Three UMC Bishops Honored at Recent Convocation

UMARC | July 27, 2025

MADISON, Wisconsin — Three former bishops who served as episcopal leaders of the United Methodist Mountain Sky (Regional) Conference for a combined total of 28 years—Melvin W. Wheatley, Roy I. Sano, and Mary Ann Swenson—were honored at the closing worship service of the 2025 “Uncharted” Convocation of the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) by the United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy and Friends (UMARC), with the financial part of the the 2025 Bishop Karen Oliveto/Robin Ridenour Award being awarded to RMN in their honor. Both RMN and UMARC have championed church inclusiveness for years.

The announcement was made by Ben Roe, a member of the UMARC steering committee. He recalled that these three distinguished spiritual trailblazers were among the fifteen national episcopal leaders that signed a 1996 Denver General Conference declaration opposing United Methodism’s anti- LGBTQ+ polity. At a time of widespread societal bigotry and ecclesial discrimination in the church and society, they also helped ensure that LGBTQ+ persons were more welcome in Mountain Sky churches.

UMARC was formed in 2016 after the election of Bishop Karen Oliveto, the first publicly “out” Lesbian Bishop, and her assignment to the Mountain Sky Conference, in order to support her and encourage dialogue on the inclusion of LGBTQ persons. Because of the death threats and vitriolic letters and emails she was receiving, UMARC arranged for a grant to provide security for her whenever she appeared in public.

UMARC founded the Bishop Karen Oliveto/Robin Ridenour Award in 2024 to recognize and honor those who were also pioneers in the journey towards full inclusion of LGBTQIA2S* persons in the UMC.

RMN received the inaugural 2024 Oliveto/Ridenour Award for championing church inclusiveness. Roe noted that the Mountain Sky Conference was now being served by a second publicly out Lesbian Bishop, Bishop Stoneking. He also acknowledged that all fifteen of the 1996 bishops deserve honor and appreciation for their work and witness for full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ persons. The Rocky Mountain region was fortunate to have these three who blazed the path forward.

Wheatley, who died in 2009, was a well-known champion of human rights, having defended Japanese Americans during their forced internment during World War II. He was the first bishop to speak out against United Methodist policy when he refused to sign the 1980 Episcopal document denouncing gays and lesbians. Accused of heresy in 1982 when he appointed a gay pastor, Rev. Julian Rush, to a Denver parish, he was absolved at trial but got much hate mail.

Sano, who experienced the stigmatization and indignity of the Japanese internment at the age of 11, was elected the first Japanese American bishop in 1984. He advocated for farmworkers and immigrants at the Mexican border. As a theological professor for United Methodist polity at the Pacific School of Religion, he helped his seminary student, Karen P. Oliveto, in the 1980s to navigate her ordination process with integrity.

Swenson, elected bishop in 1992, was host bishop of the 1996 Denver General Conference, when she signed the public dissent. This reflected her unwavering commitment to inclusivity and justice in both church and society, including same gender marriage. She supported Bishop Oliveto when attempts were made to remove her from the episcopacy. In retirement she championed human rights as Vice Moderator of the World Council of Churches.

The other bishops signing the 1996 Declaration (with their served areas in 1996) were Judith Craig, Ohio West Area; William W. Dew, Jr., Portland Area; Calvin D. McConnell, Seattle Area; Susan M. Morrison, Philadelphia Area; Albert “Fritz” Mutti, Kansas Area; Donald A. Ott, Michigan Area; Sharon Zimmerman Rader, Wisconsin Area; Melvin G. Talbert, San Francisco Area; Joseph H. Yeakel, Washington Area; C. Dale White (retired), Newport, Rhode Island; Jesse R. DeWitt, Naperville, Illinois (retired); and Leontine T.C. Kelly (retired), San Mateo, California.