Bishop Elections Reveal Some UMC Segments Shifting Right

by Jim Brown
July 21, 2004

(AgapePress) - A conservative United Methodist activist says although the denomination's election of bishops this year reflects the "increased polarization" of the United Methodist Church, there is some good news to report.

The five jurisdictional conferences of the UMC elected a total of 21 new bishops. In the Southeast, four of the six bishops chosen are believed to be theologically orthodox. Also, according to Mark Tooley of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, all six of the bishops claim to support the church's official stance opposing homosexual practice.

Mark Tooley

Tooley says conservatives can also be pleased with results in the South Central jurisdiction, which includes states such as Oklahoma and Texas. He notes, "Of four open bishop slots, three of the four were filled by individuals who are believed to be theologically orthodox and who were supported by Evangelicals. That's a net improvement because, of the four who were retiring, at least three of those were liberal."

The United Methodist conservative and renewal advocate says the denomination has shifted to the right theologically in the southern regions, while the northern and western parts of the church are increasingly slipping to the left.

"The South is not overwhelmingly evangelical or conservative, which stereotypes commonly portray it to be," Tooley explains. "There are a lot of liberal United Methodist clergy in the South and we do have liberal bishops. But by and large, those who were elected this time around tended to be theologically orthodox. "

Unsurprisingly the Western Jurisdiction, known for its defiance of Bible teaching on marriage and sexuality issues, elected two liberal bishops. The North Central and Northeastern jurisdictions elected mostly liberal candidates as well.