FACTS ABOUT UMC BISHOPS ELECTION OUTSIDE THE U.S

The United Methodist Church is not a congregational church in terms of leadership, it is a connectional church and its structure of administration is Episcopalian in nature. Therefore, The United Methodist Church is not the “Church of Nigeria” but the “Church in Nigeria.” Meaning it is an extension of other United Methodist Church around the globe, bond in leadership and administration. Wherever there is a break on this bond, it ceased to be United Methodist Church.

The United Methodist Church built its powers on conferences, either jurisdictional (in U.S.A) or central (outside U.S.A). The principal source of it authority is taken from what is called “the Wesleyan quadrilaterals;” which has the Bible, tradition, reason, and experience as the sources of decision making in the Church. The Wesleyan quadrilaterals are the basis in which the church form it constitution called “The Book of Discipline.” In this book every decision concerning spirituality, administration, leadership, and governance of the Church is driven.  

That is why some time it is very hard for people outside the church to understand the polity and administration of the Church. If people outside the church want to meaningfully contribute to the success of this church, it is paramount that they should understand the polity and administrative procedures of the church. Rather than depending on hear saying, and receiving information from unsubstantial sources that are saturated in sectionalism, tribalism, malice, egocentrism, and nepotism.  The world is now a global village, substantial information are available for everyone to access online. It is safer and reliable to read these things from a reliable source than to depend on egoistic information circulating verbally.

Regarding election, consecration, and assignment of UMC bishops, detail are found in paragraph 404-415 of the Book of Discipline 2008, the 2012 Book of Discipline has not make any remarkable changes regarding election. However, these paragraphs may require interpretation as they may content terminologies that are only understood by people who have familiarized themselves with the church law. Here are some abstract from these paragraph that will help you understand how bishops are elected in UMC.

First and famous I will like you to know that there is a difference in the way bishops are elected in jurisdictional conferences (in U.S.A) and central conferences (outside U.S.A). In U.S jurisdictional conferences, the election of bishops is determined by the number of church members. “Each jurisdiction having 300, 000 church members or fewer shall be entitled to five bishops and each jurisdiction having more than 300, 000 church members shall be entitled to one additional bishop for each additional 300,000 church members or major fraction thereof” (404.2a BOD 2008).  Outside U.S, central conferences the numbers of bishops is determined on the basis of missional needs. The request for a bishop is approved by the General Conference, when recommended by the Standing Committee on Central Conference matters (404.1 BOD 2008).

The question is; at the recommendation and approval of the General Conference, how is central conference bishop elected?

Constitutionally, there are four stages involved in nomination and election of a bishop; one is barely the responsibility of the annual conferences while the other three are exercised only by the central conferences:

1.       Naming of nominee(s) by annual conference (405.1 BOD 2008).

2.       Election of one among the annual conference nominee(s) or nomination and election of different nominee(s) by the central conference (405.1 BOD 2008).

3.       Consecration of the elected person as a bishop at the session of the central conference by the bishops from central (405.2c BOD 2008);

4.       Assignment of the elected bishop by the central conference committee on episcopacy after consultation with the college of bishops, with the support of the central conference (406.2 BOD 2008).

It is worth noting that the power of ascertaining the appropriate procedures for election is only vested on central conference. In other words, central conference is the constitutional/ legal body that has the right to elect a bishop for a particular area. Such person can come from any annual conference provided he/she is a full member of an annual conference within that region (405.1 BOD 2008). “The jurisdictional or central conferences are authorized to fix the percentage of votes necessary to elect a bishop. It is recommended that at least 60 percent of those present and voting be necessary to elect” (405.2b BOD 2008).

When a bishop is elected following the above procedures, he/she is said to be dually elected a United Methodist bishop, not only for his/her area but UMC globally.

He/she can only be removed from the status of a UMC bishop whenever convicted of the following chargeable offenses: “Immorality including but not limited  to, not being celibate in singleness or not faithful in a heterosexual marriage, practices declared by The United Methodist Church to be incompatible with Christian teachings, including but not limited to: being a self-avowed practicing homosexual or conducting ceremonies which celebrate homosexual union; or performing same-sex wedding ceremonies; crime; failure to perform the work of the ministry; disobedience to the order and discipline of The United Methodist Church; dissemination of doctrines contrary to the established standard of doctrine of The United Methodist Church; relation and/ or behavior that undermines the ministry of another pastor; child abuse, sexual abuse; sexual misconduct or harassment, or racial or gender discrimination” (2702.1 BOD 2008).

It is only under such offenses would a bishop be charged and if found guilty he/she will receive penalty as the judicial council may deem fit.