Oliveto Elected

On the 17th ballot of the Western Jurisdictional Conference episcopal elections, following the withdrawal of two of the remaining three candidates, Rev. Karen Oliveto was elected to the Episcopacy of The United Methodist Church. Oliveto was the Senior Pastor of Glide United Methodist Church in San Francisco before election.

She is the first openly gay bishop elected to the United Methodist Church.

Western Jurisdiction delegates elected her with 88 votes after the other two remaining candidates, Rev. Dottie Escobedo-Frank, from the Desert Southwest Conference, and Rev. Walter "Skip" Strickland, from the Rocky Mountain Conference both withdrew.

Bishop Karen Oliveto

Now What?

The Jurisdictional Episcopacy Committee will meet into the night to determine their recommendation for assignments of bishops to episcopal areas. They will present their recommendation to the conference Saturday morning for ratification.

See video clips of Oliveto and withdrawal speeches from other candidates on the Western Jurisdiction Facebook page.