10 Jul I want you to hear this from me first.

Dear Westwood Family,

I wanted to let you know, as our Western Jurisdictional Conference for the UMC begins today in Spokane, Washington, that I have decided to let my name go forward as a nominee in our election of new Bishops. This is a very new development, as we expected that there wouldn’t be any elections this year; at General Conference in May, we voted to reduce the number of Bishops in the US, according to the number that would remain after retirements this year. But, things have continued to change, with an additional retirement and a Bishop whose disability prevents his service. SO, as of news they shared on July 3, now the Western Jurisdiction expects to elect two Bishops this week.

For many years, folks have said things to me about their expectation that I would be a Bishop someday, and up to this point, I’ve received that simply as a kind affirmation of my leadership. I have not felt particularly called to be a Bishop, and I have always felt that, if that were to be a possibility, it might could be something to consider later in my life and ministry.

Something feels different for me this time, like a special sense of call at this moment.

Following General Conference, I feel excited about the possibility of being in a leadership role like this during a season of significant change and re-working of the church in its commitments to inclusion and grace. Since I heard last week that there would be elections, I have been deep in prayer and conversation, trying to quickly discern whether this is a possibility that I should be open to. I have been moved by the nudges of colleagues who have been reaching out to me, asking about whether I would consider this.

I am not eager to leave Westwood UMC, though. I know that this would be a challenging move for other reasons, too. So, I am entering this process of Jurisdictional Conference elections with as open of a heart as possible–open to whatever happens, whether or not I am elected. I see exciting possibilities and also grief with whatever happens.

Being a nominee is not the same thing as being elected, so it remains to be seen what will happen this week. I wanted to share a few of the logistics, so that you can know what’s going on. The Conference begins today (Wednesday) in the afternoon, when nominations will formally happen. Bishops are elected by a 60% vote of the Jurisdictional Conference, which includes 100 lay and clergy delegates from all the Conferences in the western US. Balloting would likely continue on Thursday and Friday. New Bishops would be consecrated on Saturday morning during a worship service, and receive their assignments for terms that will start on September 1. (If I were to be one of those, our current Bishop would begin working with the congregation immediately, to determine who would be a new Senior Pastor here.)

So, wildly, this will all be decided by Sunday! I will either joyously return to Westwood as your pastor, or we will begin preparing to receive a new leader at Westwood UMC as I go off to a new assignment.

I’ve asked Sharon Rhodes-Wickett to preach for me in the Sanctuary this Sunday, whatever happens, as I know this week will be an intense one for me. (At this point, I expect to be back for the memorial service for Nancy Price’s mother on Sunday afternoon, whatever happens.) We will have a guest preacher in the Loft this Sunday, as planned.

I can imagine that this brings up emotions for you, too. I have been powerfully changed by the life we have been sharing together here at Westwood UMC, and hope that you have felt the same. I would ask for you to be in prayer with me now, especially through this week, for a good outcome for our congregation and our UMC–whatever it is.

I do believe that God has long been at work with us here at Westwood, calling us to be leaders in a moment of significant change in the United Methodist Church and agents for compassion and love in a time of fracturing and peril for our country, world, and planet. Whatever the outcome is, I know that we will continue to contribute to this important work.

Thank you for holding space for this with me. I am grateful.

grace and peace,
Pastor Molly