Raised in rural Alabama, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth brings a wealth of experience in diverse ministry settings, clergy coaching, teaching, writing, and work in the non-profit world to his role as a newly-elected and consecrated bishop in the Western Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church. He will serve the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area (which comprises the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Conferences) beginning Jan. 1, 2023.
As he begins his journey as a bishop in the Western Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church, Bishop Carlo A. Rapanut reflects on how his roots as a Filipino American impacted his call to ministry and the leadership he’ll provide the people of the Desert Southwest Conference beginning Jan. 1, 2023.
As she begins the work of an episcopal leader in The United Methodist Church, Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank hopes to remain grounded in humility as she serves Christ through the local churches and communities in her new episcopal assignment: The California-Pacific Conference.
After electing three new bishops, delegates learned assignments to episcopal areas for the remainder of the 2020-2024 quadrennium. Significant pieces of legislation were approved helping the Western Jurisdiction work toward a more inclusive, de-colonized church.
After 19 rounds of votes, just before dinner, the Western Jurisdiction happily celebrated the election of its third new episcopal leader. While the focus of the day was the election, pieces of legislation were introduced, discussions over racism were held and the day ended with retirement celebrations for two of bishops.
The Rev. Dottie Escobedo-Frank, senior pastor of Paradise Valley United Methodist Church in Paradise Valley, Arizona, has been elected a bishop by The United Methodist Church’s Western Jurisdiction on the 19th ballot.
The Rev. Cedrick D. Bridgeforth, director of innovation and communication in the California-Pacific Conference, has been elected a bishop by The United Methodist Church’s Western Jurisdiction on the 18th ballot.
The Rev. Carlo A. Rapanut, assistant to the bishop in the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area, has been elected a bishop by The United Methodist Church’s Western Jurisdiction. He is the first Filipino American bishop in The United Methodist Church, and the first U.S. bishop who was ordained in a central conference — a United Methodist region outside the U.S.
Near the close of the plenary time on Thursday, November 3, the Western Jurisdiction Conference held an executive session. On the following morning (Friday), Rev. Brad Laurvick, Secretary of the Western Jurisdiction, read the following statement about and from the executive session.
The first day of Western Jurisdictional Conference in Salt Lake City began with an episcopal address, introduction of the 33 episcopal candidates, one certifying ballot and two other ballots, speeches, scenarios and more. Read today’s re-cap.