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UMC Bishops end five-day online meeting; clarify key decisions
The bishops of The United Methodist Church gathered online for five days to worship, to discern ways to best offer leadership to the church in this liminal time and to hear about the exciting mission and ministry occurring across the global connection.
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Christian Alsted

Active

Europe

Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference

Nordic-Baltic Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Christian Alsted serves as the Resident Bishop of the Nordic and Baltic Episcopal area of the Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> He was born in Horsens, Denmark; He graduated from Horsens Gymnasium 1980 and from UMC Theological Seminary in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1984. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree as a Beeson Pastor from Asbury Theological Seminary, Kentucky in 2002.<br /> <br /> Christian was ordained deacon in 1984 and ordained elder in 1986. He served as pastor in Esbjerg-Varde from 1984. In 1989 he was appointed to Copenhagen, Jerusalemskirken where he served in 20 years. During this time, he initiated the start of The International Methodist Church, Copenhagen and served as its pastor and later as supervising elder. Another church was planted in Solroed south of Copenhagen. In 2001 he became the District Superintendent of the Island district, where he served while he was the senior pastor in Jerusalemskirken.<br /> <br /> Christian Alsted was a delegate to the General Conference in 1996 and to the Northern Europe Central Conference in 1993, 1997 and 2005. He served on the board of directors of The General Board of Discipleship, on the Central Conference Youth Council 1987-1993 the last 4 years as chair, on the Central Conference Board of Discipleship 1996-2000.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Christian Alsted was elected to the episcopacy in February 2009 and assumed office on May 1, 2009. &nbsp;<br /> <br /> He enjoys playing the guitar, singing in a gospel choir (Revelation Gospel Choir), listening to music, reading, working out and playing squash.<br /> On June 10, 1984 Elisabeth Flinck and Christian Alsted were married. They have three children: Sara, Mathias and Caroline. Elisabeth is a teacher working with creative school development.&nbsp;</p>
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Daniel Arichea

Deceased

Philippines

<p>Bishop Daniel C. Arichea, Jr., was a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church<br /> <br /> He was born in San Narciso, Zambales, Philippines, to Daniel Arichea Sr. and Tarsila Castillo, both public school teachers. The schools he attended include the University of the Philippines (pre-law), Union Theological Seminary (Bachelor of Theology, magna cum laude,), and Duke University (M.R.E. and Ph.D. in Biblical Studies). He also studied linguistics at Ohio State University and was a visiting scholar at Princeton Theological Seminary.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> He served churches in Bataan and Manila before joining the faculty of Union Theological Seminary, teaching New Testament. He later joined the United Bible Societies as a translation consultant, and served in that capacity in the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, and Indonesia and Malaysia. In 1987 he moved to Hong Kong, SAR, P.R. of China to assume the office of Regional Transition Coordinator for the Asia-Pacific Region, a position which he held until his election to the Episcopacy (in absentia) in November 1994.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> While serving as resident bishop of the Baguio Episcopal Area for 1994-2000, he also held the following positions: Vice-chair of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), 1995-1997; Chair, NCCP, 1997-1999; President and Chair, Philippine Bible Society (1997-1998), honorary translation adviser, United Bible Societies (1995 to present), and member, Roman Catholic-Methodist International Commission, 1996-2000.<br /> <br /> Danny (as he was&nbsp;called by friends) was&nbsp;the author of four commentaries primarily written for translators: Galatians (with Eugene A. Nida), 1 Peter (with Eugene A. Nida), Jude and 2 Peter (with Howard A. Hatton), and the Pastoral Letters (with Howard A. Hatton). He&nbsp;also wrote many articles on Bible translation, published most often in The Bible Translator.<br /> <br /> Bishop Arichea passed on June 1, 2021. He was married to Ruth Cabralda Mandac, and their marriage was blessed with three children, Miriam, Stephen, and Michael;&nbsp;grandchildren: Joshua Thomas, Arielle Marie and Daniel Benjamin,&nbsp;Ansel, Evan, and Rizzi.</p> <p><strong>Publications:</strong><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=499722" target="_blank">A Handbook on the First Letter from Peter</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=499719" target="_blank">A Handbook on Paul&#39;s Letters to Timothy and to Titus</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>
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Sandra Steiner Ball

Active

United States

Northeastern Jurisdiction

West Virginia Episcopal Area

<p>Sandra L. Steiner Ball, the daughter of Edward J. and the late Marjorie W. Steiner, was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and raised in Milford, Delaware.&nbsp; She is a graduate of Dickinson College, (B.A. in Religion, 1984), Duke Divinity School (M.Div., 1987), and Wesley Theological Seminary (D.Min., 2003).</p> <p>Sandra was ordained Deacon and Elder by Bishop Joseph H. Yeakel in the Peninsula-Delaware Conference.&nbsp; She has served as an associate pastor, lead pastor, District Superintendent, and Director of Connectional Ministries(DCM). During her last year as a DCM, she also served as interim pastor of Bayside Chapel, a new church start.&nbsp; Sandra was in this position when elected to the episcopacy by the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 2012 and was assigned to the West Virginia Area.</p> <p>Bishop Steiner Ball was a first elected delegate to the 2008 and 2012 General Conferences of The United Methodist Church and to the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conferences (NEJ).&nbsp; Prior to election, Sandra served the general church in a variety of areas, including the Interjurisdictional Episcopacy Committee, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, the United Methodist Endorsing Agency, and the Jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy.</p> <p>For the 2016 &ndash; 2020 quadrennium, Bishop Steiner Ball was re-assigned as the episcopal leader of the West Virginia area and has responsibilities with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry serving on the agency&rsquo;s Executive/personnel and Policies Committee, Global Education and Ministry Committee, Audit and Review Subcommittee, and is the chairperson of the Division on Ministry. Additionally, Bishop Steiner Ball is one of three moderators on the Commission on the Way Forward, and chairs the annual U. S. DS/DCM training. In the NEJ, Bishop Steiner Ball continues until September 2017 as President of the College of Bishops and chairs the NEJ Vision Table.&nbsp; She is Vice Chairperson of the West Virginia Council of Churches and Co-chairs a task force of the Council working to address substance abuse and addiction in the West Virginia area.</p> <p>Bishop Steiner Ball and her husband, The Rev. Barry D. Steiner Ball, have two daughters:&nbsp; Sarah Elizabeth and Sandra Rebekah.</p>
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David Bard

