Friday began still needing to elect two Bishops with four candidates receiving significant votes, Mike Lowry, Cheryl Bell, Rodney Steele and Jim Dorff. Lowry was the closest to being elected and before the morning was over that happened. Just as the day before, I was surprised again that it was such a Holy Moment. I don't know Mike Lowry well or have any opinion about his qualifications for the episcopacy, but the announcement that the church had affirmed and elected him as Bishop was very emotional. After a standing ovation for Mike and his wife, the Conference again sang the Doxology with no instruments and in beautiful harmony. The experience is a wonderful metaphor for the church. We may not always get along or agree. We often fight like cats and dogs on certain issues, but at the end of the day, there is nothing more beautiful than the people of God joining together to sing their faith. The theme for Jurisdictional Conference is "Hope of the World," and it is in these Holy Moments that I have found my hope renewed.
The morning also included a retirement service for Bishop Benjamin Chamness and Bishop Joel Martinez. I did not have high expectations for worship, but it was surprisingly meaningful. The service was pretty ordinary, but the opportunity to celebrate the lives and service of these two men was moving. It gave us an opportunity to see a very human side of our Bishops and to say well done good and faithful servants.
After Mike Lowry was elected, Cheryl Bell and Rodney Steele were running neck and neck for the final slot, but the next few ballots changed the entire dynamics of the race. Jim Dorff started receiving more votes and eventually became the front runner. Roberto Gomez dropped out followed by Rodney Steele. For the rest of the afternoon, Cheryl and Jim were locked in a stalemate with Jim leading by around 40 votes but still 20+ votes short of being elected. Instead of changing votes some conferences began lifting other candidates with their votes. Following the dinner break it has only become more of a mess with four new candidates. It is going to be a long evening.
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