Bishop Willimon to return to North Alabama for another four years
On the final evening of the 2008 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, it was confirmed that Bishop William H. Willimon will continue as the Episcopal leader of the North Alabama Conference for another four years.
This announcement was made when the SEJ Committee on the Episcopacy reported the assignments of the Bishops within the Southeastern Jurisdiction.
The new SEJ Bishop assignments are:
- Alabama-West Florida Episcopal Area – Bishop Paul L Leeland
- Birmingham Episcopal Area (North Alabama Conference) - Bishop William H Willimon
- Charlotte Episcopal Area (Western North Carolina Conference) - Bishop Larry M Goodpaster
- Columbia Episcopal Area (South Carolina Conference) - Bishop Mary Virginia Taylor
- Florida Episcopal Area - Bishop Timothy W Whitaker
- Holston Episcopal Area - Bishop James E Swanson Sr
- Louisville Episcopal Area (Kentucky And Red Bird Missionary Conferences) - Bishop G Lindsey Davis
- Mississippi Episcopal Area - Bishop Hope Morgan Ward
- Nashville Episcopal Area (Memphis And Tennessee Annual Conferences) - Bishop Richard J Wills Jr
- North Georgia Episcopal Area - Bishop B Michael Watson
- Raleigh Episcopal Area (North Carolina Conference) - Bishop Alfred W Gwinn Jr
- Richmond Episcopal Area (Virginia Annual Conference) - Bishop Charlene P Kammerer
- South Georgia Episcopal Area - Bishop James R King Jr
These Episcopal Assignments will begin September 1, 2008.
Bishops are elected for life and serve in their assignment until retirement (required by the Book of Discipline to be the jurisdictional conference following their 68th birthday). Bishops are elected at Jurisdictional Conference and then are assigned to Episcopal Areas, which may include one or more Annual Conferences, within that Jurisdiction for a four year term.
Bishops may stay assigned in one Episcopal Area for two terms. It takes a special a special vote of the Jurisdictional Conference for a Bishop to serve more than 8 years in one assignment. This year's SEJ Conference voted to approve the assignment of Bishop Whitaker to return to Florida for his third term.
Prior to the Jurisdictional Conference the North Alabama Conference Committee on Episcopacy released a statement requesting the reassignment of Bishop Willimon to the Birmingham Episcopal Area. The Committee said, “The Conference Committee on Episcopacy celebrates the strong vision for growth and change to grow more disciples of Jesus Christ that Bishop Willimon has brought to the laity and clergy of the North Alabama Conference over the past four years.
“As we go forward into the new quadrennium, the members of the Episcopacy Committee are committed to a close partnership with Bishop Willimon to define steps and strengthen relationships to enable us to reach our vision.”
During the 2008 SEJ Conference, which has been meeting since July 16, delegates from the 15 Annual Conferences within the southeast have gathered under the theme “Living the United Methodist Way.” They heard reports and voted on business matters and worshiped together. They also elected one new Bishop, Paul Leeland. The Conference will conclude Saturday morning, July 19 with a Service of Consecration for Bishop-elect Leeland.