The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference delegation to both General and Jurisdictional conferences has been busy meeting to learn about the issues facing the denomination amid unknown challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.
The delegation joined other South Central Jurisdiction delegations in Oklahoma City, Feb. 20-22, 2020, to interview the six episcopal candidates, including the Rev. David Wilson, OIMC conference superintendent and member of the delegation. Following the interviews, they listened and responded to reports of the proposed plans for reorganization, pensions and more.
“It was a good experience to visit all of the delegations and to hear their questions regarding, not only the proposed legislation for General Conference, but also to hear the questions that were unique to the needs of their annual conferences,” Wilson said.
“I appreciated their time to prepare for the interviews,” he added.
Due to the uncertainty of the actions of the 2020 General Conference, there is no clear direction of how many candidates will be elected. Three Bishops will retire in 2020.
The candidates include Sally Haynes, Missouri Annual Conference; Laura Merrill, Rio Texas; Sheron Patterson, North Texas; Eddie Rivera, New Mexico; Dee Williamson, Great Plains; and Wilson, OIMC.
The Council of Bishops has asked for a postponement of General Conference scheduled May 5-15, 2020, in Minneapolis, according to United Methodist News. The bishops stated the travel restrictions to the U.S. make it difficult for European, African and Asian delegates to attend. The postponement would also affect the meeting dates of jurisdictional conferences in July. Several annual conferences are also delaying or shortening their annual conference sessions.
