The Role of Bishop in the Global Methodist Church

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It was recently announced that the Convening Conference of the Global Methodist Church (GMC) will be held September 20th-26th, 2024. The most important legislative element of the convening general conference will be fleshing out the role of bishops.

The Global Methodist Church has laid a firm foundation in the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Disciplines on what the bishop’s role could look like. Yet some very important aspects of this role still need to be balanced.

#1 Balancing Teaching and Administration

The Transitional Book of Doctrines and Disciplines states a bishop should be “able and committed to effectively teach and communicate the historic Christian faith from a Wesleyan perspective” (Paragraph 502). This will become the primary role of the bishop in the GMC.

One aspect of ordination already changed is the removal of the requirement of the Master of Divinity for eldership. I am in favor of every preacher being a lifelong learner, though I lament that many elders will likely not receive the rich M.Div. experience. While I did not appreciate analyzing Wesley’s sermons in class, it is clear to me now that this practice, along with many other excellent practices I learned in seminary, has enriched my theology. With less formal academic instruction happening we will need bishops to take up the mantle of resident theologians. This will help to make sure the beauty of the Wesleyan tradition is on display through conference-level learning opportunities.

Our current crop of bishops and presidents pro tem have done an amazing job of this already. We have many rich leaders who have vibrant local church and teaching ministries like Rev. Carolyn Moore, Rev. Matt O’ Reilly, Rev. Jessica LaGrone, Bishop Scott Jones, and Rev. Jeff Greenway. All of these people are excellent examples of individuals who could fill the local bishop role.

In my local South Georgia Conference our President Pro Tem, Rev. Jay Hanson, has spent a good portion of his time developing clergy health and theology. We read together and had a lively discussion of Midnight Rider for the Morning Star, a novel based on the life of Francis Asbury. Rev. Hanson also led a helpful retreat on best preaching practices. After many of our meetings I heard several clergy and lay people say, “I did not know meetings could be this uplifting and spiritual.”

We should imagine a world where the bishop has a teaching relationship with the pastors and laity that greatly outweighs the responsibility of administration and making appointments. 

#2 Balancing Local Presence with Perceived Efficiency 

The scope of the area a bishop shall serve as well as final annual conference lines is still to be decided. Almost everyone agrees that our current situation, with only two bishops as general superintendents, is unsustainable. The question is, do we want a few more general superintendents or a model whereby each conference gets its own residential bishop?

In the future we would be wise to envision a local residential bishop for each annual conference. When I visit churches to share about the Global Methodist Church, I remind them that all our churches have the nuclear option. By this I mean, we all have the ability to leave whenever we want. One question churches will certainly ask in their future is, “What value is the Global Methodist Church providing us as a partner in mission and ministry?” 

Imagine an annual conference of 115 churches. The bishop preaches in each local church every other year with a powerful Wesleyan message about God’s amazing grace. The laity and clergy see their bishop work at a Walk to Emmaus or some other local spiritual formation event. The pastor's child gets a handwritten congratulations card upon high school graduation. 

I used to think becoming a bishop was punishment. However, to love and serve a group of approximately one hundred churches is something most pastors would be jealous to do. 

Finally, let’s realize most of our presidents pro tem are already fulfilling many of these roles. To continue to deny them the office they are mostly holding seems problematic. An often-perceived thought is if there are fewer bishops there will be fewer resources spent. However, the fact is many presidents pro tem are receiving a full time salary. Expect more to transition to full time in the future. If we make the office of presidents pro tem into bishops and not have half a dozen general superintendents this will actually save resources. Instead of having twenty-five to thirty presidents pro tem and six general superintendents we could have twenty five to thirty residential bishops. This is not an argument to make all the current presidents pro tem into bishops, but to use the office of president pro tem as a template for the office of Bishop in the GMC. 

#3 Balancing Local and Global Accountability

The final area we need to consider is accountability. Implementing term limits for bishops is a remarkable step (although final term limits are yet to be decided). We do currently have documented judicial practices and procedures. Yet there still needs to be clarification on the mechanics of how this will work. Our current procedure only has trials conducted by clergy and laity in the bishop’s “own geographic area.” We will of course need to find a way to have a global body with voice and vote in proceedings against a bishop. By keeping the trial jury to the bishop’s area of episcopal oversight, we could repeat our past mistakes.

Additionally, with more local bishops over fewer general superintendents we will reduce consolidation of power. We do not have the ability to clone Bishop Scott Jones or Bishop Mark Webb. It would be amazing to have 30 more men and women of their character, caliber, stamina, and love for Christ. However, we must remember to be vigilant against what a future bishop acting in bad faith can do. One of six general superintendent bishops is a much greater percentage than one of thirty residential bishops if one decides to act inappropriately. 

There is much to be decided before and at the Convening Conference. I hope this stimulates conversation about what could and should be. There are many more challenges such as how we will elect bishops. Hopefully, by God’s grace, we will find a beautiful, balanced, Wesleyan way forward.

David Wesley Donnan is an Elder in the Global Methodist Church. For articles on the future of Methodism, podcasts, and sermons visit www.daviddonnan.com.