Episcopal Area
Encyclopedia
An Episcopal Area in the United Methodist Church
(UMC) is a basic unit of this denomination. It is a region presided over by a resident bishop
that is similar to a diocese
in other Christian denominations. Each annual conference
in the UMC is within a single episcopal area; some episcopal areas include more than one annual conference. Episcopal areas are found in the United States
as well as internationally. In some cases, such as the Western Jurisdiction of the U.S. as well as some places internationally, an episcopal area covers a very large territory (several U.S. states or countries, respectively).
, not having specific "residential responsibilities," but expected to exercise episcopal supervision throughout the denomination (including internationally), traveling throughout "the connection." Beginning with the General Conference of 1872, the Methodist Episcopal Church
(MEC) designated certain cities as proper locations for episcopal residences. The objective was to secure for each part of the Church more certain and constant episcopal supervision. Each bishop was therefore assigned to one of these residences by his colleagues.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South
(MECS) began to observe a similar practice to that of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Methodist Protestant Church
(MPC) had no bishops until the eve of the 1939 reunion with the MEC and MECS churches, when MPC delegates elected two bishops to serve in the new Methodist Church. The Evangelical Church
and the Church of the United Brethren in Christ
placed their bishops over larger, multi-state regions, primarily because of the lower density of their respective congregations.
Also established in 1939 was the Central Jurisdiction, which provided for African American
bishops to preside over African American annual conferences scattered throughout the U.S. These conferences were not necessarily geographically contiguous (as are the other five jurisdictions).
, all bishops were assigned to these jurisdictions, and within them, each to one episcopal area.
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
(UMC) is a basic unit of this denomination. It is a region presided over by a resident bishop
Resident Bishop (United Methodist)
A Resident Bishop in the United Methodist Church is a Bishop appointed to a specific Episcopal Area . A Resident Bishop also is the Presiding Bishop of any and all Annual Conferences of the Church within the Area...
that is similar to a diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
in other Christian denominations. Each annual conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
in the UMC is within a single episcopal area; some episcopal areas include more than one annual conference. Episcopal areas are found in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as well as internationally. In some cases, such as the Western Jurisdiction of the U.S. as well as some places internationally, an episcopal area covers a very large territory (several U.S. states or countries, respectively).
Beginnings
In the early histories of the denominations which formed the UMC, bishops were elected at-largeAt-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
, not having specific "residential responsibilities," but expected to exercise episcopal supervision throughout the denomination (including internationally), traveling throughout "the connection." Beginning with the General Conference of 1872, the Methodist Episcopal Church
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
(MEC) designated certain cities as proper locations for episcopal residences. The objective was to secure for each part of the Church more certain and constant episcopal supervision. Each bishop was therefore assigned to one of these residences by his colleagues.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South
Methodist Episcopal Church, South
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, or Methodist Episcopal Church South, was the so-called "Southern Methodist Church" resulting from the split over the issue of slavery in the Methodist Episcopal Church which had been brewing over several years until it came out into the open at a conference...
(MECS) began to observe a similar practice to that of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Methodist Protestant Church
Methodist Protestant Church
The Methodist Protestant Church is a regional Church body which was officially formed in 1828 by former members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, remaining Wesleyan in doctrine and worship, but adopting congregational governance....
(MPC) had no bishops until the eve of the 1939 reunion with the MEC and MECS churches, when MPC delegates elected two bishops to serve in the new Methodist Church. The Evangelical Church
Evangelical Association
The Evangelical Church or Evangelical Association, also known as the Albright Brethren, is a "body of American Christians chiefly of German descent", Arminian in doctrine and theology; in its form of church government, Methodist Episcopal....
and the Church of the United Brethren in Christ
Church of the United Brethren in Christ
The Church of the United Brethren in Christ is an evangelical Christian denomination based in Huntington, Indiana. It is a Protestant denomination of episcopal structure, Arminian theology, with roots in the Mennonite and German Reformed communities of 18th century Pennsylvania, as well as close...
placed their bishops over larger, multi-state regions, primarily because of the lower density of their respective congregations.
1939 Methodist reunion
With the merger of three Methodist denominations in 1939 to form The Methodist Church, jurisdictions were established, in which bishops were elected by jurisdictional conferences and assigned to episcopal areas within each jurisdiction (to itinerate within thereafter). Methodist bishops continued to serve as episcopal leaders of the entire denomination, but with specific residential and presidential duties to the annual conferences within their areas.Also established in 1939 was the Central Jurisdiction, which provided for African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
bishops to preside over African American annual conferences scattered throughout the U.S. These conferences were not necessarily geographically contiguous (as are the other five jurisdictions).
1968 Methodist-E.U.B. merger
The Central Jurisdiction began to be dismantled in the 1960s, integrating African American bishops into the five geographical jurisdictions. By the 1968 merger of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren ChurchEvangelical United Brethren Church
The Evangelical United Brethren Church was an American Protestant church which was formed in 1946 by the merger of the Evangelical Church with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ...
, all bishops were assigned to these jurisdictions, and within them, each to one episcopal area.
Central conferences
One exception is the central conference system outside the U.S. These conferences also elect their own Bishops, often limiting them to terms (though most also provide for subsequent lifetime election, as in the U.S.). Nevertheless, these central conference bishops are also assigned to episcopal areas within each central conference. The bishops therein elected also become members of The Council of Bishops of the UMCSee also
- United Methodist ChurchUnited Methodist ChurchThe United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
- Conferences of the United Methodist ChurchConferences of the United Methodist ChurchThe following is a list of the Conferences of The United Methodist Church.-Conference Listings:There are several kinds of Conferences of The United Methodist Church.*General Conference is the highest deliberative body for the United Methodist Church....
- General conference (United Methodist Church)General conference (United Methodist Church)The General Conference of The United Methodist Church is the denomination's top legislative body for all matters affecting the United Methodist connection...
- Annual Conferences
- Central Conferences (United Methodist Church)Central Conferences (United Methodist Church)The Central Conferences is a collection of Annual Conferences of The United Methodist Church located outside the United States are organized into central conferences, much like Jurisdictional Conferences.-List of Central Conferences:...
- List of bishops of the United Methodist Church
- DioceseDioceseA diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
Sources
- Cyclopaedia of Methodism, Matthew Simpson, D.D., LL.D., Ed., (Revised Edition.) Philadelphia, Louis H. Everts, 1880.http://wesley.nnu.edu/wesleyctr/books/0801-0900/HDM0830.PDF
- Books of Discipline (various years) of the Methodist Episcopal, Methodist, Evangelical United Brethren and United Methodist Churches.
- Norwood, Frederick A., The Story of American Methodism, Nashville, Abingdon Press, 1974.
- Norwood, Frederick A., Sourcebook of American Methodism, Nashville, Abingdon Press, 1982.