TableTalk

July 23, 2008
Special Edition For Church Leaders Gathered at The Table
TABLETALK is a publication of The Rocky Mountain Conference Office of Communications
Information and Concerns of RMC Leadership, for RMC Leadership
Web address: rmcumc.org/News/table/

Rocky Mountain Conference To Welcome New Bishop

At its recent Conference, the Western Jurisdiction elected two new bishops and assigned one to the Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone Conferences. Bishop Elaine J. W. Stanovsky will begin her tenure as Episcopal leader of the Denver Area September 1.

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr., who has served this Area for the past 8 years was assigned to the San Francisco Episcopal Area, responsible for the California-Nevada Conference. The other new bishop, Grant Hagiya from the Cal-Pacific Conference, was assigned to the Seattle Area, responsible for the Pacific Northwest and Alaska Conferences.

Bishop Stanovsky comes to us from her post as Seattle District Superintendent and Dean of the Cabinet. She managed two districts with 98 churches prior to this, and has been Director of Connectional Ministries, head of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, and a local church pastor. She is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound (a UM-related school) and Harvard Divinity School (1981).

After her election, she was surrounded by Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone delegates who blessed and prayed for her.

At her consecration, she was surrounded by bishops who blessed and consecrated her.

She was a young adult observer at the 1972 General Conference and has been both lay head of delegation in 1976 and clergy head of delegation in 1996, 2000, and 2004, and was a delegate to the most recent General Conference in Fort Worth in April-May, 2008. She has been involved extensively in ecumenical organizations, including the World Council of Churches and the Consultation on Church Union.

She has spoken out on a number of concerns of the society and culture, including immigration, war and peace, racial justice and multi-cultural community, homelessness, sexual orientation, and apartheid.

She is noted for innovative leadership in her local church work and in her administrative work.

Her election was announced on the 25th ballot at about 12:45 a.m. Saturday morning, July 19.

Bishop Stanovsky is married to Clinton, an environmental consultant, and has 3 boys, Axel, 19, Micah, 21, and Walker, 24. To get more acquainted, visit her web site, ElaineStanovsky.org.

In a brief statement on her profile form as a candidate, Bishop Stanovsky wrote:

"Each generation is called to carry the gospel to a new generation. The United Methodist Church is poised to engage a multi-cultural, globally conscious generation with the good news of Jesus Christ. Our Wesleyan heritage offers rich resources for this mission:

• enthusiasm for sharing the grace and love of Jesus
• passion for ministry with poor and marginalized people
• a love of knowledge and of the natural world
• confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit to transform and make new
• a "catholic spirit" of fellowship with any whose "heart is as my heart"
• educated clergy in partnership with empowered laity
• a lay movement of small groups for faith formation.

"Since my youth God has called and empowered me for ministries of renewal and oversight. I continue to say, 'yes,' to God's claim on my life.

"I love the church that nurtured and ordained me. I yearn and work for the church God calls us to become."

Extend welcome

The Western Jurisdiction chose “Extravagant Hospitality” as a theme for the next 4 years. As Bishop Stanovsky arrives September 1, let’s extend “Extravagant Hospitality” to her. Rev. Steve Burnett, senior pastor of First UMC Casper, wrote in a recent e-mail to the Conference, “Many of Bishop Stanovsky’s gifts have already born fruit in a lifetime of ministry. Please give her a welcoming, positive regard. Let’s create a safe, sacred space where she can find grounding for the enormous challenges that await her. I am delighted with her assignment here, and know we will all benefit from her spiritual presence and leadership.”

TableTalk Publication and Subscription Information

TableTalk is a selection or edited summary of some of the most important e-mailed information sent to the Rocky Mountain Conference e-lists since the last issue. This issue is a special edition. It was edited by Ben Roe, information administrator. To view past editions, visit rmcumc.org/News/table.

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