The 2016 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference met July 13-15 at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center in Lake Junaluska, NC. The 2016 Conference theme is Hope and Unity in Christ, based on Hebrews 6:18-19a.

 

Jurisdictional conferences meet once every four years with the primary business of election and assignment of bishops. Equal numbers of laity and clergy, elected by each annual conference, are delegates. The North Georgia Conference has 22 clergy and 22 lay delegates as well as 4 clergy and 4 lay alternates. 

 

The 2016 session opened on Wednesday, July 13, and concluded on Friday, July 15, with the Service of Consecration for newly elected episcopal leaders. 

 

Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson Assigned to the North Georgia Conference
The Southeastern Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy announced Thursday, July 14, that Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson has been assigned as the next bishop of the North Georgia Conference. The assignment begins September 1. Haupert-Johnson, 54, was elected bishop Wednesday, July 13, at the jurisdiction’s quadrennial meeting at Lake Junaluska. On the tenth ballot, she received 230 of 375 votes cast. She will be the North Georgia Conference's first female bishop. 
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Sharma Lewis, Sue Haupert-Johnson Among Bishops Consecrated at Lake Junaluska
"With joy and with God's grace I present to you our new bishops!" said Bishop Larry Goodpaster. Five new United Methodist bishops were consecrated in The United Methodist Church this morning at the closing service of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. North Georgia's episcopal nominee Sharma Lewis, North Georgia's next episcopal leader Sue Haupert-Johnson, David Graves, Leonard Fairley and Lawson Bryan were set apart for the ministry of bishop. 
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Sharma Lewis Elected Bishop in The United Methodist Church
In an historic election, the Rev. Sharma Lewis of the North Georgia Annual Conference was elected bishop by the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church. She was elected on the first ballot at the jurisdiction’s quadrennial meeting at Lake Junaluska, N.C. She was consecrated on July 15 and has been assigned to the Virginia Annual Conference.
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Episcopal Assignments

Virginia Conference - Bishop Sharma Lewis
North Georgia - Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson
Alabama-West Florida - Bishop David Graves
Florida - Bishop Ken Carter
Holston - Bishop Mary Virginia Taylor
Kentucky and Red Bird Missionary - Bishop Leonard Fairley
Mississippi - Bishop James Swanson
Tennessee and Memphis - Bishop Bill McAlilly
North Alabama - Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett
North Carolina - Bishop Hope Morgan Ward
South Carolina - Bishop Jonathan Holston
South Georgia - Bishop Lawson Bryan
Western North Carolina - Bishop Paul Leeland 

A Week in Photos

View photos from a week filled with history-making and spirit-led moments as the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference carried out its work at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. 
PHOTO GALLERY
 

MORE NEWS

• What a Day! SEJ Elects Five Bishops, Makes History
• Bishop Watson Appoints Coy Hinton to ADOX District 
• Rev. Sharma Lewis Elected Bishop in the United Methodist Church
• North Georgians to Serve on General Boards and Agencies
• Jurisdictional Conference Reduces Budget by 60 Percent 
• SEJ Conference Meets July 13-15 at Lake Junaluska 
• North Georgia Delegation Endorses Sharma Lewis as Episcopal Nominee
• Board of Laity Affirms the Nomination of Rev. Lewis for Office of Bishop 
• North Georgia Delegations to General and Jurisdictional Conference Elected

Thank You to the North Georgia Delegation!

North Georgia's Delegation to General and Jurisdictional Conference spent the year praying, meeting, discerning, supporting, listening and preparing on behalf of our Annual Conference. They spent weeks away from family and work, doing the work of The United Methodist Church. Please continue to keep in your prayers and express your gratitude to:

Mathew A. Pinson  
Jane Finley  
Keith Cox  
Jeff Jernigan  
Bill Stikes  
Randy Brown  
Lathem Postell  
Rachel Fullerton  
Joe Wesley Kilpatrick  
Tonya Murphy  
Gary Fuller  
Sharma Denise Lewis 
Philip Daniel Schroeder 
Jane Newman Brooks 
P. Alice Rogers 
James Carlton Cantrell III 
Steven Wood Sr. 
Richard Don Winn Sr. 
Charles Walter Savage II 
Kyle Edward Tomlinson 
Herzen De Vega Andone 
Byron Eric Thomas 
Jasper J. Russell Sr. 
Leon Jourolmon III 
Tom Cook 
Lee D. Highsmith 
Bill Martin 
Elizabeth Corrie 
Sue Raymond 
Janet Sligar 
Dianne Andrews Spencer 
Linda Culpepper  
Lily del C. Berrios   
Deloris F. Carhee 
Kathryn Schroeder 
Bob Fincher 
Richard L. Williamson 
Debby Stikes 
Nora Elizabeth Colmenares 
Bridgette Denise Young-Ross 
Dalton Troy Rushing 
David Cochran Walters 
Bernice Williams Kirkland 
Olujimi Wesley Brown 
Rodrigo Cruz 
Elizabeth Camak LaRocca-Pitts 
Michael Lee Cash 
Juan A. Quintanilla 
Howard Davidson Allen Grady   
Leon Edward Matthews Jr. 
James Hughes Lowry Jr. 
Kate Hurst Floyd 
John Arthur Beyers 
Hugh Bentley Cathey Sr.

Helpful Links

• Agenda for the 2016 SEJ Jurisdictional Conference - downloaded here
• SEJ website - www.sejumc.org/2016sejconf
• Advance Daily Christian Advocate - download here