Active

United States

North Central Jurisdiction

Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area

Michigan Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop David Alan Bard is the presiding bishop of the Michigan Area.&nbsp; He is also the interim bishop for the Dakotas-Minnesota Area, supervising the Minnesota Annual Conference.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Prior to arriving in Michigan in September 2016, Bishop Bard was serving at First United Methodist Church in Duluth, Minnesota since 2005.&nbsp; He was elected to the episcopacy on July 13, 2016 at the North Central Jurisdictional Conference held in Peoria, IL. He has been in ministry for more than 30 years and served in many roles within both the Minnesota Annual Conference and the General Church.</p> <p>Bard was a General and Jurisdictional Conference delegate in 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012. He was an episcopal nominee in both 2004 and 2008.</p> <p>Within the Minnesota Conference, Bard was chair of the Episcopacy Committee and the Higher Education Ministry Team, and he served on the Board of Ordained Ministry and the Congregational Response Team. He was also the conference parliamentarian. He was a district superintendent from 1998 to 2005 and spent three years on the Commission on Religion and Race.</p> <p>Within the General Church, Bard serves on the Study on Ministry Commission, the Committee on Faith and Order, and the North Central Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy. He has also previously served on the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, the Commission on General Conference, and the Commission on Theological Education.</p> <p>Bishop Bard received a BA from the University of Minnesota, Duluth in 1981; his Master of Divinity was earned at United Theological Seminary, Twin Cities 1984; and in 1994 he received a Ph.D. from Southern Methodist University with a focus on Christian ethics</p> <p>Bishop Bard has a wife, Julie, and three adult children. In his free time, he enjoys music, reading, baseball, and walking outside.</p>
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George Bashore

Retired

United States

Bishop George W. Bashore is a retired bishop of The United Methodist Church. He was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Princeton University cum laude with an A.B. degree and cum laude from United Theological Seminary with the M.Div. degree. He received the D.Min. degree from the same seminary and was granted an honorary doctorate from Albright College.<br /> <br /> He was ordained in the former Evangelical United Brethren tradition by Bishop George Epp in 1958. For fourteen years he served as pastor in Reading, Pennsylvania, where the congregation, Inner City Parish, initiated a creative inner city ministry.&nbsp; Bashore then helped to inaugurate an ecumenical, interracial ministry in the city. In 1973 he became the District Superintendent of the Lebanon-Reading District of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. He had just completed one year as pastor of First Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, when the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference elected him to the episcopacy in 1980.<br /> <br /> George Bashore was first elected as a delegate to the special session of the General Conference in 1966 and then to successive General Conferences 1968-1980. Twice he was the head of the conference delegation. He served on the General Commission to Study the Episcopacy and District Superintendency and on the General Council on Ministries. He was elected as a trustee on numerous boards of institutions.<br /> <br /> After election as a bishop, George served as the President of the Council of Bishops, President of the General Board of Discipleship and a member of the Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the Board of Publication. He served the Boston Area from 1980 to 1988 and the Pittsburgh Area from 1988 to 2000. He enjoys the piano, singing and tennis. In retirement, he serves as Bishop-in-Residence of Mt. Lebanon Church in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the executive committee of the Religious Alliance Against Pornography.<br /> <br /> Bishop Bashore is married to Carolyn Ruth Baumgartner (since&nbsp;September 20, 1957). They have three children: Wanda Ruth Allison, John Willis Bashore and Barbara Lynn Heagy. They also have seven grandchildren: Andrea Lauren Allison, Joshua Donald Allison, Mathew George Allison, Hannah Grace Heagy, Nicole Joy Allison, Jonathan Martin Heagy and Thomas Gabriel Heagy.
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Frank Beard

Active

United States

North Central Jurisdiction

Illinois Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Frank J. Beard was elected as a Bishop in the North Central Jurisdiction on July 13, 2016.&nbsp; Prior to his election he served as an ordained Elder in the Indiana Area of the United Methodist Church. The newly elected Bishop has been assigned to The Illinois Great Rivers Conference effective September 1, 2016.</p> <p>Bishop Beard has a wealth of experiences in a variety of ministry setting across the United Methodist Church.&nbsp; He has served as a local church pastor, a District Superintendent, and as Senior Pastor of a large congregation.&nbsp;</p> <p>Bishop Beard is a gifted preacher and teacher.&nbsp; He has a passion for Jesus Christ that is contagious.&nbsp; His primary focus is encouraging churches to be &ldquo;on fire for Jesus.&rdquo; &nbsp;His life quote is, &ldquo;I want to be so full of Jesus that when a mosquito bites me it will fly away humming &lsquo;there is power in the blood&rsquo;!&rdquo;</p> <p>The Reverend Doctor Frank J. Beard received the following formal education:</p> <p>B.A. Degree from Taylor University, Upland, IN &ndash; 1979</p> <p>M.Div. Degree from Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY &ndash; 1982</p> <p>S.T.M. Degree from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, IN &ndash; 1986</p> <p>D.Min. Degree from Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY &ndash; 1997</p> <p>Bishop Beard is married to wife Melissa, has two adult daughters: Eleanor &amp; Emily, and two grandchildren: Maya and Elijah. The Bishop is an avid fisherman and loves to tell stories about his fishing adventures. When asked if he is going fishing he is quick to reply, &ldquo;No, I&rsquo;m going catching, anybody can fish!&rdquo;</p> <p>Bishop Beard&nbsp;may be reached by email at:<a href="mailto:bishop@igrc.org">&nbsp;bishop@igrc.org&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>He also writes a monthly article for the Illinois Great Rivers Conference website and regularly posts sermons and reflections.</p>
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Thomas Bickerton

