This week the Jurisdictional Conferences will meet and elect new bishops for the United Methodist church. We pray for a spirit of discernment for our elected delegates as they select those who will provide leadership for our denomination. It is always difficult to tell what will happen in light of the events that take place. In jurisdictions where there are multiple retirements, several will be elected, yet in our jurisdiction, there will only be one election.

But regardless of how they get elected, the direction of our church is largely set by the leadership we put in place. It is my hope that we will elect a set of leaders who seek not to preserve the past but have that visionary leadership that will allow our church to grow and meet the spiritual needs of the 21st century. May God grant all of us wisdom in this new time and with our new leaders whomever they will be.