In our living room, there is a recessed opening above the fireplace where a television should go. It is just wide enough for a 40-inch TV. And, in the recess, are all of the necessary outlets. There is no TV there, however. And to hide the outlets, I have placed a map. It is a framed map of the Underground Railroad, the name given to the routes enslaved Africans took to escape slavery. More than 100,000 Africans took those routes in the 1800s in search of freedom.

I write this just before the final disaffiliation votes of the Iowa Annual Conference. This Saturday we will release 59 more churches from our connection, in addition to the 84 that disaffiliated in May and one the previous annual conference. And paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline will sunset at the end of this year, bringing us to the final chapter of a painful process. 

Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai invites you to learn more about her and her family as she moves to Iowa in this three-part series.

Patience is not my strong suit. That’s why I can’t wait for the moving truck to come and to be in Iowa as your new bishop. I can’t wait to get to know Iowa churches and for us to begin to lead together, bringing the message of Christ to our communities. I just can’t wait!