UMC Bishops Open Spring COB Meeting Ahead of General Conference 2020-in-2024

The Council of Bishops (COB) of The United Methodist Church began its 2024 Spring meeting on Wednesday, April 17, to prepare for the 2020 General Conference, which is being held in Charlotte, NC from April 23 to May 3, 2024. The 2020 General Conference has been postponed twice due to the Covid epidemic.
 
The COB is made up of all active and retired bishops of The United Methodist Church. About 95 bishops are expected to attend the in-person meeting at the Omni Hotel in Charlotte.

In the second week of General Conference, Bishop Tracy S. Malone, the area bishop of the East Ohio Conference, will become the president of the Council of Bishops. Bishop Malone is the first black woman to be elected to lead the more than 150 bishops in the global denomination that includes Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.
 
At the time Bishop Malone assumes the COB president role, Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., episcopal leader of the Central and North Texas Conferences, will begin his term as President-Designate of the COB. Bishop Saenz will then take over COB presidential duties in 2026.
 
Bishop Malone said she will be honored to receive the gavel from current COB President Thomas J. Bickerton, resident bishop of the New York episcopal area.
 
“As I receive the sacred trust as President of the Council of Bishops, I resolve to lead in a way that inspires hope, that will help to unite The United Methodist Church in our collective efforts to becoming a more inclusive, grace-filled church, and to help deepen and expand our commitment to discipleship, mission, equity, and justice in the Church and in the world,” Bishop Malone said. 
 
The other COB officers to be installed are:

The main duty of the bishops during the General Conference is to serve as presiding officers during plenary sessions. During the bishops’ meeting, there will be training on presiding at this General Conference. Bishops have the responsibility to see that the rules, regulations, and mission strategies approved by General Conference are carried out.
 
“While bishops have the opportunity to convene conversations and share our insights, our primary role will be that of presider, interpreter, and pray-er,” said COB President Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton. “It will be a privilege to take seriously the role of spiritual guide and intercessor for the delegates at this session of the General Conference.”

The bishops’ meeting will start with opening worship and the presidential address by Bishop Bickerton, in which he is likely to address the budget challenges facing this session of the General Conference, and how to chart a new course for The United Methodist Church.  
 
The first plenary session, led by the Anti-Racism Leadership Team, will tackle racism, tribalism, and the rise of nationalism. Later during the meeting, the bishops will hear a proposal on stopping political violence and the rise of authoritarianism.
 
The afternoon will be reserved for the Memorial Service honoring bishops and spouses who have died since the bishops last met in November.
 
The bishops also plan to discuss Ecumenical work, the future of the episcopacy, and to hear updates on General Conference legislation and logistics.
 
Each day of the Spring COB meeting will begin with worship service led by a cohort of newly elected bishops.

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Original content by Rev. Dr. Maidstone Mulenga, COB Director of Communications
Revised/edited by J. Vance Morton, CTC Director of Communications & IT