Update from South Central Jurisdiction

Over the last two days, Bishops, delegates, and others from around the South Central Jurisdiction have gathered in Houston, TX, to retire bishops, elect three bishops, and carry out other business of the Jurisdiction.

In a historic vote, all three bishops were elected on Wednesday, November 2 on the first ballot taken. Revs. Dee Williamston, Laura Merrill, and David Wilson were elected.

The agenda of the jurisdictional meetings usually alternate between taking ballots for bishop election and reports from ministries from across the connection. Since all three of our new bishops were elected on the first evening, the episcopacy committee decided to move the business of the following two days to today in order to give more time on Friday for new bishops to meet with their new conferences. The Consecration service will still happen Saturday morning.

The Annual Conference boundaries were voted to remain the same so that the committee can work on new boundary needs for the 2024 Jurisdictional meeting.

We are excited to announce that Bishop Nunn will continue as our Bishop this coming January.

The Bishop assignments are as follows and will begin January 1, 2023:

  • Arkansas: Bishop Elect Laura Merrill

  • Central TX / North TX: Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.

  • Great Plains: Bishop Elect David Wilson

  • Louisiana: Bishop Elect Dee Williamston

  • Missouri: Bishop Robert Farr

  • Oklahoma / Oklahoma Indian Missionary: Bishop Jimmy Nunn

  • Rio Texas: Bishop Robert Schnase

  • Texas: Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey

*Bishop Jimmy Nunn will cover the Northwest Texas Conference, and Bishop Robert Schnase will cover the New Mexico Conference.

Three resolutions were presented and passed. 1) Leading with Integrity, 2) Support of US Regional Conference, and 3) Queer Delegates’ call to center, justice, and empowerment for LGBTQIA+ people in the UMC.

Other reports were received from Lydia Patterson, Volunteer in Missions, Perkins School of Theology, Saint Paul School of Theology, United Methodist Men, United Women in Faith, and Africa University.

Bishop McKee, Bishop Jones, and Bishop Mueller were present and honored in their retirement, which will be effective at the end of the year.