Active

United States

Northeastern Jurisdiction

New York Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton is the Resident Bishop of the New York Area, which includes the New York Conference in the Northeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>Thomas J. Bickerton was born in Glen Dale, West Virginia. He is a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College (B.A. degree in Sociology/Psychology), a graduate of Duke University Divinity School (M.Div.), and a graduate of United Theological Seminary (D.Min.).<br /> <br /> Tom was ordained elder in the West Virginia Annual Conference by Bishop William Boyd Grove in 1985. Following seminary he served the Perry Memorial UMC in Shady Spring, West Virginia, for six years. During his time there the congregation grew from an average worship attendance of fifteen to one hundred fifty. He then spent the next nine years serving as the Senior Pastor of Forrest Burdette Memorial UMC in Hurricane, West Virginia. During his tenure there the congregation grew from 575 members to nearly 1,400. In 1998, he became the District Superintendent of his home area, the Northern District. He had just begun his seventh year as District Superintendent when the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference elected him to the episcopacy in 2004.<br /> <br /> Tom was first elected to Jurisdictional Conference at the age of 30 in 1988 and again in 1992. He was first elected to General Conference in 1996 and then to successive General Conferences in 2000 and 2004. He twice served as the Head of the West Virginia delegation. He served on the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (1976-1980), the General Commission on Archives &amp; History (1980-1988) and the General Commission on United Methodist Communications (2000-2004).<br /> <br /> He enjoys golf, movies, professional baseball/football, college basketball, and travel opportunities with his family.<br /> <br /> Sally Forbes and Tom Bickerton were married on August 16, 2003. They have four children: Elizabeth Anne, Thomas James II (&quot;T.J.&quot;), Ian Robert and Nicholas Bruce.</p>
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Bruce Blake

Retired

United States

An ordained minister in the Kansas West Conference of The United Methodist Church, Bruce graduated from Wichita East High School: from Friends University, Wichita; and cum laude, from Drew University School of Theology, Madison, New Jersey.<br /> <br /> After serving a church in New Jersey while attending Drew University, he served a two-point charge, Ransom-Brownell, in Kansas, from 1962-67. He was pastor at Herington, Kansas, from 1967-69, director of the first cooperative ministry in the Kansas West Conference, the Tri-County Cooperative Ministry at Herrington, from 1968-69. He served as Program Director for the Kansas West Conference from 1969-74, and as Senior Pastor at Woodlawn United Methodist Church, Derby, from 1974-84. From 1984-88 he served as President of Southwestern College, Winfield, KS.<br /> <br /> He married the former Karen Eileen Miers in 1957; the couple has three sons: Steven Keith, Scott Douglas, Darin Paul, and four grandchildren.<br /> <br /> Dr. Blake was elected to the episcopacy in 1988 by the South Central Jurisdiction, and assigned to the Dallas Area; in 1996 he was assigned to the Oklahoma Area, where he served until his retirement in 2004.
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W. Earl Bledsoe

Active

United States

South Central Jurisdiction

Northwest Texas-New Mexico Episcopal Area

<p>W. Earl Bledsoe was born in Marlin, Texas. He graduated from Levelland High and from South Plains College (Levelland, Texas) with an A.A. degree; West Texas State University with a B.A. degree in English and Spanish; the M.Div. degree from Perkins School of Theology/SMU, where he was a Benjamin E. Mays Scholar. He earned the Doctor of Ministry degree at Drew University. He was ordained deacon in 1983 by Bishop Finis A. Crutchfield, and elder in 1987 by Bishop Benjamin R. Oliphint in the Texas Conference.</p> <p>Earl Bledsoe was the first elected to the episcopacy in July 2008 at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference and assigned to the Dallas Area. He is currently assigned as episcopal leader of the New Mexico/Northwest Texas Annual Conferences, headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He serves as President of the GCORR Board of Directors and as such, is part of the Connectional Table. &nbsp;He also serves as Jurisdictional Episcopal member of the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters. He serves on the boards of McMurry University (Abilene, Texas), Southwestern University (Georgetown, Texas); Texas Methodist Foundation (Austin, Texas) and the Methodist Children&rsquo;s Home.</p> <p>Previous leadership includes: Jurisdictional member of the Connectional Table, 2004-2008; Jurisdictional Episcopacy Committee representative, 2004; General Conference delegate, 1992-2008; Chair of General Conference Committee on Reference (2000 and 2004); Vice Chair General Conference Legislative Committee on Ministry (1996) Chair of Texas Methodist Foundation Board; Chair of Texas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry; Chair of Texas Conference Finance &amp; Administration. Prior appointments include: Episcopal Leader of North Texas Conference (Plano, Texas); Superintendent of the Bryan/West District (College Station, Texas); Senior pastor of Spring Woods UMC (Houston, Texas); Senior Pastor of Cypress UMC (Cypress, Texas); Texas Conference Director of Teaching Ministries (Houston, Texas); Senior Associate pastor of Bear Creek UMC (Houston, Texas); Senior Pastor Hanham Methodist Church &ndash; Kingwood Circuit (Hanham Bristol, England); Intern pastor &ndash; St, Marks UMC (Baytown, Texas); Assistant Pastor of St. Andrews UMC (Ft. Worth, Texas); Pastor of St. Paul UMC/St. James UMC &ndash; Anahuac Circuit (Anahuac, Texas); Local Pastor Wyatt Memorial UMC,(Amarillo, Texas).</p> <p>Earl enjoys fishing, hunting, reading, technology, and traveling with family.</p> <p>On April 6, 1985, Leslie Jean Bray and Wilbert Earl Bledsoe were married. Leslie is a licensed social worker and is totally blind. Together they have six adult children: Gregory Earl, Erika Yvette, Felicia Renee, Roderick Lynn, Erik Jada, and Letitia Gail. They also have 12 grandchildren: Broderick Rashad, Amanda Grace, Gregory Earl Jr., Nicholas, Jasmine, Randy Jr., Alexis, Hannah Gabriel (deceased), Sara, Lindsay, Christopher, and Abigail, and two great-grandchildren: Aiden Devon and Khia Renee.</p>
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Heinrich Bolleter

