Greetings Trinity Family,
At the Trinity Annual Conference in June we celebrated the faithful servant leadership of Bishop Scott Jones as he is preparing for retirement this November. Since that time we have been united in prayer, faithfully seeking God’s guidance for the next season of episcopal leadership for Trinity.
There are moments when a long season of discernment and prayer suddenly becomes a moment of clarity and celebration. This is one of those moments! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Today, I am incredibly grateful to share that Rev. Dr. Luther Oconer has been elected to serve as a Bishop in the Global Methodist Church. He will serve the Trinity Conference along with six other conferences in our Episcopal Area.
Dr. Oconer was elected on the first ballot of the episcopal elections here at the General Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Last fall, I had the privilege of sitting down with Bishop Oconer for an episode of Voices of Trinity to talk about Wesleyan holiness, the work of the Holy Spirit, revival, and what it means for Methodists to once again live as a Spirit-empowered movement. It was one of those conversations that stayed with me.
In many ways, listening to him that day gave us a glimpse of the heart he will now bring to this new calling; deeply rooted in our Wesleyan theology, passionate about the work of the Holy Spirit, committed to the mission of the Church, and expectant about what God can do through ordinary people who are fully surrendered to Him.
If you have not heard that conversation, I encourage you to watch or listen to our Voices of Trinity episode with Dr. Oconer, and I am pleased to share that Bishop Oconer will return to Voices of Trinity for a new episode this fall, giving us an opportunity to hear from him as he begins this new chapter of ministry and leadership.
We will also have several opportunities to welcome him into the life of the Trinity Conference: Bishop-elect Oconer has officially confirmed the dates for our 2027 Annual Conference, June 3–5 at The Woodlands Methodist Church. I am already looking forward to gathering together and welcoming our new bishop as he preaches and presides over our meeting.
We are also planning a new round of Revival on the Road Area gatherings beginning in early 2027. I have invited Bishop-elect Oconer to join us for these Revivals as his schedule allows, giving laity and clergy across Trinity additional opportunities to worship, pray, and spend time with him.
From the beginning, we have prayed that the Global Methodist Church would be more than a new denomination. We have prayed that God would make us a movement of the Holy Spirit; deeply rooted in Scripture, alive in the Wesleyan way of holiness, passionate about making disciples of Jesus Christ, and willing to go wherever He sends us.
I believe Oconer's election signals a commitment to our shared vision, as he joins the other bishops-elect who will be formally consecrated on Saturday, September 5: Jonathan Lee, Paul Lawler, Lyndol Llyod, and Jerry Kulah. This group will join continuing Bishops Mark Webb, Carolyn Moore, and Eduard Khegay to comprise the new Assembly of Bishops effective November 5.
There is so much Kingdom work ahead of us. New relationships to build. New churches to plant. New leaders to equip. New people to reach with the Gospel. And, I pray, new evidence of the Holy Spirit moving among us in ways that bear lasting fruit.
So today, more than anything else, I invite you to pray.
Pray for Bishop-elect Oconer. Pray for wisdom, courage, humility, strength, and a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit as he steps into this calling. Pray for his family and for the many transitions ahead.
Pray for our sisters and brothers throughout our Episcopal Area (Tanzania, Convenant Philippines, India, Mega Manila Philippines, Panama, Mississippi-West Tennessee).
And pray for us here in Trinity; that we would receive our new episcopal shepherd with open hearts and join him wholeheartedly in the work God has placed before us.
I am deeply thankful for the way the Lord has led us to this moment, and I am even more expectant about where He will lead us next. Come, Holy Spirit!
Peace,
Jason Burnham
Conference Superintendent
