Bishop’s Retirement Postponed
May 27, 2020
It has now been announced that the postponed session of the 2020 General Conference will be held August 29 to September 7, 2021 and the Jurisdictional Conferences will be held November 10 to 12, 2021. I am writing to you so that you may have the most up to date information regarding Episcopal assignments and coverage as they relate to this unprecedented situation.
The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church outlines the process for the retirements and assignments of Bishops. Specifically, ¶406 speaks to the process of Bishop’s assignments. “The jurisdictional committee on episcopacy, after consultation with the College of Bishops, shall recommend the assignment of the bishops to their respective residences for final action by the jurisdictional conference...” That paragraph also indicates that “the date of assignment for all bishops is September 1 following the jurisdictional conference.”
The Discipline does not address the possibility that General and Jurisdictional Conferences could be postponed. Clearly, we are in an uncharted time in the history of The United Methodist Church.
With the postponement of the General and Jurisdictional Conferences, the Council of Bishops, the five Colleges of Bishops, and the Jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy have been in prayer, discernment, and dialogue. Having never been in this situation before, we want to be faithful to the leading of God’s Spirit as well as the spirit of the Discipline.
As the Jurisdictional Conference assigns Bishops to Areas and the College of Bishops is responsible for the episcopal coverage of the annual conferences in the Jurisdiction, Bishop Peggy Johnson, President of the Northeastern Jurisdiction College of Bishops, announced the plan for episcopal supervision for the Northeastern Jurisdiction until the 2021 postponed session of Jurisdictional Conference.
As you may know, I had requested for an early retirement effective September 1, 2020. I would like you to know that, under the current circumstances and in sync with the Jurisdictional Conference in 2021, my retirement is postponed.
COVID-19 has brought many significant changes in all aspects of our lives. Sometime ago, when the Cabinet had a time of devotion, we had a moment of pondering this question: “What has this virus taken away from me?” Among other things, I thought of “plans” I had. As you would imagine, Lisa and I had many immediate and long-term “plans” for our life in retirement. Now, many are gone at least for some time. I am reminded of a passage in scripture: “Many are the plans in one’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:1)
Together God has placed us in this time and place for longer than any of us imagined. I know that, as we join our hands and hearts with each other, we will continue to be disciples of Christ to bring healing and hope to the hurting world with the love of Jesus.
I have come this far by the grace of God. I have my total trust that this grace will lead me on. As we look forward to God leading us into God’s preferred future for an extended time, I covet your prayers.
Please know that my dear thoughts and prayers are with God’s people of the Susquehanna Conference, that together we will continue be faithful to be the church alive in mission for such a time as this.
With You in Christ’s Ministry,
Bishop Jeremiah Park
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Thank You!
I thank God for you, the clergy and laypeople of the Susquehanna Conference. The challenges confronting our ministries this year have been enormous. I have seen you rise to them with creativity, dedication, resilience, and faithfulness. Our churches continue to be beacons of God’s love, even if in different forms, during these uncertain days.
Since March 6, when the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Pennsylvania, to (time of publication), when we know of more than 82,000 cases, we have been watching and wondering how the virus would progress and what stringent steps would be required. Nevertheless, ministry has not stopped. Our clergy and leading laypeople are working harder than ever to provide worship, pastoral care, spiritual growth, outreach ministry, and witness, while observing practices that can protect lives. Thanks be to God for you!
However, now as we are preparing to enter a fourth month of life in a pandemic, we are all getting weary. The strain of learning new technologies and making other adjustments in addition to meeting our usual responsibilities is demanding and exhausting. Lay and clergy alike miss the cherished experience of worshiping alongside others. And we long for the comfort of the familiar.
I know that our pastors are receiving pressure from people to reopen our church buildings and resume worship and other activities now. Some are insisting that they no longer can wait to return to in-person worship and gatherings. We can identify with that feeling. All of us long to experience again the warmth of God’s people gathered for worship and fellowship.
