April 29, 2004

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

PITTSBURGH (UMNS)—General Conference delegates nominated 17 people to serve four positions on the University Senate, a body of professionals in higher education that determines which academic institutions meet the criteria to be affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

The 17, each with ties to academia, were nominated for the 25-member University Senate. General Conference will elect two persons who are chief executive officers of United Methodist higher education institutions and two persons holding positions relevant to academic or financial affairs or church relationships.

The remaining 21 members of the senate are selected by other groups: nine by the National Association of Schools and Colleges of the United Methodist Church, four by the United Methodist General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, four by the Council of Bishops, and four by the senate itself.

The senate was established by the Methodist General Conference of 1892 and is an affiliate of the Board of Higher Education and Ministry. It monitors, evaluates and approves the 123 colleges, universities, preparatory and theological schools related to the denomination. Most of the senate’s members are professional educators and administrators at United Methodist educational institutions.

Sixteen persons to be elected by delegates to General Conference were nominated by the denomination’s Council of Bishops. One person was nominated from the floor. Brief biographical sketches of each candidate will be printed in the Daily Christian Advocate, prior to voting.

Chief executive officers nominated by the Council of Bishops for the two positions on the University Senate are:
Henry Tisdale, president, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC, Southeastern Jurisdiction; Rukudzo Murapa, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe, Central Conferences; William Johnston, Iowa Wesleyan College, Mount Pleasant, IA, North Central Jurisdiction; James E. Douthat, Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA, Northeastern Jurisdiction; Mariann Inman, Central Methodist College, Fayette, MO, South Central Jurisdiction; Socorro de Anda, Lydia Patterson Institute, El Paso, TX, South Central Jurisdiction; David A. Palmer, Andrew College, Cuthbert, GA, Southeastern Jurisdiction; and David Maldonada, Iliff School of Theology, Western Jurisdiction..

Persons nominated for the two at-large positions on the University Senate are:
Bishop Kenneth Carder, Duke University, Durham, NC, Southeastern Jurisdiction; Traci West, Drew University, Madison, NJ, Northeastern Jurisdiction; Maggie Jackson, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio, North Central Jurisdiction; Maxine Clarke Beach, The Theological School, Drew University, Madison, NJ, Northeastern Jurisdiction; J. Timothy Cloyd, Hendrix College, Conway, AR, South Central Jurisdiction; L. Gregory Jones, The Divinity School, Drew University, Durham, NC, Southeastern Jurisdiction; Philip A. Amerson, Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, CA, Western Jurisdiction; and David Pascua, Union Theological Seminary, Manila, Philippines, Central Conferences.

Rebekah L. Miles, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, South Central Jurisdiction, was nominated from the floor as a candidate for an at-large position on the senate.

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer.

News media contact: (412) 325-6080 during General Conference, April 27-May 7. After May 10: (615) 742-5470.