Retired

Europe

Heinrich Bolleter, the son of a businessman, was born and raised in the suburbs of Zurich, Switzerland. He was educated at the Industrial College in Zurich with a degree in mathematics and physics and at the Theological Seminary of the former Methodist Church in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.<br /> <br /> In the Switzerland/ France Annual Conference he was ordained Elder in 1969. He served as a pastor in the congregations of Baden, Zurich-Wipkingen, Thalwil and Zofingen until 1989. From 1974 to 1985 he was the editor of &quot;Church and World&quot;, a weekly magazine of the L`MC in Switzerland. He was active in the field of Interdenominational Concerns since 1972 and served as a delegate to the National Council of Churches in Switzerland. He was chairperson of this Council from 1997-1999. He served as the Secretary of the Council on Ministries (from 1972 through 1989), which includes the Standing Commissions on Theology, Social Affairs and Liturgy. During the same period, he was a member of the Board of Ordained Ministry.<br /> <br /> He was named Counsel of the Church in 1985 and delegate to the European Council of the UMC since1985. He was a delegate to the Central Conference since 1973, and was a delegate to the General Conference in 1976, 1980, 1984 and 1988.<br /> <br /> Heinrich was elected to the episcopacy by the 1989 Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe and re-elected as a bishop for life by the 1993 Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe<br /> <br /> In early 2006, he was awarded the Great Silver Medal of Honor with The Star in the name of the president of the Federal Republic of Austria, in recognition of his abilities as a &quot;bridge builder,&quot; particularly for his ability to build connections with Eastern European nations. He retired in May 2006.<br /> <br /> Heinrich Bolleter has written many articles and monographs in German. His languages are German, French and English. He is married to Marta Bolleter-Zellweger. They have three children, Harald, Muriel and Yvonne.
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Benjamin Boni

Active

Africa

West Africa Central Conference

Côte D'ivoire Episcopal Area

Benjamin Boni was born in Arraguie (Agboville, C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire) to a Christian family. &nbsp;His deceased father, Clement Boni, was one of the first Catechists of the Methodist Protestant Church of C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire. &nbsp;His mother, Francisca Brou, still alive, was among the first entering class of the Methodist Girls&rsquo; School in Dabou (C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire) in the early 1930&rsquo;s. &nbsp;Benjamin Boni is married to Berthe Ngbesso Odombo. &nbsp;They have six children (five girls and a boy).<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Benjamin Boni pursued his high school education at Lycee Classique of Abidjan from 1966-1971. He obtained his Baccalaureate with emphasis in Literature in 1971. &nbsp;It was during his studies at Lycee Classique that he felt a call to the Christian Ministry. &nbsp;Benjamin Boni attended the Yaounde Theological Seminary in Cameroon from 1971-1975, where he obtained a Bachelor degree in Theology. &nbsp;He later continued his university education at the Graduate School of Theology at the University of Strasbourg in France. &nbsp;He earned a Master of Theology with specialty in Family Education. &nbsp;He participated in several training programs while abroad and at home. &nbsp;He received training in Family Counseling at the School of Parents and Educators in Strasbourg, France, and training in Communications and Mass Media in Abidjan, C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire. &nbsp;Benjamin Boni studied English as a Second language at Selly Oak College in Birmingham, England.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> He was ordained elder in January, 1980, at Lakota by Reverend Auguste Lambert Ackah, then President of the Methodist Protestant Church of C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire. &nbsp;He has held several positions within and outside the church. &nbsp;These positions include but are not limited to serving as a pastor in Azaguie, chaplain of the Protestant Student Union, and Director of Literature and Mass Media. On the national front, Benjamin Boni was appointed Member of the National Mediation Committee, Member of the Civil Society Organization on Peace, and Member of the Academy of Science, Arts and African Culture.&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Benjamin Boni was elected President of the Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church of C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire on August 1, 1998. &nbsp;He was re-elected President on December 23, 2001. On March 12, 2004, he was elected Bishop of the newly established Annual Conference of the United Methodist church in C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire.
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Warner Brown

