By: Council of Bishop The United Methodist Church Before nearly 800 delegates and hundreds of observers, Bishop Tracy S. Malone, resident bishop of the East Ohio Conference, on Tuesday afternoon took the mantle as the new president of the Council of Bishops (COB) of  The United Methodist Church. In so doing, she became the  first Black woman in the history of the global denomination to ascend to the pinnacle of episcopacy leadership. Bishop Malone accepted the gavel from outgoing President Bishop  Thomas Bickerton to a standing ovation at the General Conference of  The United Methodist Church, which is taking place at the Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C. “I am honored to serve as the President of the Council of Bishops in the midst of these challenging and hope-filled times in the life of our beloved United Methodist Church,” she said. “Fresh winds of God’s spirit are moving across the Church and creating missional pathways for the next visible expression and witness of  The United Methodist Church.” Bishop Malone was elected as president during the COB meeting at Lake Junaluska in November last year. She will lead the COB for two years. “I stand here tonight hopeful, encouraged, grateful, and excitedly expectant,” Bishop Malone said as she received the gavel at a COB meeting April 20, “for what God will do through my leadership and through our leadership together as we trust in God’s provisions for the now and the emerging next expression of  e United Methodist Church.” Bishop Malone said at that meeting that she is offering nothing less than herself to the ministry of leading the COB. “I am prepared to bring all of who I am and my gi s, wisdom, and experience to my role as President of the Council of Bishops and to my leadership and role in the Church,” she said. Bishop Malone, who was elected bishop in 2016, added that she has “unshakable confidence” in how the bishops will lead the “whole church,” she said. She will lead a COB leadership Team that includes Bishop Ruben Saenz, resident bishop of the Central […]

The post FIRST BLACK FEMALE PRESIDENT OF COB appeared first on African American News and Issues.