The North Central Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church, meeting July 10-13 in Sioux Falls, S.D., celebrated the assignment of Bishop Dan Schwerin to the Northern Illinois-Wisconsin Episcopal Area, effective Sept. 1, 2024.

The NCJ Committee on Episcopacy, which determines the bishops’ assignments, announced them on July 13.

Bishop Dan Schwerin

“We are excited to welcome Bishop Dan Schwerin back to Wisconsin; this time as our bishop!” said Jessica Gobel, chair of the Wisconsin delegation.  “The Wisconsin Conference is looking forward to experiencing all the blessings and gifts that Dan has to offer and beginning our partnership with Northern Illinois as a shared episcopal area. Please join our delegation in welcoming Bishop Dan to Wisconsin."

“I am delighted that Bishop Dan Schwerin is returning to Northern Illinois,” said Rev. Alka Lyall, chair of the Northern Illinois delegation for this year’s United Methodist General Conference and the NCJ conference. “We have begun some good work in our conference, a spirit of trust is being felt, and we can now build onto momentum. I invite us to partner with him and grow the beloved communities in our conference.”

 “The Wisconsin Conference has enjoyed so many gifted and impactful episcopal leaders,” said Bishop Schwerin. “Julie and I feel humbled and blessed to be assigned to serve among you, now assigned as one bishop shared by two conferences as the Northern Illinois-Wisconsin Episcopal area.

“Julie and I have been blessed by the kindness we have received by the Northern Illinois Conference,” added Bishop Schwerin. “We have been blessed with eighteen impactful months in ministry. Now we have the chance to experiment and innovate with two conferences sharing one bishop.

I can't wait to see what God will do through us.”

Bishop Schwerin was elected bishop in November 2022 and assigned to the Northern Illinois Conference starting January 1, 2023. Bishop Hee-Soo Jung served the Wisconsin Conference from 2012 to 2024.