Retired

Africa

West Africa Central Conference

Sierra Leone Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Warner H. Brown is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> He is currently serving as an interim bishop of the Sierra Leone Episcopal Area. &nbsp;</p> <p>Bishop Brown was born and raised an only child in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Ida and Warner Brown. At the age of thirteen, while reading the New Testament, he felt a call to serve. He began preaching as a youth, and was encouraged to continue doing so. As a young adult, he attended the University of Maryland, (B.A. in Sociology, 1969.) He also graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC with a Master of Divinity degree.<br /> <br /> In 1973 Warner was ordained deacon in the Baltimore Annual Conference by Bishop James K. Mathews. Yet his movement west had already begun with a pastoral appointment in the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference as both the pastor of a church and Director of Bethany House Ministries in Pittsburgh, a social service ministry for two housing projects. While serving in western Pennsylvania, he was ordained elder in 1975 by Bishop Roy C. Nichols. In 1979, he answered a national search for an associate conference staff position in the California-Nevada Conference, and transferred there. Once in California, it was only six months later that he was asked to serve as Conference Council Director.<br /> <br /> From this role of program and administrative oversight for the Conference, Warner was appointed just four years later to the Superintendency of the Golden Gate District, the richly diverse area including San Francisco and several rural and suburban counties along the Pacific Coast. Four years after that, he was given the charge of the Taylor Memorial UMC in Oakland, CA. While serving this significant congregation, the community was then assaulted by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and two years later the holocaust of fires in the Oakland hills. As chairperson of the Oakland Inter-religious Network for responding to this disaster, Warner led the community&#39;s ecumenical disaster response.<br /> <br /> Throughout these years, Warner has been active in the social justice ministries and programs of those communities and church connections where he has been appointed. To list but a sampling: Volunteer Police Chaplain, Trustee of the Glide Foundation, vice-chair of the Community Advisory Commission for Alameda County Medical Center, member of the Governing Board of United Way for Kern County, a member of the. Board of Directors for the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter, recipient of the 1996 Outstanding Leadership and Service Award for Emergency Response Ministries, given by UMCOR, and recipient of a 1998 Special Congressional Recognition from Congresswoman Barbara Lee.<br /> <br /> Warner&#39;s leadership in the church has included service as: delegate to General Conference twice, member of the General Commission on Religion and Race, a faculty member for New DS/CCD training, Harry Hoosier Member of and twice the host for the National Black Methodists for Church Renewal, chair of the Board of Missions in California-Nevada Annual Conference as well as numerous other conference boards and agencies, adjunct consultant to the Alban Institute, and a Wesley Seminary Distinguished Alumni.<br /> <br /> Following a successful eleven-year pastorate in Oakland, Warner was given a new challenge as Senior Pastor of the predominantly white yet multi-ethnic First UMC of Bakersfield, CA. Only two years into this pastorate, he was nominated and endorsed by his conference for the episcopacy: at the Western Jurisdiction Conference Sessions in Casper, Wyoming, and in July of 2000 he was elected to the episcopacy on the 19th ballot and assigned to the Denver Area. He retired in July 2016.<br /> <br /> Bishop Brown is married to Minnie Jones Brown; their family includes Catina Marie Harvin, Warner III, and Calvin Brown. Bishop&#39;s Writings</p>
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Sharon Brown Christopher

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Sharon A. Brown Christopher is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, she is a graduate of Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas, and has a Master of Divinity degree from Perkins School of Theology, Dallas.</p> <p>She was ordained an elder in the Wisconsin Conference in 1972, and served as Director of Christian Education, then associate pastor, at First United Methodist Church, Appleton; she served at Butler and Germantown: Calvary United Methodist Churches; and Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Milwaukee, before spending five-and-one-half years as District Superintendent of the Eastern District. She became the assistant to Bishop David Lawson in January, 1986.<br /> <br /> In July 1988, was elected to the episcopacy by the North Central Jurisdictional Conference. Her first assignment in that role began in September 1988 as Resident Bishop of the Minnesota Area. In 1996, she was assigned to the Illinois Area.<br /> <br /> She is married to the Reverend Charles E. Logsdon Christopher. In their family they have two children, Jeffrey Charles and his spouse Julie, and their daughter Eleanor, and Amy Logsdon Warner, her spouse, Richard, and their son, Max.</p>
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Lawson Bryan

Active

United States

Southeastern Jurisdiction

South Georgia Episcopal Area

<p>Born:&nbsp;June 13, 1950 in Quincy, Florida&nbsp;<br /> Raised in Dothan, AL<br /> Graduated from Dothan High School, 1968<br /> Bachelor of Science, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA,&nbsp;cum laude<br /> Master of Divinity, Emory University, Atlanta, GA,&nbsp;cum laude<br /> <br /> Doctor of Ministry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA<br /> <br /> Married to Sherrill O. Cooper of Thomaston, AL;&nbsp;&nbsp;their son, Philip, lives in Montgomery and is chief of staff for the president pro-tem of the Alabama State Senate.&nbsp;On October 10, 2015, Philip and Brittany Woodham were married at First UMC Montgomery.</p> <h4><strong>Ministry:</strong></h4> <ul> <li>1975&mdash;Associate Pastor, Trinity UMC, Opelika, AL</li> <li>1976&mdash;Pastor, Hiland Park UMC, Panama City, FL</li> <li>1980&mdash;Pastor, Dexter Avenue UMC, Montgomery, AL</li> <li>1986&mdash;Pastor, First UMC, Brewton, AL</li> <li>1990&mdash;Pastor, Ashland Place UMC, Mobile, AL</li> <li>1997&mdash;Pastor, First UMC, Dothan, AL</li> <li>2007&mdash;&nbsp;Senior Pastor, First UMC, Montgomery, AL</li> <li>2016&mdash; Elected Bishop</li> <li>2016&mdash; Assigned to the South Georgia Annual Conference</li> </ul> <h4><strong>Other Involvement:</strong></h4> <p><strong>Alabama-West Florida Conference Leadership</strong></p> <ul> <li>Chaired Alabama-West Florida Conference Council on Ministries, 1996-98</li> <li>Served as board chair, Academy for Congregational Excellence, 2011-2016</li> <li>Dothan District Committee on Ministry, Chair, 2000-2006</li> <li>Alabama-West Florida Conference Board of Ministry, 1980-88; 2000-2012</li> <li>Huntingdon College Board of Trustees, 2001-present</li> <li>Chaired Board of Ordained Ministry, Alabama West-Florida Conference, 2007-2009</li> <li>Participant and Leader in Three-year Covenant Community for Spiritual Growth</li> <li>Developed partnership between First United Methodist Church Montgomery and Huntingdon College to provide intern program</li> <li>Organized and hosted annual Pan-Methodist Pentecost Service</li> </ul> <p><br /> <strong>Southeastern Jurisdiction Leadership</strong><br /> Chaired Southeastern Jurisdiction Larger Church Consultation, 2001-2002<br /> <br /> <strong>General Church Leadership</strong><br /> General Conference delegate in 2012 and 2016<br /> Chaired Financial Administration Sub-committee at General Conference 2016<br /> <br /> <strong>Local Church and Community Leadership</strong></p> <ul> <li>Leadership Mobile, Class of 1992</li> <li>Chaired the Alzheimer&rsquo;s Association &ldquo;Walk to Remember,&rdquo; 2000-2001</li> <li>Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, 2002-2005</li> <li>Member of Downtown Rotary Club of Montgomery, 2007-present</li> <li>Chaired Believe It! Montgomery, community partnership for public schools</li> <li>Author of Pursuing Science, Finding Faith</li> <li>Member of the Committee of 100 &ndash; Candler School of Theology, Emory University</li> <li>Member of Leadership Alabama</li> <li>Teaching Parish Supervisor &ndash; Candler School of Theology, Emory University</li> <li>Chaired the Visioning Team for Adult Respite Ministry of First UMC Montgomery</li> </ul>
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Minerva Carcaño

