Methodists Celebrate Diversity in Christ

Some 1,600 United Methodist delegates elected 21 new bishops to complete the 50-member Council of Bishops in the church. The elections, which began independently across five jurisdictional regions across the States on July 12, ended on Saturday, July 17, 2004. This year, one Hispanic woman, three African American men, two Korean men, one Indian-native, one Japanese man and five Caucasian women were elected to serve as part of the highest ecclesiastical body in the church.