Shall Bishops Have Lifetime Tenure?

The conference has been considering lifetime tenure of bishops. The proposal before us is whether to limit bishops to serving two eight year terms. The bishop would have to stand for reelection at the end of the first eight year term. Animated debate on both sides. Questions about Missional focus, episcopal effectiveness, episcopal power, and the health and well being of the bishops themselves are rising to the fore. A motion by Odette Lockwood Stewart to refer the matter to the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and to the Connectional Table was soundly voted down. This is a proposed constitutional amendment so it requires a two-thirds majority vote. The motion got a little more than 50%, so it did not succeed. Frank Wulf