I'm not really in the know but it seems to me that this election was a rejection of the OLD line and embracing a new group. I say that because the former General Officers were all rejected and only one candidate, PE Guidry was one of those expected to be elected. Some candidates with powerful backing were rejected. A block composed of the female and African bishops coupled with the other forward-looking bishops should be an effective agent for change. The class that retired represents a powerful force that has guided the church for several decades.

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2004

Answers

I am always happy to see your communiques, and you must know that I do owe you a lot concerning my internet communications.

Whilst one is forever thankful for the guidedance of the "old school" one must be frank that the status quo has been in place too long. There was too much power directed in the wrong direction.

POwer must be handed to the people and not the chosen few. I accept the pace at which the church is moving as far as the ADC is concerned, but it is by no means what I desire for the church in the end. ( you have visited my sites concerning my thinking and the direction we should be on.

Indigeneous leadership for me means just that!! An African should have no desire to serve in the United States, though the oppertunity must be available, he must grow where he is planted!! It will take some time, but I believe with all my heart that there will be much divideds to the church when we come into our own (connectionally in touch, but led here in Africa by those who know)

Love Clive

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2004

I would not characterize this as a rejection of the "old line" - the "old line" retired and, had the retirement rule not been in place, would likely have continued business as usual . . . which is why I'm in favor of mandatory retirement.

We need new ideas and new blood at the top.

Firstly - so that we can keep the persons who are already there from becoming bored and cynical.

Secondly - so that fresh perspectives can be used to address issues that have gone unsolved.

(Of course, my position my change 30 years from now when I hit my 70's!)

The election of TWO women Bishops merely reflects the realities of the African-American church: women are entering the ministry at record levels and we will be looking at a day very soon where there will be more female ordained ministers than males in our Annual Conferences.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2004

I think this election showed the influence that John Bryant and McKinley Young are beginning to have on our Zion. Guidry, & Frances Davis are from Episcopal Districts that Bryant has served or is serving and Butch Davis and Earl McCloud are from the District from which Young was elected and Frances Davis is from his district. Now how does Sam Green fit into this picture? I don't know but I am sure someone on this board will help me.

I don't know about you but with our new breed of bishops I pray that things will change. Congratulations to the First District. I think Richard Norris will take you to higher heights.

-- Anonymous, July 09, 2004

Harold,

I agree with your comments. Bishop Bryant will be senior bishop 2008-2016, and bishop Young 2016-2020. They are ranked second and fourth in seniority now.

As for Bishop Green, I defer to our friend and colleague on the ground in the 11th. :- ). But I would also note that Bishop Adams was in the second when bishop Bryant was elected, the sixth when Bishop Young was elected, and the eleventh when Bishop Green was elected.

-- Anonymous, July 09, 2004

Far from the "Beauty Contest" as it was referred to in an earlier post, I believe this was indeed a historic election and a true "changing of the guard. An opportunity to change the face of our Episcopal leadership to the extent that we did at the 2004 General Conference happens only one every 25-30 years. The last time it happened was at the 1972 General Conference. Many of that Episcopal class were among those that retired this past Wednesday.

It is inconceiveable to me that electing a total of EIGHT new Bishops, including several in their 40's, several from the Continent of Africa and two new women, will not impact the direction that the Church is moving.

I also think that the General Conference of 2004 did in fact represent a classic power/influence stuggle between Bishops John Bryant, Bishop Young and those aligned with them and the "old guard". You saw it in the hotly contested race for the Chairman of the Episcopal Committee which Bryant clearly won and you saw it in the election of Bishops in which John Bryant and McKinley Young clearly emerged as victors. As a ministerial delegate in the 5th District, I can tell you that with the exception of the very first ballot where we were honor bound to support all of the three candidates from our District, the Ticket of Guidry, J Davis, Green, S. Davis and McCloud was STRONGLY pushed and endorsed by Bishop Bryant personally. All five subsequently swept to victory. Even with the overseas candidates, the persons endorsed by Bishop Bryant won two of the three spots. Finally, I think another variable that has created a shift in power in the General Conference was the introduction of the elecronic voting pad. The abilty of each delegate to vote his/her heart and conscience in the pricy of ones own seat has broken the power of Old line delegation politics. This was obvious in the case of the election of the Episcopal Chair, in the vote taken on numerous items of conterversial legislation and rulings of the Chair in which a division of the house was called for as well as in the Episcopal Elections. Even in the case of Bishop Bryant, his strength was in his influence among the delegation rather than in his ability to mandate or enforce his will on the delegation as has been the case of Bishops in previous Conferences. Many, many experienced delegates commented to me that some of the decisions made by the Conference would have NEVER happened had we been voting the old ways...

Just my two cents worth,

Pastor Mike Barta

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2004

Those wwere my thoughts. Bishop Bryant is going to have such a long tenure as a bishop, his group will determine the direction for the next half century. What an awesome responsibility! Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2004

One pastor in my district made this point I think It is a good one. General Officer is no longer an automatic stepping stone to the episcopacy.

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2004