By Rick Wolcott*

Bishop Tracy S. Malone, resident bishop of the East Ohio Conference, is the new president of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church. Malone is the first Black woman in the history of the worldwide denomination to be elected president of the Council of Bishops.

“It gives me great joy to receive this honor that has been bestowed upon me, and I consider it a privilege for my colleagues to have elected me as the president of the Council of Bishops. To God be the glory,” Malone said.

After the mantle of leadership was passed to Malone on the stage of General Conference on Tuesday, she introduced the new episcopal leadership with whom she will serve. Bishop Ruben Saenz, resident bishop of the Central Texas and North Texas Conferences, is the new president-designate; Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, resident bishop of the South Carolina Conference is beginning his second term as Council of Bishops secretary; and Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton of the New York Conference is the past president of the Council. The two-year terms of the president, president-designate, secretary, and past president begin immediately and conclude in May 2026.

Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, resident bishop of the West Ohio Conference, is the new executive secretary serving as the operations officer of the Council of Bishops. Retired bishops Bishop Hope Morgan Ward and Bishop Rosemary Wenner are the new co-ecumenical officers responsible for relationships with other denominations. The executive secretary and ecumenical officers begin their four-year terms on September 1 of this year.

“We celebrate what God has done and what God is doing as we, together as a Council, lead and help to shepherd this beautiful, beloved United Methodist Church into its next expression, God’s vision for God’s Church,” Malone said.

*Rick Wolcott is the executive director of Communications for the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church.