2022 Elected Bishops

Carlo A. Rapanut

1st Election

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Cedrick Bridgeforth

2nd Election

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Dottie Escobedo-Frank

3rd Election

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Original Episcopal Candidates

Here is the slate of episcopal discerners in an all-new process designed by the WJ Council on Episcopacy to draw the circle wide. Click on a candidate image to learn more about them and see a short video they produced to tell their story. Click here for more information and the full discernment to the election schedule.

Theon Johnson III

Ethnic Background: African American Conference: California Nevada Probationary Date: 06/12/2011 Full Membership Date: 06/08/2013 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 7 Education:Doctor of Philosophy (April 2018):Educational Administration & Supervision (Educational...

Rev. Calvin Hill

Ethnic Background: Full Blooded Navajo Conference: Mountain Sky Probationary Date: 06/18/2018 Full Membership Date: 06/19/2020 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 2 Education:Rehoboth Christian High School, New Mexico GEDKuyper College, Michigan A.A.Garrett...

Joel Hortiales

Ethnic Background: Hispanic Conference: California Pacific Probationary Date: 07/01/2008 Full Membership Date: 06/18/2011 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 2 Education:College:• 2 Years at Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey, México. Transfer to University 1983• 3...

Jessica Rooks

Ethnic Background: White Conference: Mountain Sky Probationary Date: 06/13/2004 Full Membership Date: 06/17/2007 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 6 Education:1999, B.A., Economics, Western State College, Colorado2002, M.Div., Iliff School of Theology, Colorado...

Rev. Anthony Tang

Ethnic Background: Asian-American Conference: Desert Southwest Probationary Date: 06/22/1996 Full Membership Date: 06/23/2001 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 4.5 Education:Executive Master of Business Administration, W. P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State...

Brian Suk-Boo Lee

Ethnic Background: Asian (Korean-American) Conference: California Pacific Probationary Date: 06/19/1999 Full Membership Date: 06/16/2001 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 2 Education:Feb. 1993: Methodist Theological Seminary, B.Th. SEOUL, KOREA(Jul. 1986 - Jan....

Rev. Dr. Rob Walters

Ethnic Background: White Conference: Oregon Idaho Probationary Date: 06/14/2018 Full Membership Date: 06/14/2018 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 5 Education:FORMAL EDUCATION Doctor of Ministry • United Theological Seminary (2022)Research/Dissertation title:...

Sunny Ahn

Ethnic Background: Asian American (Korean) Conference: California Pacific Probationary Date: 06/18/2000 Full Membership Date: 06/22/2002 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 4 Education:I started my undergraduate studies, majoring in education at California State...

Katie Ladd

Ethnic Background: White Conference: Pacific Northwest Probationary Date: 06/15/1997 Full Membership Date: 06/20/1999 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 3 Education:AB Biology and Religion - Randolph-Macon Woman's College (1990)MDiv - Vanderbilt Divinity School,...

Bob Rhodes

Ethnic Background: Caucasian/White Conference: California Pacific Probationary Date: 06/16/2012 Full Membership Date: 06/18/2016 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 4 Education:M.Div. Claremont School of Theology, 2011 Ministry Experience:2005-2006 – First UMC...

Cedrick Bridgeforth

Ethnic Background: African American Conference: California Pacific Probationary Date: 06/15/2002 Full Membership Date: 06/24/2006 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 4 Education:Doctor of Education, Organizational Leadership (Pepperdine University) Malibu, CAMaster of...

Ella Luna-Garza

Ethnic Background: Hispanic Conference: California Nevada Probationary Date: 06/12/2010 Full Membership Date: 06/13/2014 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 4 Education:Doctor of Ministry, Prophetic Activism; from the Cross to Community, United Theological Seminary,...

Carlo A. Rapanut

Ethnic Background: Filipino Conference: Alaska Probationary Date: 04/21/2002 Full Membership Date: 04/27/2006 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 5.5 Education:Elementary: with honors, 1986SPED Center (Fast Learner Program), Baguio City, Philippines High School: with...

Piula Alailima

Ethnic Background: Native Samoan Conference: California Pacific Probationary Date: 06/15/1980 Full Membership Date: 06/12/1983 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 1 Education:Hawaii Loa College, Kaneohe, Hawaii —- B.A., 1976Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, CA...

Sione Teiapa’a Tukutau

Ethnic Background: Tongan Conference: Mountain Sky Probationary Date: 06/16/2000 Full Membership Date: 06/17/2003 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 2 Education:Education Hawaii Loa College - Kaneohe, Hawaii 1985-1989Bachelor of ArtsIliff School of Theology - Denver,...

Siosaia Fonua Tu’itahi

Ethnic Background: Pacific Islander (Tongan) Conference: California Pacific Probationary Date: 06/30/2008 Full Membership Date: 06/20/2011 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 1 Education:1987:Associate of Arts (AA), Southwestern College, Chula Vista CA.1989:...

Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan

Ethnic Background: Chinese-Malaysian American Conference: California Nevada Probationary Date: 06/19/1999 Full Membership Date: 06/15/2002 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 2 Education:Ph.D., Emory University, 1994 M.T.S., Southern Methodist University (Perkins...

