Bishop Ben Chamness to Serve Nashville Episcopal Area

CTCUMC.org has just learned the Council of Bishops, on a motion from the South East Jurisdiction College of Bishops (SEJC), has approved the assignment of Bishop Ben Chamness to the Nashville Episcopal Area effective Sept. 1, 2011 to Aug.31, 2012. The Nashville Episcopal Area is made up of the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences.  Bishop Chamness will be completing the term of Bishop Wills, who has requested early retirement.

In his most recent post, Bishop Mike Lowry stated that Dr. Chamness’ new assignment is like sending a missionary to the Nashville area. For those attending our Annual Conference, you’ll have the opportunity to congratulate Bishop Chamness and wish him well as he will preside over the meeting – at Bishop Lowry’s request - from 8:30-10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 7.
 
Ordained as a deacon and elder in the Texas Conference by Bishop Paul Martin, Dr. Chamness served for more than 37 years as a member of the Texas Conference, including as District Superintendent of the Houston Northwest District from 1996-2000. In 2000, he was elected to the episcopacy by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference and served as Bishop of the Central Texas Conference until his retirement in 2008. For more on Bishop Chamness, please visit his umc.org bio.
 
The Council of Bishops is made up of all active and retired bishops of The United Methodist Church. The Council meets twice a year. Please check back here next week for more news and updates from the just adjourned Council of Bishops meeting.