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2016 South Central Jurisdictional Conference

Meet Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.

Stories from the conference

• New bishops consecrated in South Central Jurisdiction
• Ruben Saenz Jr. assigned as new bishop to the Great Plains Conference
• Rio Texas pastor elected first for three bishop positions in the South Central Jurisdiction
• Northwest Texas official elected on 21^st ballot
• Third South Central bishop elected on record 35^th ballot
• Judicial Council ruling sought regarding election of gay bishop; Council of Bishops president issues statement
• Delegates blend competing statement son human sexuality
• South Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops issues statement on unity
• Delegates endorse Mission 21 plan that could realign Texas conferences
• Area night puts focus on worship

Photo gallery

More than 280 photos from the conference including the memorial service, the consecration service and everything in between. View the photos on Flickr.

Bishop Saenz's welcome breakfast held at St. Paul UMC in Wichita, Kansas. View the photos on Flickr.

Videos

Wednesday, July 13

• The memorial service, featuring Great Plains Bishop Scott Jones delivering the sermon.

Thursday, July 14

• Morning worship featuring the Rev. Amy Lippoldt of Basehor (Kansas) UMC
• Report from the Committee on the Episcopacy
• Episcopal address by Bishop Mike Lowry of the Central Texas Conference.
• Election of Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., who has been assigned to the Great Plains Conference
• Laity Address
• SMU Report and Trustees election
• Jurisdiction Youth Ministry report
• Lydia Patterson Institute report
• Finance and Treasurer’s report
• Mission Council report and thank you to Rev. Dr. David Severe
• Celebration of 30 Years of Disciple Bible Study
• Volunteers in Mission report
• Financial and Budget report
• United Methodist Women report
• United Methodist Men report

Friday, July 15

• Morning’s worship service featuring the Rev. Junius Dotson, general secretary of Discipleship Ministries and formerly of Saint Mark UMC in Wichita.
• Korean Ministry Report 
• Service Honoring Retiring Bishops
• Election of Bishop James “Jimmy” Nunn, who has been assigned to the Oklahoma and Oklahoma Indian Missionary conferences
• Election of Robert “Bob” Farr, who has been assigned to the Missouri Conference
• Greeting from the Council of Bishops
• Committee on Petitions and Resolutions 
• Mt. Sequoyah report
• Perkins School of Theology report 
• St. Paul School of Theology report
• Mission 21 annual conference boundaries study
                     View the PowerPoint presentation about the options.
• Resolution calling for Judicial Council decision regarding election of openly gay bishop in the Western Jurisdiction
                     View the wording of the motion that passed.
• Announcement of the assignment of bishops

Saturday, July 16

• Consecration service from First United Methodist Church in Wichita

The Great Plains Conference hosted the 2016 South Central Jurisdictional Conference, July 13-16, 2016, at the Hyatt Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Three new bishops were elected, episcopal leaders were assigned to the 12 annual conferences within the jurisdiction's boundaries and discussions of other matters pertinent to the United Methodists living within the eight represented states were made.