United Methodist Church's President of Council of Bishops

East Ohio Conference-The United Methodist Church

Bishop Tracy Malone now leads the President of the Council of Bishops for the United Methodist Church (UMC). The Council of Bishops includes active and retired bishops from the U.S., Africa, the Philippines and Europe. In her role, Malone presides over meetings, ensures stewardship of the mission and vision of UMC and facilitates work for UMC.

Malone says that her primary role as a residential Bishop is the overseer of the East Ohio conference and that serving as president of the council is an extension of that work. She feels that the new position takes her ministry and leadership to a different level. “Not only do I lead the council, but it also puts me at tables and conversations where I’m helping to give direction to our entire congregation,” says Malone.  “The general conference is the lawmaking body that speaks for the church. As president of the council, I become the voice as far as the Episcopal leadership to be the voice for the denomination.”

In 2016, she was elected Bishop and currently serves as resident Bishop of the East Ohio conference, which includes the North Central Jurisdiction. This year, Malone celebrates thirty-one years of ministry.  She previously served as district superintendent of the Chicago Southern region, dean of the Northern Illinois Conference Cabinet, COB Secretary, COB President-Designate, Northern Illinois conference delegate at the General/Jurisdictional Conference, chairperson of the 2012 delegation and chairperson of the Agenda and Calendar Committee in 2016. Malone led several different churches, including senior pastor of Gary United Methodist Church in Wheaton. Illinois.  She also taught as an adjunct professor at Aurora University and at Northern Baptist Seminary in Lombard, Illinois.  Malone has written chapters for books and published articles, blogs and book reviews.

In addition, to leading the Council of Bishops, Malone serves as president of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, serves on the Board of Trustees of Methodist-affiliated colleges, seminaries and organizations in East Ohio and serves as a member of the Board of Trustees at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.

She describes the election to serve as president by her peers as one of the most humbling experiences that she’s ever encountered. “I consider it a sacred trust that’s been given to me”, Malone says.

In May, the UMC removed its ban on ordaining LGBTQ clergy and a ban on considering LGBTQ people for ordination.  Malone says that removing restrictive language around LGBTQ in the Book of Discipline was a fateful decision to not have people feeling separated from the body. “We are a church with open hearts, open minds, open doors, a fully inclusive Church where everyone, no matter where people are, theologically, whether progressive or conservative, everybody is fully welcome in our denomination,” says Malone. She describes it as a bold move, a prophetic move, a faithful move and a Christ move. “In Christ’s kingdom, there is no division. Christ’s prayer was for the unity of the church even though we may not be of one mind but that we be of one spirit and that’s the spirit of Christ.”

According to United Methodist News, 7659 UMC congregations disaffiliated over the past four years. The movement is described as the largest U.S. denominational schism since the Civil War.

In May, the UMC removed its ban on ordaining LGBTQ clergy and a ban on considering LGBTQ people for ordination. She admits that churches have disaffiliated from UMC because of the policy change.  But Malone says that churches also left because of the church being closed and that people were tired of the fighting.  Malone says that removing restrictive language around LGBTQ in the Book of Discipline was a fateful decision to not have people feeling separated from the body. “We are a church with open hearts, open minds, open doors, a fully inclusive Church where everyone, no matter where people are, theologically, whether progressive or conservative, everybody is fully welcome in our denomination,” says Malone. She describes it as a bold move, a prophetic move, a faithful move and a Christ move. “In Christ’s kingdom, there is no division. Christ’s prayer was for the unity of the church even though we may not be of one mind but that we be of one spirit and that’s the spirit of Christ. I think that this positions the UMC to grow and it positions the church to be more open and welcoming, where more people will feel that they can make their home in the UMC because we are open to all. UMC is in a good place right now.  The approval of worldwide regionalization honors and respects the worldwide nature of the church. I just want the world to know that the UMC is a vital missional, worldwide denomination that just seeks to offer Jesus Christ to all persons.”

The Michigan native is the daughter of a preacher, and she received her call into ministry at the age of 13. Malone has a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Sociology, with a minor in Computer Science (North Central College), a Master of Divinity degree (Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary) and a Doctor of Ministry degree (United Theological Seminary).