Discipleship Ministries Parts with Top Executive

In a surprising release Jan. 5, the board of United Methodist Discipleship Ministries and its top executive, the Rev. Dr. Timothy Bias, jointly announced that Dr. Bias had left his position as general secretary effective Dec. 31, 2015.

The abrupt and relatively brief announcement caught most United Methodist leaders off-guard, coming right after the busy holiday season and barely four months before the 2016 General Conference scheduled May 10-20 in Portland, Ore.

Sources familiar with the agency, which began in the mid-20th century as the Methodist Board of Evangelism, likened Dr. Bias' departure to a disagreement between the top executive's vision for the agency and the board of directors' understanding of Discipleship Ministries' overall mission.

In response to an inquiry from United Methodist Insight, Discipleship Ministries' communications director, the Rev. Steve Horswill-Johnston, said he "had no problem" with Insight's interpretation of Dr. Bias' departure as the same kind of separation that occurs in the private sector when a CEO and a board of directors are unable to reconcile different intentions for a corporation.

All sources contacted by United Methodist Insight, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed that to the best of their knowledge the mutually agreed separation didn't involve any inappropriate action or malfeasance on Dr. Bias' part. Negotiations were apparently conducted during closed sessions between the directors and Dr. Bias. The United Methodist Book of Discipline permits such meetings by agency directors when personnel matters are involved.

Dr. Bias came to Discipleship Ministries in 2013 from multi-campus Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, and had previously worked at the Board of Discipleship. During his tenure the agency's name was changed from the General Board of Discipleship to Discipleship Ministries as part of a collaborative effort among United Methodist agencies to specify more clearly each division's responsibilities.

In the Discipleship Ministries' press release, Bishop Elaine J. W. Stanovsky of Denver, president of the board, praised Dr. Bias for his innovative leadership and ministry accomplishments during his time as general secretary.

“Tim’s efforts to equip United Methodists for deeper discipleship and his heart for ministry have brought many closer to God, and we are grateful for his work,” she said in the release.

The board has named MaryJane Pierce Norton, recently retired associate general secretary of Discipleship Ministries, as interim general secretary pending a search for Dr. Bias’ successor, according to the press release. The bishop said the board expects to have a new general secretary elected and in place by July 1.

A widely respected and experienced church professional, Norton retired Oct. 31, 2015 from her position as associate general secretary of the agency's Leadership Ministries unit. She had served as associate general secretary since 2008, and worked at the agency since 1981. She is the author of several books, including: The Ministry of Christian Education and Formation: A Practical Guide for Your Congregation, and, Making God Real for a New Generation, co-edited with Craig Miller.

“Our mission remains the same and we are confident in our Interim General Secretary and outstanding staff during this time of transition,” Bishop Stanovsky said in the press release.

Information from the Discipleship Ministries' press release was used in this report.