This Summer a Interjurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy met to approve a proposal to increase the number of active U.S. bishops starting in late 2028.
Under the plan, the North Central and South Central jurisdictions would each get one additional bishop.
The group’s recommendation next goes to the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA), the denomination’s finance agency to present a budget to the 2028 General Conference.
For now, the group recommends the following distribution of U.S. bishops:
- Southeastern Jurisdiction: Nine.
- North Central Jurisdiction: Seven.
- South Central Jurisdiction: Seven.
- Northeastern Jurisdiction: Six.
- Western Jurisdiction: Five.
In 2028, 14 U.S. bishops will reach mandatory retirement age. If this plan prevails, jurisdictions will hold elections to fill all 14 vacancies and serve two newly formed episcopal areas. While General Conference sets the number and overall distribution of bishops, individual U.S. jurisdictions and regional conferences outside the U.S. set the boundaries of their episcopal areas.
2024 General Conference Approved Increase
The recommendation results from a new process for U.S. bishop distribution approved at the 2024 General Conference.
The denomination’s top lawmaking assembly eliminated the membership-based used in years past. In its place, General Conference revised Paragraph 404 in the Book of Discipline to say the number of U.S. bishops “shall be determined on the basis of missional reasons.”
The revisions also left the responsibility for recommending the number of bishops on that basis to the Interjurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy.
The Judicial Council, the top United Methodist court, in April reviewed the changes General Conference made to Paragraph 404. While the church court struck down some of the revisions, it upheld the elimination of the formula and the interjurisdictional committee’s new role.
The new process comes as The United Methodist Church is adapting to reduced giving and rebuilding after a season of church disaffiliations.
However, church law still says each jurisdiction is entitled to a minimum of five bishops.
Beata Ferris — the Super Task Force convener and interjurisdictional committee’s secretary, said that the committee is also aware that the denomination’s regional conferences in Africa, the Philippines and Europe also may request more bishops. Any request for additional bishops outside the United States would come from the Standing Committee on Regional Conference Matters Outside the USA.
“We celebrate the leadership of our bishops,” said Rev. Kim Ingram, Interjurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy’s chairperson. “We recognize that we are in times of challenge and opportunities. And we acknowledge that churches, conferences and the denomination are under financial constraints requiring conversation and creativity.”
Ferris asked for prayers for the budgeting work ahead. She also stressed that the church is different from business.
“We are a faith-based compassion organization that needs more leadership to get our message out there,” she said, “and to love the people the way God wants us to.”
Your Generosity Helps Bishops Provide Mentorship and Leadership
When you support the Episcopal Fund apportionment you help pay the salaries and expenses for United Methodist Bishops and allows them to travel across their episcopal areas providing mentorship and leadership. Please encourage your leaders and congregations to support the Episcopal Fund apportionment at 100 percent.
excerpt from a story by Heather Hahn, assistant news editor for UM News.
This story shows the impact of the Episcopal Fund—one of seven apportionment funds of The United Methodist Church—to sustain the leadership and oversight of bishops who guide our shared mission. Through this fund, the Church provides fair compensation, support, and accountability for episcopal leadership across the connection. Together, we ensure that every conference has the guidance needed to carry out ministry effectively and faithfully.
When your church supports the Episcopal Fund, you uphold the shared leadership that unites our Church in mission and ministry.
