Even as The United Methodist Church faces mounting disaffiliations, those who plan to remain United Methodist are working together more across jurisdictional lines. Jurisdictional conferences also elected more women and more people of color as bishops.
The Rev. Kennetha Bigham-Tsai, chief connectional ministries officer for the Connectional Table, was the first to be elected on the first round of voting within the North Central Jurisdiction’s history.
United Methodist bishops declined General Conference delegates’ calls for episcopal elections this year but opened the door to a vote on new leaders in 2022.