Online Archives

BY JOHN W. COLEMAN

For many racial-ethnic leaders yearning to see a more diverse episcopacy in the United Methodist Church's Northeastern Jurisdiction, the recent election and appointment of bishops for 2012 to 2016 elicits both celebration and disappointment.

While lauding the remarkable diversity of both episcopal candidates and voting delegates at the jurisdictional conference in July, the head of the NEJ Multi-Ethnic Center for Ministry (MECM) nonetheless sees the church falling short in moving that diversity up the ladder.

"It is time to represent the diverse demographics of our jurisdiction at the highest levels of clergy leadership," said the Rev. H. Ward Greer, executive director of the center, whose partnering mission is to identify, equip, encourage and resource racial-ethnic leadership for ministry while advocating for greater diversity. "While we were able to get an African-American elected (Bishop Martin McLee from Boston), the College of Bishops in this jurisdiction has a long way to go in order to be fully inclusive and representative of the diverse demographics in this region."

Of the 19 endorsed candidates vying for three episcopal openings, 12 were racial-ethnic persons: six African-Americans, one Indian-American, three Koreans and two Hispanics. They were endorsed or affirmed by annual conferences, racial-ethnic caucuses and agencies.

Moreover, an unprecedented 40 percent of the 228 delegates to the NEJ Conference self-identified as racial-ethnic persons.

The Rev. Lyssette Perez, a New Jersey pastor and new board member, regrets the jurisdiction's inability to elect its first Hispanic bishop, despite having two highly experienced, well-known candidates: the Revs. Aida Fernandez of New England and Irving Cotto of Eastern Pennsylvania.

"Though we now have a more diverse College of Bishops - including one Korean-American, one Indian-American and two African-American bishops - we have yet to elect a Hispanic bishop," said Greer. "Thus, we believe it is too early to fully celebrate, and the work and mission of the Multi-Ethnic Center is even more necessary today."

"I'm excited about the three bishops we elected, but we need a game-changer to move us to where God is calling us to go," said the Rev. Lillian Smith, a Philadelphia pastor and program chairwoman of the Multi-Ethnic Center board.

The region's urban centers are where much of that growth must occur, and with that concern, Dr. Greer expressed satisfaction that three of the largest and most diverse urban areas will be led by racial-ethnic bishops in the new quadrennium. Newly elected Bishop Martin McLee will lead the New York Area, while Bishop Marcus Matthews returns home to the Washington, D.C. Area, and Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar moves to the Boston Area.