Sandra Olewine

Ethnic Background: white Conference: California Pacific Probationary Date: 06/16/1985 Full Membership Date: 06/19/1988 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 1.5 Education:BS - UC Davis, 1980MDiv - Claremont School of Theology, 1986ABD - Claremont School of Theology,...

Eugene Han

Ethnic Background: Korean Conference: California Pacific Probationary Date: 06/15/2003 Full Membership Date: 06/15/2005 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 2 Education:1987 - Korea University B.A. Political Science and International Relations, South Korea1992 -...

Dottie Escobedo-Frank

Ethnic Background: Latina/Multi-Ethnic Conference: Desert Southwest Probationary Date: 07/01/1996 Full Membership Date: 07/01/2000 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 2 Education:1979 BA, double major in Sociology & Theology, ORU1987 Master of Social Work, Arizona...

Elizabeth Tay McVicker

Ethnic Background: Asian American (Chinese) Conference: Mountain Sky Probationary Date: 06/14/1997 Full Membership Date: 06/19/1999 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 4 Education:Master of Divinity, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA 12/1992 B.A. American...

Joe Kim

Ethnic Background: Korean-American Conference: Pacific Northwest Probationary Date: 06/17/2017 Full Membership Date: 06/09/2019 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 7 Education:CLAREMONT SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY Claremont, CAMaster of Divinity, May 20172017 Korean Alumni/ae...

Ken Walden

Ethnic Background: African American Conference: California Pacific Probationary Date: 08/25/2003 Full Membership Date: 05/25/2009 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 5 Education:CLAREMONT SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY, Claremont, CADoctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Practical...

Kimberly Montenegro

Ethnic Background: Mix Raced African American Conference: California Nevada Probationary Date: 07/01/2009 Full Membership Date: 06/20/2014 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 6 Education:Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA-Master of Divinity 2008Saint Mary’s...

Ouk-Yean Kim Jueng

Ethnic Background: Korean Conference: California Nevada Probationary Date: 06/13/1993 Full Membership Date: 06/11/1995 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 1 Education:[2017] Clergy Coaching Training, Online[2008-2010] UpperRoom 2-Year Academy for Spiritual...

Aaron Gray

Ethnic Background: Black Conference: Mountain Sky Probationary Date: 07/01/1985 Full Membership Date: 07/01/1985 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 1 Education:Regis College 1976-1980 Major: Sociology, Minor: Political ScienceIliff Theological Seminary 1981-1985...

John Tucker

Ethnic Background: White Conference: Oregon Idaho Probationary Date: 06/15/1995 Full Membership Date: 06/08/1998 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 4 Education:BA in Religion and Philosophy from Samford University, 1991 - Mabry Lunceford Award for Outstanding Student...

George Edd-Bennett (he/him/his)

Ethnic Background: European-American Conference: California Nevada Probationary Date: 06/17/2011 Full Membership Date: 06/20/2014 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 4 Education:D.Min. (Spiritual Growth, Contemplative Practice & Strategic Leadership) Claremont...

Lloyd Nyarota

Ethnic Background: Shona Black African Conference: Zimbabwe East Annual Conference Probationary Date: 12/10/1995 Full Membership Date: 12/12/1997 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 4 Education:1978-1984, Grades 1-7-Vengere Primary school, Rusape, Zimbabwe1985-1988,...

Samuel Hong

Ethnic Background: Korean Conference: California Nevada Probationary Date: 06/19/1999 Full Membership Date: 06/22/2002 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 4 Education:Ph.D. in Religion (Early Christianity), Claremont Graduate University (CA), 2004.M.T.S., Duke...

Staci Current

Ethnic Background: African American Conference: California Nevada Probationary Date: 07/01/2003 Full Membership Date: 07/01/2006 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 5 Education:Spelman College, BA Political Science, 1993Claremont School of Theology, MDiv, 1998...

Tom Choi

Ethnic Background: Asian American - Korean Conference: California Pacific Probationary Date: 06/14/1985 Full Membership Date: 06/16/1988 Number of Eligible Quadrenniums: 1.44 Education:2009 - Doctor of Ministry in Preaching for the 21st Century, Wesley Theological...

Ballot Tracking

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Certified Candidates

* = Elected

*Bridgeforth, Cedrick
Current, Staci
*Escobedo-Frank, Dottie
Hill, Calvin
McVicker, Elizabeth Tay
*Rapanut, Carlo A.
Tang, Anthony

Withdrawn Certified Candidates

Ala’ilima, Piula
Choi, Tom
Johnson III, Theon
Kim, Joe
Kuan, Kah-Jin Jeffrey
Ladd, Katie
Montenegro, Kimberly
Olewine, Sandra
Rooks, Jessica
Tu’itahi, Siosaia Fonua

Nominated on the floor and withdrawn

Agtarap, Shalom
Calhoun, Mark

The process for identifying and lifting up episcopal candidates in the Western Jurisdiction this year places a high value on discernment. The individuals listed below have withdrawn from candidacy for this year’s episcopal election, discerning for reasons of their own to not continue in the process at this time. We are grateful for all those named and unnamed who have considered their own sense of calling to this work.