Active

United States

Western Jurisdiction

San Francisco Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Minerva Garza Carca&ntilde;o is the Resident Bishop of the San Francisco Area, which includes the California-Nevada Conference in the Western Jurisidiction of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>She was born in Edinburg, Texas. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Texas at Pan American, and then earned her Master of Theology at Perkins School of Theology. Ordained in 1976 she has served congregations in Texas, New Mexico and California. In 1986, she became the first Hispanic woman to be appointed a United Methodist district superintendent in the continental United States serving in West Texas and New Mexico. She was then appointed the lead pastor of the South Albuquerque Cooperative Parish Ministry from 1992 to1996. From 1996 to 2001, she served as the Director of the Mexican American program at Perkins School of Theology. In 2001, she assumed the appointment of District Superintendent to the greater Portland, Oregon area in the Oregon-Idaho Conference.</p> <p>On a national level, she has served on the former General Board of Education, the General Boards of Global Ministry and Church and Society, and the United Methodist Publishing House. She both served on and chaired the National Cooperative Parish Ministry Leadership Team of the UMC, and was the lead clergy delegate to both the 1996 and 2004 General Conferences. She has a long history of committed involvement in ministries with immigrants and refugees, the poor and US/Mexico border communities.</p> <p>She was elected to the episcopacy in 2004 by the Western Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church, the first Hispanic female ever elected bishop. She was assigned to the Phoenix Area on September 1, 2004. After 8 years, she was assigned to the Los Angeles Area in 2012. In 2016, she was assigned to the San Francisco Area.<br /> <br /> Bishop Carca&ntilde;o is married to Thomas Spaniolo, an immigration lawyer, and they are the parents &nbsp;of an adult daughter, Sofia.</p>
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Kenneth Carder

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Kenneth Lee Carder is a retired Bishop of the United Methodist Church.</p> <p>Kenneth Lee Carder was born in Washington County, Tennessee, one of five children of Allen and Edith Carder. He was graduated with honors from East Tennessee State University and Wesley Theological Seminary. In 1980 he received the Doctor of Ministry Degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School.<br /> <br /> Ken was ordained Deacon by Bishop Roy H. Short, and Bishop H. Ellis Finger, Jr., ordained him an Elder. Ken has served churches in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Bristol, Tennessee, Abingdon, Virginia and Knoxville and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. While in Oak Ridge, he helped initiate an ongoing dialogue between scientists and theologians, including a dialogue between members of the Council of Bishops, on In Defense of Creation. He continues an interest in science/technology and theology/ethics. In addition to dialogue between science and theology, Ken has special commitment to Wesley studies, prison ministries, racial and economic justice, and ministry with those who live in poverty.<br /> <br /> Ken was first elected to Jurisdictional Conference in 1980. He was elected to General Conference in 1984, 1988, and 1992. He was elected to the episcopacy in 1992 while serving as pastor of Church Street Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. He served the Nashville and Mississippi Areas. Upon retiring in 2004, Ken joined the full-time faculty of Duke Divinity School as Professor of the Practice of Pastoral Formation.<br /> <br /> Linda Miller and Ken Carder were married June 30, 1961. Linda and Ken have two daughters. Sandra Carder Nash and her husband, Kyle, have two daughters, Katelyn and Emily, and a son Michael; and they live in Columbia, SC. Sheri Carder Hood and her husband, John, and their daughters, Megan and Julia Rose, also live in Columbia, S.C.</p> <p><strong>Publications:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=926123&amp;rank=1&amp;txtSearchQuery=Kenneth+Carder" target="_blank">Grace to Lead</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=805195&amp;rank=2&amp;txtSearchQuery=Kenneth+Carder" target="_blank">Living Our Beliefs</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=356969&amp;rank=3&amp;txtSearchQuery=Kenneth+Carder" target="_blank">Serious Answers to Hard Questions Leader&#39;s Guide</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/search.aspx?ddlSearchScope=author&amp;txtSearchQuery=Kenneth+Carder" target="_blank">Complete List</a></p>
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Kenneth Carter

