Report from the SEJ Special Session  #5

Election takes interesting turn

By Tita Parham

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. --- Delegates to the special session of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference here have not elected a bishop after voting in 15 ballots, and the list of nominees is growing.

Voting began during the evening session Feb. 26.

Nancy Rankin received the most votes on ballots nine, 10 and 11, with Al Gwinn and Charles Johnson coming in second and third respectively.

Timothy Whitaker, who withdrew from the nomination process after being written in on the first vote, received 20 votes on the 13th ballot. Martha Forrest withdrew after the sixth ballot and received 17 votes on the 14th ballot. Nancy Rankin withdrew after the 15th ballot after receiving 103 votes.

Whitaker received 194 votes on the 15th ballot, with Al Gwinn, Nancy Rankin, Charles Johnson and Martha Forrest following behind, respectively.

Florida Conference delegates expressed concern and surprise over the direction the voting had taken.

"The last ballot shows a little of the restlessness here," said the Rev. Dr. Keith Ewing, administrative assistant to the bishop. "It's like we're wanting something to happen, yet we don't know how to make it happen."

The Rev. Dick Wills said he sensed delegates wanted to offer another alternative, causing the re-emergence of nominees who had previously withdrawn. "My sense is that the group wants to make a decision," he said. "I would hope whoever gets it feels called to do it."

Wills is a member of the SEJ episcopacy committee, along with Mary Alice Massey, leader of Florida's delegation.

"This is very, very strange," Florida delegate Jimmy Garrett Sr. said. "I don't know if we are listening to the word of God or trying to make a decision."

Florida delegate Joyce Walden Bright summarized the feeling of many delegates. "I have no idea where we're going," she said. "What people [those who withdrew] say does not count. People apparently did not accept their decision."

"My prayer is that we hold to integrity," Florida delegate Marta Burke said, "and that our egos and power struggles not dominate.

Delegates voted on the 16th ballot before the dinner break and will hear results after they reconvene.

The following are the results of ballots 10 through 15.

2001 Ballot South East Jurisdictional Conference
Episcopal Ballot Number 10
Ballots Cast: 523
Valid Ballots: 519
Number Needed for Election: 312

Candidate Number/Name Number of Votes
7 Rankin, Nancy 255
3 Gwinn, Al 242
4 Johnson, Charles 16


2001 Ballot South East Jurisdictional Conference
Episcopal Ballot Number 11
Ballots Cast: 524
Valid Ballots: 514
Number Needed for Election: 309

Candidate Number/Name Number of Votes
7 Rankin, Nancy 246
3 Gwinn, Al 242
4 Johnson, Charles 21


2001 Ballot South East Jurisdictional Conference
Episcopal Ballot Number 12
Ballots Cast: 521
Valid Ballots: 519
Number Needed for Election: 312

Candidate Number/Name Number of Votes
3 Gwinn, Al 232
7 Rankin, Nancy 222
4 Johnson, Charles 41


2001 Ballot South East Jurisdictional Conference
Episcopal Ballot Number 13
Ballots Cast: 522
Valid Ballots: 522
Number Needed for Election: 314

Candidate Number/Name Number of Votes
3 Gwinn, Al 225
7 Rankin, Nancy 191
4 Johnson, Charles 64
10 Whitaker, Timothy 20


2001 Ballot South East Jurisdictional Conference
Episcopal Ballot Number 14
Ballots Cast: 520
Valid Ballots: 519
Number Needed for Election: 312

Candidate Number/Name Number of Votes
3 Gwinn, Al 192
7 Rankin, Nancy 155
10 Whitaker, Timothy 77
4 Johnson, Charles 71
2 Forrest, Martha 17


2001 Ballot South East Jurisdictional Conference
Episcopal Ballot Number 15
Ballots Cast: 521
Valid Ballots: 521
Number Needed for Election: 313

Candidate Number/Name Number of Votes
10 Whitaker, Timothy 194
3 Gwinn, Al 127
7 Rankin, Nancy 103
4 Johnson, Charles 75
2 Forrest, Martha 14

Rankin withdrew after the 15th vote.

The special session is scheduled to end Feb. 28 after the morning service to consecrate the newly elected bishop.

For daily reports visit http://www.sejac-umc.org/sej2001   and
http://umns.umc.org/sejspecialsession/default.

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