Methodist Episcopal Church was organized. While itinerating in Liberia, Bishop Levi Scott ordained the first African deacons and elders in 1853. In 1856, the General Conference created a new position, the missionary bishop, to oversee the foreign mission fields. The Liberian Conference elected Francis Burns to be its missionary bishop, and he was consecrated in 1858, becoming the Methodist Episcopal Church's first African American bishop. As a missionary bishop, Burns was not considered a general superintendent of the church, and his episcopal authority was limited to his assigned field. Domestically, there were efforts among Native American tribes, such as the Wyandotte of Ohio;
Episcopal Conference of the Ivory Coast Episcopal Conference of the Ivory Coast The local assembly of bishops is the Episcopal Conference of the Côte d'Ivoire (French: Episcopal Conférence de Côte d'Ivoire, CECI). Founded in 1970, the Episcopal Conference has been officially recognized on February 16, 2007 by the Ivorian state. It includes all the Catholic bishops of the country, ordinary, and auxiliary emeritus. It has its headquarters in Abidjan. The Episcopal Conference is composed of five organizations: the Plenary Assembly, the Permanent Council, the Presidency Council, the Council for Economic Affairs, the Secretary General. The Plenary Assembly is the supreme authority of the Conference of Bishops