Active

United States

Southeastern Jurisdiction

Florida Episcopal Area

<p>A native of Georgia, Kenneth H. Carter is a graduate of Columbus College (B.S.), Duke University Divinity School (M.Div.), the University of Virginia (M.A.) and Princeton Theological Seminary (D.Min.).&nbsp; In addition, Bethune-Cookman University and the United Methodist University of Liberia have awarded him the honorary D.D. degree. He was ordained a deacon in the Western North Carolina Conference in 1983 and an elder in 1986. Subsequently he served a four-point charge, as an associate pastor of missions and evangelism, as a new church planter, and as senior pastor of two large regional churches; his ministry at Providence United Methodist Church in Charlotte was described by the historian Diana Butler Bass in her Christianity for the Rest of Us. He also was the superintendent of the Smoky Mountain District of the Western North Carolina Conference, which included sixty-nine churches in the seven westernmost counties of the state, all within the region of Appalachia.</p> <p>In the Western North Carolina Conference, Ken chaired the Board of Ordained Ministry and the Committee on the Episcopacy. He was elected to five jurisdictional conferences and three general conferences, and he led the WNCC delegation in Tampa in 2012. In the denomination, he has served on the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, the Committee on Faith and Order, the Ministry Study Commission, the University Senate, and the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry. He currently chairs the United Methodist Church Holistic Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Task Force on Human Rights and Investment.</p> <p>In 2012, Ken Carter was elected to the episcopacy by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church and assigned to the Florida Conference.</p> <p>He is a member of the board of trustees of Bethune-Cookman University, Florida Southern College, the Russia United Methodist Theological Seminary in Moscow and the board of visitors of Duke Divinity School. Bishop Carter is the author of eight books, most recently Pray For Me: The Power in Praying For Others (Upper Room, 2012); among those endorsing his latest book was Leighton Ford, brother-in-law of Billy Graham. His books reflect on topics related to practical ministry: stewardship, spiritual gifts, baptism, the Wesleyan means of grace, and intercession. He was also a contributor to the Wesley Study Bible and the Feasting on the Word series.</p> <p>The bishop is married to Pam Carter and they have two daughters: Liz, an editor, research analyst and Chinese Translator with Foreign Policy/Tea Leaf Nation, based in Washington, D.C., and Abby, a student at Duke University Divinity School and a recent graduate of Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama.</p>
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Ray Chamberlain

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Ray W. Chamberlain, Jr. is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Pomona, California, moved with his missionary parents to Jamaica when he was eight years old. He graduated with B.A. and Th.B. degrees from United Wesleyan College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and from Duke University Divinity School, Durham, North Carolina, with the M.Div. degree (magna cum laude) and studied a year at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. He received D.D. degrees from Shenandoah University and Liberia Methodist University.<br /> <br /> Prior to his election to the episcopacy in 1996 by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, he served with the Salvation Army in a Trenton, New Jersey, ghetto, as missionary/ministerial school principal in Zambia, Africa, as associate pastor or pastor of rural and city churches as well as a 3400-member congregation in the Virginia Conference in a bedroom community of Washington, DC. His last appointment before election was as District Superintendent of the 30,000+ Richmond District of the Virginia Conference. He has provided conference and jurisdictional leadership, especially in the areas of global missions, evangelism and education.<br /> <br /> Following eight years as bishop of the Holston Conference, he currently serves as special assistant to the president at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, and as Bishop-in-Residence at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia.<br /> <br /> Ray and Martha have three children, Russell, Marcia and Sharon, a foster daughter, Pam, and six grandchildren.</p>
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Young Jin Cho

Retired

United States

Southeastern Jurisdiction

<p>Bishop Young Jin Cho is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Onyang, South Korea, and graduated from Methodist Theological Seminary in Seoul, Korea, where he earned the Th.B. and Th.M. degrees He came to the United States in 1979 and earned M.Div. and D.Min. degrees from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC.&nbsp; He was ordained in the East Annual Conference of the Korean Methodist Church in 1977 and transferred to the Virginia Conference in 1983.</p> <p>He was senior pastor of Korean United Methodist Church of Greater Washington (KUMCGW) in McLean, for 22 years before being appointed superintendent of the Arlington District in 2005.&nbsp;</p> <p>In his ministry as District Superintendent, Cho continued to focus on Christ&rsquo;s vision for the Arlington District.&nbsp; In seven years, under his leadership, the Arlington District started more than 10 new faith communities and introduced many training events for the clergy and laity to strengthen spiritual foundation of ministry.</p> <p>Young Jin Cho was elected to the episcopacy at the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 2012. He is the first Korean-American elected to the episcopacy in the Southeastern Jurisdiction.&nbsp; While it is uncommon for a newly-elected bishop to be returned to his or her home conference, Cho was assigned to come home to Virginia to lead the Virginia Conference for four years.</p> <p>Cho has served the church and the community in various capacities, including president of the Korean Wesley Foundation, president of Partner&rsquo;s Church Association for the renewal of the Korean United Methodist Church, Board of Ordained Ministry, Board of Discipleship and Commission on Ethnic Minority Local Church Concerns. He was elected delegate to the 2008 and 2012 General Conferences.</p> <p>Kiok Chang and Young Jin Cho&nbsp;were married on May 19, 1975 in Seoul, Korea. The Chos have two daughters, Grace and Sophia, one son, Chris and one grandson, Luke.</p>
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Wilbur Choy

