NCJ Wednesday Wrap-Up

The delegates of the 2022 North Central Jurisdictional Conference were on their feet, proclaiming in song that these dry bones will live as they opened their session in worship. Bishop Bruce R. Ough continued this theme in his opening sermon, naming the question we all might be asking: how do we press on when we are overwhelmed by disaffiliation, souls are parched and we are so very, very tired? He went on to proclaim, “I think God has us right where God wants us. God has given us a word. It is never too late for dry bones to live!”

North Central Jurisdiction delegates to elect up to three bishops

Delegates from 10 annual conferences across the Midwest will gather in FortWayne, Ind., Nov. 2-5 for a regular session of the North Central Jurisdictional Conference, where up to three new bishops will be elected.

Bishop's Column: Run the Race, Pass the Baton

I received the baton of spiritual leadership in the Northern Illinois Conference from Bishop Dyck, who received it from Bishop Jung, who received it from Bishop Sprague, who received it from Bishop Duecker, who received it from Bishop Dewitt. Now it is time that I pass the baton to another bishop.

2022 North Central Jurisidictional Conference

DYK: All about bishops

This fall, the United Methodist Church will elect new bishops. In the past, bishops were elected following a General Conference and assigned to their Episcopal Areas on September 1 of that same year. Due to the delay in holding a General Conference, special attention was required to care for this vital component of our UM structure. Over the past two years, bishops have retired or gone on medical leave. Sixteen active bishops and four retired bishops are now filling in the gap, serving multiple conferences or returning from retirement, as is the case for Northern Illinois with Bishop John L. Hopkins.

Bishop's Column: Becoming a Bishop

In 1996 I was only in my sixth year in the South Indiana Conference and pastor of The Methodist Temple in Evansville when the delegation selected me as a candidate for bishop. The Rev. Susan Ruach led the delegation through a discernment process to see if anyone should be recommended from South Indiana, where Leroy Hodapp and David Lawson had been elected as bishops by previous jurisdictional conferences. I did not offer myself; they prayed and asked me!

Bishop Hopkins statement on Highland Park tragedy

Yesterday, on July 4th, our holiday gatherings were shaken by the sobering news of a mass shooting when a young man opened fire on those attending an Independence Day Parade in Highland Park, Illinois. What should have been a memorable outing for families became a nightmare. I invite you to join me in praying for the six victims, ranging in age from 8 to 85, who died and more than 30 spectators who were wounded and injured in the attack. Let us lift up in prayer the named victims, Nicolas Toledo and Jacki Sundheim, and the four others as we learn their names.

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