Yes, there are currently 17 women bishops leading episcopal areas in The United Methodist Church. The first woman to be elected was the Rev. Marjorie Matthews in 1980, who served the Wisconsin Episcopal Area before her retirement.
Bishops are assigned by their jurisdiction or central conference to serve a geographical area for a four-year term. There are 46 episcopal areas in the United States and 20 episcopal areas outside of the United States. New bishops may not be assigned...
Bishops are elected by the jurisdictional conferences in the United States and by the central conferences in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. Any elder in full connection is eligible to be elected a bishop. Nominations or endorsements of ...
In the U.S., bishops normally serve in one area for up to two terms, but they can continue for a third term with special approval of the jurisdictional conference. Bishops are elected for life and serve in their assignment until retirement (required ...
All bishops in the United States receive the same salary, according to a formula set by the General Conference. The salary for United States bishops for 2016 is $150,000. In addition, each bishop is provided an episcopal residence. Salaries for ...
A bishop serves as a general superintendent for the church, assigned to a geographical area. In the United Methodist tradition, bishops are not “ordained” as bishops, but are clergy elected and consecrated to the office of bishop. Bishops give ...
Members of the Council of Bishops attend General Conference, but do not vote and cannot speak without permission from the delegates. A bishop presides at each plenary session. Each bishop usually serves during one morning, afternoon or evening ...
The Council of Bishops is made up of all active and retired bishops of The United Methodist Church. The Council meets twice a year. According to the Book of Discipline, “The Church expects the Council of Bishops to speak to the Church and from the ...
The president of the Council of Bishops presides over its meetings but has no additional authority over the other members of the council. Administrative work is handled by the secretary of the council.
The election years for all of the bishops going back to the beginning of American Methodism are listed in the Book of Discipline
United Methodist bishops are listed on the UMC.org Directory. If you need help determining which bishop serves your area, contact InfoServ.
Although John Wesley never became a bishop, he sent Thomas Coke to America in 1784 as a general superintendent, a position considered on par with a bishop. Coke later chose to use the term bishop despite Wesley’s objections. In December of that same ...