New Executive
Retiring Bishop Julius C. Trimble has been named the new top executive of the General Board of Church and Society, the United Methodist Church's social justice agency. (Photo Courtesy of Indiana Conference)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Directors of the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society announced April 11 the election of Bishop Julius C. Trimble as the agency’s new General Secretary, effective September 1, 2024.
After a formal search process, Bishop Trimble, soon to retire as the resident bishop to the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church, was recommended by the board’s search committee and was elected by the board during a special session the week of April 8.
“We are pleased to have Bishop Julius Trimble as our next Chief Executive, as he rose to the top in a deep, diversified group of well-qualified candidates,” said Bishop Sally Dyck, board president and ecumenical officer of the United Methodist Council of Bishops. “Throughout his ministry, he is known for his passion as an unwavering advocate for justice and peace, standing with the marginalized, speaking for those who have no voice in the halls of power, and laboring for peace in a fractured and hurting world.”
Bishop Trimble’s background and experience spans over 40 years leading in the United Methodist Church and serving with faith-based peace and justice organizations on a broad spectrum of social justice issues. As a resident bishop to the Iowa Area Conference in 2008 and then to the Indiana Conference in 2016, he has effectively managed staff and provided leadership during times of transition and renewal.
“Bishop Trimble exemplifies the kind of leadership to continue the General Board of Church and Society’s historic legacy of bold social witness on behalf of The United Methodist Church,” said Dr. Randall Miller, vice president of the board of directors and search committee chair. “He is a strong, courageous, and compassionate leader with a unique ability to bring people of diverse backgrounds and viewpoints together to better serve God inside and outside the Church.”
“I am honored by the support of the board and excited to lead the General Board of Church and Society during this next chapter of United Methodist social witness,” said Bishop Trimble. “I am grateful for all I have learned from my colleague bishops these past 16 years and while I will no longer have an active role with the Council, I look forward to shaping our future ministry together in my new role as a General Secretary, as I join the staff and board in our efforts to advance peace and Justice through Church and Society.”
“We are living through a time of deep anxiety within and beyond the church and yet I see and experience signs of hope everyday – and believe Church and Society, in collaboration with others is positioned to lead our beloved United Methodist Church as a beacon of prophetic and transformational ministry,” said Bishop Trimble.
Transition efforts are underway between Bishop Trimble and Interim General Secretary John Hill, who has served in the General Secretary role since January 2023.