Bishop Harvey Screenshot
Council of Bishops President Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey gavee her presidential address at the opening of the Council meeting on Nov. 2, 2020. (Council of Bishops File Photo)
The United Methodist Council of Bishops opened its Fall 2020 session with a 40-minute worship service focused on themes from the time-honored hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" in light of the multiple crises facing the world and the global United Methodist denomination.
The more than 120 bishops serving in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America gathered virtually due to coronavirus pandemic travel restrictions, according to a Council press release.
Council President Bishop Cynthia Fiero Harvey gave her president's address as part of the opening worship. She addressed the high level of anxiety across the worldwide denomination from a year fraught with multiple disasters.
Bishop Harvey, whose Louisiana episcopal area has been hit this year by three hurricanes, said the bishops' goal for their time together was to determine "how we will lead in this liminal time." She said the Council will spend a total of 16 hours together as a body, conversing via the Zoom conferencing website.
Bishop Harvey said the business agenda for the Council would cover missional strategy, dismantling racism, financial stability, and a report from the General Commission on the General Conference. Holding the 2021 General Conference – postponed from this past May because of the global coronavirus pandemic – as a virtual event is under consideration in light of the pandemic's persistence.
"We seek strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow," said Bishop Harvey, quoting from the familiar hymn to describe the tasks before United Methodist leaders..
The bishops' opening worship included "a litany of the saints" that memorialized the bishops and bishops' spouses and widows who have died in the past year. They included three retired bishops, Ralph Kern Eustler, Michael Coyner, and J. Woodrow Hearn, and active Bishop John Yambasu, tragically killed in a car crash Aug. 16.
Bishops' spouses and widows who have died included the Rev. Dr. Sherrie Dobbs Johnson, wife of retired Bishop Alfred Johnson; and Mrs. Virginia R. Clymer (Bishop Wayne Clymer); Mrs. Marie S. Webb (Bishop Lance Webb); Mrs. Betty Ann Boulton (Bishop Ed Boulton); Mrs. Ruth R. Handy (Bishop W. T. Handy); Mrs. Martha Carson Hardt (Bishop John Wesley Hardt); and Mrs. Ina Schowengerdt (Bishop Louis Schowengerdt).
Live-streamed on the Council of Bishops' Facebook page, the opening session concluded with immediate past president Bishop Kenneth Carter (Florida Area) reading a prayer composed by the Rev. Lisa Degrenia, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Sarasota, Fla.
Prayer for Election Day
Holy God, One yet Three. Reach into the abundance of your companionship. Bring forth unity ad healing in our land.
Cover this election with fairness and dignity. Dismantle voter suppression and intimidation. Grant simple, safe, equal access to the polls. Make the way for all voices to be heard, all votes to be counted.
Cover this election with grace and integrity. Protect the process from corruption. Strengthen all working for an honorable election. Make the way for all voices to be valued. All results to be trustworthy.
Cover this election with compassion and hope. As we await results and move into a new era, soften and soothe hard, violent hearts. Rain down generosity of spirit and a commitment to the common good, so all may know blessing and opportunity and belonging. Amen.
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.