The 2024 Western Jurisdictional Conference started on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in Spokane, Washington. Much of the first day was centered on setting up for the election of two bishops during this week’s session.
During the first plenary, Rev. Dan Hurlbert (PNW) and Rev. Jasper Peters (Mountain Sky) shared a report from the Interjurisdictional Committee on the Episcopacy, summarizing the happenings during and after the postponed 2024 General Conference and moved, at the recommendation of the IJCOE, to elect two bishops in the Western Jurisdiction. The motion was passed with a yes vote of 97.9%.
The nomination of candidates for episcopacy began as Emily Allen (Cal-Nev) nominated the 22 episcopal candidates who self-submitted via the WJ website by reading their names. There were not any additional nominations from the floor.
Of the group of 22, eight were from the California-Pacific Conference: Revs. Sunny Ahn, Judy Chung, Joel Hortiales, Brian Bon-Suk Lee, Sandra K Olewine, Brian Parcel, Molly Vetter, Ken Walden. Rev. Dan Hurlbert then invited candidates to introduce themselves for two minutes. Candidates included their name, home annual conference, the number of quadrennia they would be eligible to serve, and what they believed was the most impactful decision of the recent general conference.
After the dinner break, Rev. Dan Hurlbert invited candidates to answer one of two questions provided by the Inter-Ethnic Coordinating Committee. Candidates had three minutes to provide their answers. Following this, the certifying vote was held. Seven candidates were certified, with three of the seven certified candidates coming from the California-Pacific Conference: Revs. Judy Chung, Sandra K Olewine, and Molly Vetter.
Rev. Dr. Judy Chung is currently the Executive Director of Missionary Service for the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM). She has been a member of the California-Pacific conference since 2000, and before beginning her work with the GBGM in 2011, she served as the senior pastor at Placentia UMC and La Mirada United Methodist Church and associate pastor of Ascension Ministry of Los Angeles Korean United Methodist Church. Her full episcopal candidate profile can be viewed at this link.
Rev. Sandra K Olewine is currently the Assistant to the Bishop and has been a member of the California-Pacific Conference since 1985. She served as the District Superintendent of South District from 2021 until 2024, and was previously appointed at First UMC of Pasadena, Santee UMC, The Neighborhood/La Vecindad, and FUMC Fontana as pastor, and served as associate pastor at Holman UMC. Rev. Olewine has also served as a missionary in Jerusalem through the GBGM. She has also served as a general and jurisdictional delegate for our conference and is a GCFA board member. Her full episcopal candidate profile can be viewed at this link.
Rev. Molly Vetter is currently the senior pastor at Westwood UMC and has been a member of the California-Pacific Conference since 2001. She has also served at Redondo Beach First UMC and First UMC of San Diego. She has also served as a general and jurisdictional delegate for our conference. Her full episcopal candidate profile can be viewed at this link.
Elections are expected to continue today, with ballots beginning this afternoon and further news about candidate developments will be shared as they are available.