Nonetheless, I know that God calls us to put the needs of others above our own. This virus is quite contagious, as well as deadly. Because it’s possible to catch the virus but not develop symptoms, we may carry it unknowingly and risk infecting others. The virus is still among us, so we must still take precautions with all seriousness.
The government has set safety protocols for the common good. We as United Methodist Christians, however, are called to an even higher standard. The life and ministry of Jesus teaches us that we must give primary consideration to the most vulnerable and oppressed, and care for them even before ourselves. John Wesley’s first rule for Methodists is “Do no harm.” Honoring our Christian baptismal vows and our identity as United Methodists requires that we do all we can to protect others’ basic needs, including their health.
I urge you, then, to continue your carefully consider plans to re-introduce in-person gatherings and take steps very slowly. This transition should not be a quick one. Our conference has prepared a checklist for moving your church into the Green Phase. (Visit https://www.susumc.org/covid-19/ and click on “SUSUMC Green Phase Guidelines.”)
COVID-19 is still spreading and surging at an alarming rate in many parts of our country. The concern for resurgence of infection is real. As the resident bishop, I call on our churches to continue to observe the utmost safety precautions as a matter of faithful discipleship. Despite the painful delay in resuming worship and activities in person again, we can be assured that God is still with us; God is still our God. As we put our hope in God, let’s not grow weary. God is faithful. God does and will provide for us.
My prayers continue for you in gratitude for your diligent leadership and unwavering Christ-like care of our people and our neighbors for such a time as this.
With You in Christ’s Ministry,
Bishop Jeremiah Park
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Another Cabinet Transition
June 25, 2020
This letter is to let you know of another transition in the Cabinet. The Reverend Greg Myers, Clergy Assistant to my office who served on the Full Cabinet, has reduced his hours and responsibilities. As of July 1, Greg will be ¼ time. While he will no longer be a member of the Full Cabinet in this new position, he will continue working closely with the Board of Ordained Ministry and the Episcopal Office for clergy administrative services. Greg will continue to care for things such as the clergy report for the Clergy Session and other matters related to keeping and updating clergy records. He will also continue to serve and represent the Episcopal Office and me in a limited way.
I cannot begin to thank Greg enough for his service and his ministry among us. He served the former Central Pennsylvania Conference, the former Wyoming Conference, and the current Susquehanna Conference with distinction and commitment. When Greg retired the first time in 2011, after 40 years in ministry, he was recognized as an outstanding pastor as well as a District Superintendent. However, Greg’s first retirement only lasted a few hours before Bishop Jane Allen Middleton appointed him Clergy Assistant to the Bishop.
When I was assigned to the Susquehanna Conference as the Resident Bishop, I was blessed to have Greg in ministry with me. Although he was classified as part-time, he gave himself completely in this role. Indeed, Greg has worked tirelessly for these past 9 years. I cannot thank him enough for all that he has brought to and has given to the Susquehanna Conference. His contributions to the Office of Bishop, to me personally, and to the Cabinet have been exceptional and exemplary. Greg’s voice has been highly valued around the Cabinet table. Greg is a committed witness for inclusiveness, diversity, and justice. In Christian love and compassion, Greg challenges the way things are and is always helping persons to hear the voices of all people. I give thanks to God for Greg’s ministry for who he is as a colleague and a follower of Jesus Christ. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for Greg’s contribution to my office and to the Susquehanna Conference.
I celebrate Greg’s wanting to take more time to spend with his wife Deb and his family and to pursue his personal hobbies. However, I am grateful that he is willing to continue to stay on as part of the Episcopal Office and share his gifts and vast knowledge and experience and wisdom with the Annual Conference.
Please join me in thanking God for Greg’s continuing ministry among us. While he will be missed at the Cabinet table, may he continue to find joy and fulfillment with health and strength in the next chapter of his journey.
With Thankfulness,
Bishop Jeremiah J. Park
