Methodists elect 21 new bishops

Christian Century, August 24, 2004

The United Methodist Church has elected 21 new bishops to serve in the United States, including three African Americans, four Asian Americans, an Hispanic woman and five white women--adding more diversity to the church's leadership. They were elected in five regional meetings in mid-July, while 29 current bishops received new terms.

The new bishop for Phoenix, Minerva Carcano, is the church's first female Hispanic bishop. "I want to thank you for creating a table large enough, that has a place even for me and the people of my birth, my language, my culture," she said after the balloting.

United Methodist News Service reported that a number of delegates to the fast-growing Southeastern Jurisdiction charged that racism was blatant in the long balloting to elect six bishops. Two white women were elected, including Hope Morgan Ward on the first ballot, as well as a black minister, James Swanson. But some said they saw resistance to electing African-American female candidates.