Photos by Patrick Scriven (PNW) and Elroi Caluya for the Western Jurisdiction.
By Kristen Caldwell & Evelyn Warren, WJ Communications
In the midst of electing new bishops, the Western Jurisdictional Conference paused twice to recognize the ministry and leadership of two of its retiring bishops.
Bishop Minerva Carcaño was elected to the episcopacy in 2004 and will retire on Sept. 1 after 48 years of ministry in local churches, as a district superintendent, and for the last 20 years as a bishop, lastly in the California-Nevada Conference. Bishop Karen Oliveto was elected to the episcopacy in 2016 and will retire on Sept. 1 after more than 40 years of ministry serving rural and urban settings, Pacific School of Religion, and the last eight years as bishop of the Mountain Sky Conference.
Each bishop was treated to speeches from staff and laity across their conferences, along with videos highlighting their gifts and graces as episcopal leaders.
“I’m inspired and continue to be encouraged by the work, the mission, but especially the spirit of the Western Jurisdiction,” Carcaño said, before listing the several general boards and agencies she’ll continue to serve in retirement “I’ll be working right by you and looking forward to the connections that will keep us together. I wish the best for this jurisdiction, for this college of bishops. May God’s blessings continue to be on all of us.”
In a candid and heartfelt spirit, longtime staff and colleagues of “BKO,” as she’s affectionately known, shared reflections on her past contributions, her current impact, and their hopes for her future. The prevailing message from both speakers and Bishop Oliveto herself was one of profound love and appreciation.
“Every pore, every cell in my body has loved, loved, loved my ministry and the places it took me,” Oliveto said. “So may you continue to follow God’s leading, to take risks, to open doors that no one else is going to open, to stand with people that no one else stands for, to make space for voices that have to be heard, so that beloved community can truly emerge.”
