FORT WORTH, Texas — Bishop Larry Goodpaster of Alabama was unanimously elected president-designate of the United Methodist Church’s (UMC) council of bishops at the denomination’s General Conference in Texas.
"I’m really excited about finding ways we can work together," said Goodpaster, chosen by fellow bishops to serve a two-year term beginning in 2010. "We’ve said the mission of our church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, and so we want to see that happen."
The council of bishops, composed of all active and retired bishops in the 11.5 million-member UMC, meets twice a year. Goodpaster, who has served as bishop to the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the UMC since 2000, has earned degrees from Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., and Candler School of Theology in Atlanta. He was ordained a deacon in 1971 and an elder in 1974.
Share with others: