The South Central Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy (SCJCOE) and the NM Jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy (NMCOE) Delegates are pleased to announce
Bishop Carlo A. Rapanut has been assigned to lead the New Mexico Conference. He will remain the Resident Bishop of the Desert Southwest Conference with offices in Phoenix, AZ.

The SCJCOE has met on several occasions since General Conference to discuss the implications of how the decisions made at General Conference will impact the Jurisdiction. Working in concert with the I-JCOE and the Council of Bishops, they realized that a creative solution was needed. This necessity for assignments across jurisdictions has also been the case for one jurisdictions in the Connection. The SCJCOE and the I-JCOE were intentional about including NMCOE delegates in conversations and working to make the best assignment to meet the missional needs of our Conference.

We extend a warm welcome to Bishop Carlo Rapanut, his wife, Radie and their two children. Bishop Rapanut was the first Filipino American Bishop to be elected in the U.S. He served in the Alaska Conference before being elected Bishop in 2022. As he noted in a 2023 interview, “I’m a very relational person. Even in situations where I clearly have the positional authority in the room, I want to collaborate with people,” he said. “I lead in a circle’ for I know I’m not the only expert in the room. Sometimes I’m not even the expert in the room.” If you would like to know more about Bishop Rapanut, Click Here.

Our Cabinet met with Bishop Rapanut via ZOOM last weekend. They offered their thoughts.

El Paso DS, Pam Rowley said, “It was such a pleasure and joy to meet recently with Bishop Rapanut. The NM Conference will be blessed by his ministry among us as he ‘leads in a circle’ through collaboration and curiosity. I am so excited about our future!”

From Albuquerque DS, Ross Whiteaker, “It was a pleasure to meet Bishop Carlo last week. Within a few minutes of visiting with him it was clear that he is a person of deep faith, he is incredibly thoughtful, and has a fun sense of humor. I have no doubt he will help us to continue moving forward to become more of what God is calling us to be. It is exciting to be part of a new day in United Methodism and I am grateful to the SCJ Episcopal Committee, and especially to Rev. Dr. Pam Rowley, Susan Brumbaugh, and Rev. Amy Lippoldt for their commitment to making sure the New Mexico Annual Conference was at the forefront of decisions being made. Creative leadership like they displayed is inspiring.”

From Kathy Jewell, Conference Lay Leader, “Welcome, Bienvenido, Yá’át’ééh, from the Laity of the NM Conference. As this new chapter opens for all of us, we look forward to serving with you in missional ministry. It will be a joy to be at table with you to move into a time of vision, communication and connection.“

We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate and serve with the Desert Southwest Conference (DSC). They are involved in ministry along the southern border of the US and with Native people. There are several large city centers, rural communities, and a distinct difference in culture within the boundaries of the Conference. The Conference includes all of Arizona and the lower tip of Utah. They have approximately 120 churches. The NM Conference includes 92.

While we welcome Bishop Rapanut with hope and anticipation, we still grieve the loss of Bishop Schnase as our episcopal leader. Even though he only served as our bishop for a relatively short time, the impact of his grace-filled, and thoughtful leadership will be felt for years to come. Bishop Schnase led us through a time of disaffiliation and into a time of healing and REvitalization. We were blessed by his leadership – always grounded in faith and guided by the mission before us. We wish Bishop Schnase and Esther every blessing in their new season of ministry, which will, no doubt, include birding, quilting and travel.

We will have the opportunity to get to know Bishop Rapanut in the weeks and months to come. Join us in prayer for Bishop Rapanut and for the process of transition. Please also keep Bishop Schnase and Esther in your prayers as they plan for their next ministry. We lift up the New Mexico and Desert Southwest Conferences as their people meet, collaborate and work together in a new endeavor to serve Jesus Christ – helping people to live into who God needs them to be and by doing so, bring the change, joy and peace this world needs so desperately.