DURHAM, N.C. -- The Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church elected Duke University Chapel Dean William H. Willimon as a new bishop late Wednesday during the group's 2004 conference in Lake Junaluska, N.C.

Willimon, who joined the Duke Divinity School faculty in 1976, was named minister to the university in 1984 and dean of Duke Chapel and professor of Christian ministry five years later.

"Duke Chapel is an amazing place to be," Willimon said Thursday during a break in the conference. "I've got the best job for a Methodist minister in the world. I've done it for 20 years and would have been happy to do it for the rest of my life.

"I came to Duke because I felt God wanted me to be there," he said. "Why in the world would I leave Duke? The only reason is because I felt called by God to do so."

Willimon is expected to learn Friday the location of his jurisdictional assignment. He will be consecrated as bishop on Saturday and is slated to begin serving in his new role Sept. 1.

"This is obviously a wonderful honor and opportunity for Dean Willimon and a testimony to the outstanding leadership he has provided to Duke University over these many years," Provost Peter Lange said Thursday. "While we will certainly miss Dean Willimon, we will seek to find a worthy successor. I'm sure that President Richard Brodhead will want to consult widely as Duke begins searching for Will's successor."

"I'm delighted for Will and for the church," added L. Gregory Jones, dean of Duke Divinity School. "He is an extraordinary leader, and this is well-deserved recognition. It is a loss for Duke, but a great gift for the United Methodist Church."

For more information about Willimon, including a biography and curriculum vitae, go to http://www.chapel.duke.edu/chapel/staff/willimon/.

For more information about Willimon's selection and ongoing elections of 20 other new Methodist bishops, go to the 2004 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference Web site at http://www.sej2004.org/ or to the United Methodist Church Web site at http://umc.org/.