New Bishop for North Texas

Since the death of Bishop Rhymes Moncure on Aug. 19th, the North Texas Conference has been without episcopal leadership. Today that changed with the appointment of Bishop Alfred Norris to serve out Bishop Moncure's term (which ends in 2008). The Rev. Robert Schnase, bishop of the Missiouri Conference, made the announcement of Bishop Norris' appointment in a pastoral letter earlier today.

Bishop Moncure died at the Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, several days after undergoing surgery on a brain tumor. Bishop Norris is a retired bishop, who served the New Mexico, Northwest Texas, and Texas Conferences.

Why is this important? Because bishops are the general superintendents of our connection, and we need their leadership. Their highly visible position as the leaders of the church gives them an unparalleled ability to articulate a vision of gospel faithfulness that the church can move toward. Bishop Moncure's death (like that of the recent death of the Rev. Done Peter Dabale, bishop of Nigeria) is a real loss to the body of Christ. But we can place our hope in the Holy Spirit, who will surely raise up new leadership to show us the way forward.