Western Jurisdiction Elects Hispanic Clergywoman, Married Gay Clergyman as Bishops

November 4, 2022

8:30 PM

Western election

Retired Bishop Mary Ann Swenson hugs the back of Bishop-elect Cedrick Bridgeforth as he is welcomed to the platform after his election Nov. 4. (Western Jurisdiction Photo)

After days of struggling with an enormous class of candidates intended to model a racial-ethnic-gender inclusive church – and still coming up against allegations of racism in the election process – delegates to the Western Jurisdiction Conference elected a Hispanic clergywoman and an openly gay married pastor as the last two of their three allotted bishops Nov. 4.

Postponing their dinner break, delegates proceeded to elect the Rev. Dr. Cedric Bridgeforth from the California-Pacific Annual Conference and the Rev. Dottie Escobedo-Frank from the Desert Southwest Annual Conference. Earlier on Nov. 4 delegates elected the Rev. Carlo A. Rapanut of the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference as the denomination's first Filipino-American bishop.

Western delegates faced the prospect of having to work long into the night as bishops and conference officials warned they must finish their work on Nov. 4. One jurisdictional officer even joked the body would "get no ice cream for dinner" unless they completed the elections. Presumably ice cream followed the Friday night dinner of chicken enchiladas with vegan and other alternatives for those with special needs.

Bishop-elect Bridgeforth and Bishop-elect Escobedo-Frank were elevated in quick succession as the day was drawing toward sunset. The tally of votes from Bishop-elect Bridgeforth's elections drew an awed "ooh" from the crowd when the tabulation showed that Rev. Escobedo-Frank was within striking distance of election. The conference then requested another ballot, which put Rev. Escobedo-Frank over the top.

Bishop and spouse

Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth thanks his spouse, Christopher Hucks-Ortiz, after his election. (Photo Courtesy of Izzy Alvaran / Facebook)

Bishop-elect Bridgeforth served as director of innovation and communication for the California-Pacific Conference prior to his election. He holds a doctorate of education in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University and is the founder of an independent executive coaching ministry, 20/20 Leadership Lessons. He served churches in Los Angeles and Santa Ana, Calif., and as a district superintendent. He has been an officer and board member for Black Methodists for Church Renewal and on the board of Wespath Benefits and Investments, the United Methodist pension and benefits agency. Among his four books, he authored "Alabama Grandson," a memoir written in the form of letters to his grandmother about coming out as a gay man.

Oregon-Idaho communicator Kristen Caldwell wrote in a report for UM News: "In his post-election remarks, Bridgeforth expressed his gratitude to the bishops who had appointed him to serve in various ways. In addition, he praised his fellow delegates who he served with and chose to elect him bishop.

“'I’m glad to be among you, you giants of justice, you lovers of mercy,” he said. “May we always be doers of good. Amen.'”

At the mic

Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank thanks delegates after her election. Behind her Bishop Carlo Rapanut (left), also elected Nov. 4, and her spouse, Jim (right). (Photo Courtesy of Izzy Alvaran / Facebook)

Bishop-elect Escobedo-Frank served as a pastor and district superintendent in the Desert Southwest Conference prior to her election. Her online bio says she "grew up on the mission field in Nogales, Arizona and Mexico." She was a social worker for 15 years before answering a call to ordained ministry. The author of several books on Bible studies and church renewal, she noted after her election that she is the first person in her family to earn bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. In December 2016, she helped launch The Inn Project, a Desert Southwest program to house asylum seekers temporarily so that families and children could be released sooner from detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In their report for UM News, Caldwell and California-Nevada communicator Selby Ewing wrote: "Escobedo-Frank said in her post-election remarks that there is still room for everyone around the table, and that the church needs to make even more room around the table and hear the cries from those who suffer from injustice.

“'We are here for one simple thing, and that is to love,' she said. 'The more perfect we can be, the more loving we can be, that’s the only perfection that’s needed. That’s the only method that we need. That’s the only grace that we need.'”

Both new bishops are graduates of United Methodist-related Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, Calif.

Western Jurisdiction will consecrate its three new bishops on Saturday, Nov. 5, and episcopal assignments are expected to be announced then.

Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011. Information from UM News was used in this report.

Comments (2)

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History repeats itself, as exampled by this article, no matter the venue…

“And from England once sailed the new, modern, unsinkable, Titanic. She was larger and grander and more certain to thrill those who boarded her, many toward a new life in the new world… Passengers and crew found those icebergs which shared that Northern sea of interest and hoped for a closer look. The Captain and his team wanted to set a new speed record from old world to new… As Titanic passed too close, grazing one iceberg, that snow and ice fell onto the decks. Passengers made snowballs and enjoyed the moment, oblivious to the reality of their doom. Some would escape while most would go down with the ship…”
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And from the disruption of WW II, returned so many, but not to the farm. They found the cities and industrial jobs of interest. They brought their strong rural Faith with them, so Methodist Churches were established and grew – reaching a level of “largest Protestant denomination” in America, just a quarter-century after the war’s end… But, just as Titanic sailed among icebergs, the Methodist Church thrived among cities and, worse, liberal universities, where traditional values are relentlessly attacked. The cancer of liberalism was introduced. As with Titanic, the church members and crew enjoyed the trappings of their large, active church, oblivious to the reality of its doom…
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Now, fifty years on, the cancer of liberalism had so metastasized in the UMC, the end was finally accepted. Millions of members had already taken other lifeboats to other denominations, or simply to TV or nothing, but now a new, rescue denomination has come alongside. Nothing more to be debated now except, perhaps, the arrangement of the deck chairs…

Reese more than 1 year ago

Arrogance

The UMC leadership are so arrogant they actually think the majority of their members agree with violating the BOD - and those who don't are expendable. They are so arrogant that they can not look at the other denominations who have traveled this path and are now turning more people away from their churches than they are bringing in. They are so arrogant that they can not even distinguish between socio-political activism and winning souls for Christ.

I do not oppose same-sex marriage. As a lawyer, I have represented many same-sex couples in protecting their rights before same-sex marriage was legal. But as a Christian clergy now, I am limited in officiating marriages by the Biblical definition of marriage between one mand and one woman, as well as two believers. That doesn't mean I hate same-sex couples any more than it means I hate Jewish or Muslim couples because I can't officiate their weddings.

The UMC's current path has nothing to do with not causing harm - they are several denominations with 10s of thousands of churches that already serve the LGBT+ community. No LGBT+ member is being denied attending a Christian church, getting married in a Christian church, or being a pastor/bishop. This is not about causing no harm to LGBT+ members. This is about causing harm to traditional Christians. A "chose your own definition of marriage" confederation of churches does not make a denomination. The UMC is the last mainline denomination for Christians who value the Biblical definition of marriage. That is coming to an end. The harm is being done to them.

Steve more than 1 year ago