News and Views

The Rev. Amy Peed McCullough, lead pastor of Grace UMC in Baltimore and chair of the conference Board of Ordained Ministry, was endorsed as an episcopal candidate by the BWC’s delegation to General and Jurisdictional Conferences on Jan. 13.

Her candidacy to become a bishop in The United Methodist Church will be voted on by members of the Baltimore-Washington Conference when they meet May 29-31.

Episcopal elections for The Northeast Jurisdiction are scheduled to be held when the Jurisdiction meets July 8-12 in Pittsburgh, Pa.

McCullough, who was ordained in 2000, has been appointed to serve at Grace UMC in Baltimore, Glenelg UMC in Howard County, as an associate pastor at Metropolitan Memorial UMC In Washington, D.C., and as a mission intern for the General Board of Global Ministries. She has degrees from Wellesley College, Duke Divinity School and Vanderbilt University, where she received a PhD in Homiletics and Liturgics. She is a published author and has taught as an adjunct professor at Wesley Theological Seminary.

She describes her leadership style as collaborative and decisive, “committed to listening to all voices, making space at the table for often unheard voices, and being transparent about decision-making processes. I am approachable and responsive,” she wrote on her episcopal nominee information form.

In reflecting on the episcopacy, McCullough said that the key words she identifies with are: authenticity of character, the both-and nature of this time, and pruning for growth. 

“Pain at disaffiliations, questions about how we best organize ourselves for the future, and fears that the declines in church involvement will only increase weigh on many,” she said. “A non-anxious, spiritually robust, and intellectually curious bishop is a must.”

McCullough is convinced that there is no singular fix to the church’s present situation but believes church leaders should approach the future with humility, hope and an ability to cultivate a capacity for change as they seek to authentically welcome all.

“There are many efforts already underway to adapt new systems, respond to historic injustices, address aging church buildings, and establish new patterns for being Christ's body. The bishop's role is to harness all of these good efforts and engage them with a discerning, compassionate heart,” she said. “The symbol of a shepherd's crook is apt for the season for God provides for our needs and guides the way.”

In reflecting on her personal call to the episcopacy, McCullough shared that In John's Gospel, the first disciples to encounter Jesus ask him where he is staying, to which Jesus replied, “Come and see." “As I continue to seek how best I abide in Jesus and allow Jesus to abide in me,” she wrote, “I hear the Spirit's invitation to come and see if my sense of call matches the needs of the church in this season.”

At the delegation meeting, three other candidates for the episcopacy were interviewed and considered for endorsement: the Revs. Giovanni Arroyo, General Secretary of the Commission on Religion and Race; Tony Love, assistant to the bishop; and Sarah Schlieckert, superintendent of the Annapolis District.

 Following a day of interviews, discussion and discernment, McCullough was endorsed after receiving more than 66 percent of the delegates’ vote.

 The number of bishops that might need to be elected at the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference is not yet certain. The General Conference determines the number of bishops it will fund (above a minimum of five per jurisdiction) based on a formula that includes membership. It is expected that the impact of disaffiliation and other factors will mean a decreased number of bishops allotted to the NEJ in 2024. There are nine episcopal areas composed of ten conferences in the Northeastern Jurisdiction currently served by six active and one retired bishop. At least one NEJ bishop will retire in 2024. A jurisdictional task force is considering options for the alignment of the annual conferences, pending General and Jurisdictional Conference action.