Woman pastor elected Bishop of German United Methodists

FRANKFURT -- United Methodists in Germany have elected a new bishop -- the denomination's first woman named to that office in Europe.


The Rev Rosemarie Wenner received the needed two-thirds majority vote of the 100 delegates of the Germany Central Conference on the fourth ballot on Feb 16, 2005.


A native of Eppingen in southern Germany, the 49-year-old had served as superintendent of the church's Frankfurt District since 1996. She studied at the United Methodist Theological Seminary in Reutlingen and has held pastorates in Karlsruhe, Hockenheim and Darmstadt.


The Rev Wenner, who takes office on April 1, succeeds Bishop Walter Klaiber, who is retiring after almost 16 years in office.


The German Central Conference is divided into three annual (regional) conferences, representing about 65,000 members. -- United Methodist News Service.

THE REV WENNER:
German United
Methodists'
first woman bishop.