2012 North Central Jurisdictional Conference summary
The 2012 North Central Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church was held in Akron’s (Ohio) John S. Knight Center July 18-20. On behalf of the East Ohio Annual (regional) Conference Bishop John Hopkins welcomed some three hundred delegates who representing the 11 annual (regional) conferences of the region.
Delegates were led in worship by Bishop Julius Calvin Trimble (Iowa area), Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton (Michigan area) and retiring Bishop Linda Lee (Wisconsin area).
Bishop Gregory Palmer (Illinois area) and Bishop Bruce Ough (West Ohio area) presented the Episcopal address, a two-hour conversation that included table discussions in addition to the Bishops’ perspectives.
The jurisdictional Black Methodist for Church Renewal organization hosted a forum to discuss the future of the NCJ during a Wednesday evening informal session. Carolyn Johnson served as the convener of the session.
A report was received from members of the transition team tasked with creating a new Episcopal area from the Dakotas and Minnesota. A presentation from Cindy Gregoroson and Jodi Cataldo on the video conferencing involving the technology that will connect the geographically widespread area was received.
The ministry of retiring Bishop Linda Lee was celebrated, including reflections from retired Bishop Don Ott.
Dr. Maggie Jackson, who served as the Chairperson of the Jurisdictional Committee on the Episcopacy, read the 2012-2016 assignments for the nine active bishops, including Bishop Julius Calvin Trimble’s return as the Bishop of the Iowa Annual Conference. The Bishops’ assignments:
• Dakotas/Minnesota – Bishop Bruce Ough
• Detroit/West Michigan (Michigan area) – Bishop Deborah Kiesey
• East Ohio – Bishop John Hopkins
• Illinois Great Rivers (Illinois area) – Bishop Jonathan Keaton
• Indiana – Bishop Michael Coyner
• Iowa – Bishop Julius Calvin Trimble
• Northern Illinois (Chicago area) – Bishop Sally Dyck
• West Ohio – Bishop Gregory Vaughn Palmer
• Wisconsin – Bishop Hee-Soo Jung
A 2013-2016 budget of $1,112,300 was approved. It reflects a 3.53% decrease from the previous four years.
Photos from the North Central Jurisdictional Conference are posted at www.iaumc.org/galleries and on the NEJ website: http://www.eocumc.com/ncj2012; audio is posted at: www.iaumc.org/audio in addition to news coverage available from the United Methodist News Service and on websites of the Jurisdiction’s Annual Conferences.