Methodists propose cutting number of bishops

NASHVILLE — The United Methodist Church may have too many bishops, and trimming the number of prelates could save the church $1 million per bishop, according to the church’s finance agency. A proposal to cut at least five bishops will be considered by next year’s general conference meeting in Pittsburgh. Delegates to the meeting will vote on a four–year $586-million budget that includes a fund to support the work of church bishops.

The 8.4-million-member church currently has 50 bishops in the United States and 18 bishops in “central conferences” outside the United States. Bishops are elected to their posts by five regional U.S. jurisdictions. The church’s Southeastern Jurisdiction, which covers an area from Virginia to Alabama, is growing enough to add another bishop in 2004 under a formula used to place bishops, according to United Methodist News Service. The church’s general council on finance and administration says an expected boon in retirements would make it easy to cut one bishop in each of the five jurisdictions. Each cut would save the church $1 million over four years in salary, benefits, travel and support staff costs. Conferences within each jurisdiction would likely be reconfigured under the plan.