carolina Conference).
John Street Church trustees
General Conference also elected a group of people to serve on the board of trustees for the historic John Street United Methodist Church, New York, the oldest Methodist congregation in North America, founded on Oct. 12, 1766.
The body elected with a simple “yes” vote (651-44) the following, all from New York: Alan Stapler, Manhattan; Jim Hohenstein, Manhattan; Jay Cardwell, Peconic; Rosalie Bonner, Manhattan; Jackie Landler, Longmont Island City; Ray Rogers, Sea Cliff; Andrew Bain, Brooklyn; Scott Slobodnyak, Manhattan; and Sheryl Parkinson, Manhattan; with the resident bishop of the New York Conference as an ex officio member.
Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters
As with the trustees for John Street, the body elected the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters members 641-29 on one ballot with a simple “yes” vote.
Nominated by the Council of Bishops:
Bishops:
- Bishop Gaspar Domingos (Africa Central Conference)
- Bishop Stefan Zürcher (Central and Southern Europe Central Conference)
- Bishop Mande Muyombo (Congo Central Conference)
- Bishop Harald Rückert (Germany Central Conference) until 2025, after the election of the newly elected bishop
- Bishop Christian Alsted (Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference) until 2025, after the election of the new bishop
- To be determined (West Africa Central Conference)
- Bishop Ruby-Nell Estrella (Philippines Central Conference)
- Bishop Hee-Soo Jung (North Central Jurisdiction)
- Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton (Northeastern Jurisdiction)
- Bishop Laura Merrill (South Central Jurisdiction)
- Bishop James Swanson (Southeastern Jurisdiction)
- Bishop Minerva Carcaño (Western Jurisdiction)
- Bishop Harald Rückert (Central Conference Bishop of the Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships)
Laity:
- Manuel Sebastião Rodrigues (Africa Central Conference)
- Leonarda Edome Simbine Sambo (Africa Central Conference)
- Thomas Fux (Central and Southern Europe Central Conference)
- Gabriel Otshudi Dikete (Congo Central Conference)
- Henoc Malenge Mwenze (Congo Central Conference)
- André Günther (Germany Central Conference)
- Ināra Avotiņa (Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference)
- Nimia Peralta (Philippines Central Conference)
- Virginia Bambur (West Africa Central Conference)
- Nadia R. Kanhai (North Central Jurisdiction)
- Fred Brewington (Northeastern Jurisdiction)
- Jill Wondel (South Central Jurisdiction)
- Derrick Scott III (Southeastern Jurisdiction)
- Mele Maka (Western Jurisdiction)
Clergy:
- Gift Kudakwashe Machinga (Africa Central Conference)
- Moses Maina Kariuki (Africa Central Conference)
- Andrzej Malicki (Central and Southern Europe Central Conference)
- Jørgen Thaarup (Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference)
- Pitshi Ngoy Kazadi (Congo Central Conference)
- Anne-Marie Detjen (Germany Central Conference)
- Joseph Estadilla (Philippines Central Conference)
- Francis Charley (West Africa Central Conference)
- Nelly W. Wright (West Africa Central Conference)
- Deanna Stickley-Miner (North Central Jurisdiction)
- Gary Weaver (Northeastern Jurisdiction)
- Amy Lippoldt (South Central Jurisdiction)
- Leanne Burris (Southeastern Jurisdiction)
- Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan (Western Jurisdiction)
Nominated by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries:
- Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson (bishop)
- Glenn Paraso (laity)
- Dan Bryant (clergy)
General agencies
Finally, General Conference elected 650-27 on one simple “yes” ballot those people nominated
by the Council of Bishops for general boards and agencies.
General Council on Finance and Administration
- Bishop David Graves (Council of Bishops)
- Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton (Council of Bishops)
- Francisco Bernardo Neto (Africa Region)
- Kai-Uwe Dannenberg (Europe Region)
- Regan De Guzman (Philippines Region)
- Bill Brownson (NCJ)
- Danita Anderson (NCJ)
- William Williams (NEJ)
- Ken Ow (NEJ)
- Reggie Clemons (SCJ)
- John Esquivel (SCJ)
- Sheila Ahler (SEJ)
- Stephen Love (SEJ)
- LaToya Redd Thompson (SEJ)
- Alex Shanks (SEJ)
- Samuel Hong (WJ)
General Board of Church and Society
- Bishop Daniel Lunge (COB, Congo CC)
- Bishop LaTrelle Easterling (COB)
- Bishop Robin Dease (COB)
- Maria de Lourdes de Carvalho (Africa Region)
- Tilmann Sticher (Germany CC)
- Joel Bengbeng (Philippines CC)
General Board of Discipleship
- Bishop Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez (COB)
- Bishop Daniel Wandabula (COB, Africa Region)
- Caleb Kanyimb Mbaz (Africa Region)
- John Manalo (Philippines Region)
General Board of Global Ministries
- Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth (COB, WJ)
- Bishop David Wilson (COB, SCJ)
- Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson (COB, SEJ)
- Bishop Joaquina Nhanala (COB, Africa Region)
- Bishop Israel Painit (COB, Philippines Region)
General Board of Higher Education and Ministry
- Bishop Rodel M. Acdal (COB, Philippines Region)
- Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai (COB, NCJ)
- Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball (COB, NEJ)
- Chipeng Kayemb Francois (Africa Region)
- Christof Voigt (Europe Region)
General Board of Pension and Health Benefits (Wespath)
- Bishop Robert Schnase (COB, SCJ)
- Bishop Tom Berlin (COB, SEJ)
- Isaac Broune (West Africa CC)
- Celeste Eubanks (SEJ)
- Lynn Miller-Jackson (WJ)
The United Methodist Publishing House
- Bishop Rudy Juan (COB, Philippines CC)
- Bishop Bill McAlilly (COB, SEJ)
- John Yambasu Jr. (Africa Region)
- Ueli Frei (Europe Region)
General Commission on Archives and History
- Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey (COB, SCJ)
- Newly elected central conference bishop (COB)
- Shepherd Machuma (Africa CC)
- Michael Weitzel (Europe Region)
- Carol Noren (NCJ)
- Stephanie Bennett (NEJ)
- Sam Smith (NEJ)
- Ted Campbell (SCJ)
- Chris Brown (SCJ)
- Jerome Del Pino (SEJ)
- Anne Packard (SEJ)
- Stephen Yale (WJ)
General Commission on Communication
- Bishop Robert Farr (COB)
- Newly elected central conference bishop (COB)
- Roque Facela (Africa Region)
- Annie Grace Chingonzo (Africa Region)
- Betty Musau Kazadi (Africa Region)
- Karl Anders Ellingsen (Europe Region)
- Klaus Ulrich Ruof (Europe Region)
- Florentino Mina (Philippines Region)
- Darryl Osias (Philippines Region)
General Commission on Religion and Race
- Newly elected central conference bishop (COB)
- Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi (COB, NEJ)
- Ilunga Dibu Irung (Africa Region)
- Analeth Nungulo (Africa Region)
- Matthew Barlow (Europe Region)
- Jeric Cortado (Philippines Region)
General Commission on the Status and Role of Women
- Newly elected central conference bishop (COB)
- Bishop Delores Williamston (COB, SCJ)
- Angel A. Musaw Tshidj (Africa Region)
- Helen Byholt Lovelace (Europe Region)
- Jennifer Meneses (Philippines Region)
General Commission on United Methodist Men
- Newly elected central conference bishop (COB)
- Bishop Leonard Fairley (COB, SEJ)
- Bishop L. Jonathan Holston (COB, SEJ)
- Alfred Kundasai Njau (Africa Region)
- Romeo Barillo Valdez (Philippines Region)
Committee on Deaconess and Home Missioner Service
- Bishop Ann Sherer-Simpson (COB)
Judicial Council members
The body also elected on May 1 nine people plus alternates to the Judicial Council. The newly elected Judicial Council members are slated to be introduced to the body on May 3.
Jessica Brodie is editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate.
News media contact: Julie Dwyer at (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umnews.org. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free daily or weekly Digests.