Retired

United States

Born in Stockton, California, Wilbur was the son of Lie Yen and Ida Lee Choy. Wilbur Choy attended Stockton Junior College (A.A.), the College of the Pacific (B.A.), and the Pacific School of Religion on (M. Div.). He holds honorary doctorates from the Pacific School of Religion and the University of Puget Sound.<br /> <br /> On September 26, 1940, Wilbur Choy married Grace Ying Hom. They had four children: Randolph W., Jonathan W., Phyllis W. (Mrs. LeRoy Seibert), and Donnell W. Choy. Grace Choy died on December 26, 1977.<br /> <br /> While a college and seminary student Wilbur Choy was associate pastor of the Chinese Methodist Church in Stockton and was ordained deacon in 1946 by Bishop James Baker. Following seminary Wilbur was ordained elder by Bishop Donald Tippett and joined the California -Oriental Provisional Conference, continuing to serve the church in Stockton.<br /> In 1954 Wilbur Choy was appointed to serve St. Mark&#39;s Methodist Church, Stockton, in the California-Nevada Annual Conference and later he held pastorates in Woodland and Sacramento, California. In 1967 he was chaplain of the California Senate. From 1969 until his election to the episcopacy in 1972 by the Western Jurisdictional Conference, Wilbur Choy was District Superintendent of the Bay View District.<br /> <br /> On December 29, 1982, Wilbur Choy married the Reverend Nancy S. Yamasaki, a United Methodist clergywoman.<br /> <br /> As bishop he served the Seattle Area for eight years and the San Francisco Area for four years. He was President of the Council of Bishops 1983-1984. He retired in 1984.
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Charles Crutchfield

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Charles N. Crutchfield is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Liberal, Kansas, the son, grandson, and great-grandson of Methodist ministers. He attended Southern Methodist University (B.A.); Duke Divinity School, Duke University (M.Div.); and did post-graduate studies in New Testament at Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, Scotland. Charles was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from McMurry University, Abilene, Texas, in 1996.<br /> <br /> Charles was ordained deacon in the Oklahoma Conference, but because of schedule difficulties, the ordination was performed by Bishop W. Angie Smith during a session of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference. He was ordained elder in the New Mexico Conference by Bishop Alsie Carleton. Charles served in the New Mexico Conference from 1969 until his election to the episcopacy by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference in 2004.<br /> <br /> Prior to his election to the episcopacy, Charles was elected to serve as a delegate to the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 General Conferences of the UMC.In September 1, 2004, hebegan serving the Arkansas Area.<br /> <br /> Charles&#39; hobbies include hiking, backpacking, alpine skiing, reading history, gourmet cooking, and travel.<br /> <br /> Charles and Karen Jenkins were married on Aug. 24, 1968, and spent the academic year attending the University of Edinburgh (Scotland). Daughter Melissa has served in the Peace Corps in Cameroon and currently works for UMCOR in Washington, DC. Son Scott was born in 1971 and died in 1999 of a brain tumor. Grandchildren Adam Wesley Crutchfield and Heather Holland live in Weaverville, NC, with parents Steve and Alexandra (Crutchfield) Holland.</p>
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Lindsey Davis

Retired

United States

Southeastern Jurisdiction

<p>Bishop Lindsey Davis is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>Born in Durham, North Carolina, Lindsey Davis spent most of his life in Kentucky and holds degrees from Union College, the University of Kentucky, Lexington Theological Seminary, and Kentucky Wesleyan College.<br /> <br /> He was ordained elder by Bishop Paul Duffey, and held pastorates in the Kentucky Conference: the First United Methodist Church of Lexington, Mayo Memorial United Methodist Church, St. Luke United Methodist Church, Superintendent of the Lexington District. He was Assistant Director, Office of Educational Development at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine; Director of Educational Development, University of Alabama, College of Community Health Sciences; and Consultant for the Department of Family Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine before entering ordained ministry. He co-chaired the Uniting Transition Team for the Louisville Area in 1996 and was a delegate to General Conference and Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 1992 and 1996.<br /> <br /> Lindsey Davis was elected to the episcopacy at the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in July 1996, from the Kentucky Conference where he was Superintendent of the Lexington District, and was assigned to The North Georgia Area as of September 1, 1996. In 2008, he was assigned to the Louisville Area.<br /> <br /> He has served on the General Council on Ministries (1996-2000), as Director of the General Board of Global Ministries, and President of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) (2000-2004), and as Vice-President of the General Council on Finance and Administration (2004-2008). In addition to the Board of Trustees of nine United Methodist colleges and numerous other United Methodist agencies in the North Georgia Area, he is a member of the Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center Board of Emory University.<br /> <br /> Lindsey and Jennifer have two children, Laura Ellen Miller (Dustin) and John Lindsey Davis (Jennifer), and two grandchildren, Davis Scott Miller and Jackson Lindsey Davis.</p>
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Emilio DeCarvalho

Retired

Africa

Em&iacute;lio J. M. de Carvalho was born in Quiongua, Angola. He studied at the Faculdade de Teologia da Igreja Methodista in S&atilde;o Paulo, Brazil, while serving as assistant pastor at two local churches. He received his B.D. degree in December 1958. Then he obtained an M.A. at Northwestern University in June 1960, after which he was ordained deacon by Bishop H. C. Northcott on June 3 of that year, at the Wisconsin Annual Conference.<br /> <br /> Em&iacute;lio J.M. de Carvalho returned to Angola and was appointed at Central Church in Luanda. In 1965 he became a professor and principal of Emmanuel Theological Seminary in Dondi, Angola. On January 2, 1966, at the Angola Annual Conference, he was ordained elder by Bishop H. P. Andreassen.<br /> <br /> At the Africa Central Conference session held in Limbe, Malawi, in August 1972, Em&iacute;lio J.M. de Carvalho was elected to the episcopacy and assigned to the Angola Area. He was consecrated by Bishop Escrivao A. Zunguze on the 21st of October of that year, in Luanda. He retired September 1, 2000.<br /> <br /> He is married to Marilina de Carvalho and they have three children: Ar&iacute; C&eacute;sar, Eunice Paula, and David Mauro.
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Sudarshana Devadhar

Active

United States

Northeastern Jurisdiction

Boston Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar is the Resident Bishop of the Boston Area, which includes the New England Conference in the Northeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born into a family of clergypersons and has been a follower of God all of his life. The name &quot;Devadhar&quot; means &quot;follower of God.&quot; Suda, as he is called, began his pastorate as a deacon at the Church of South India, Mercara Coorg, India. He holds a B.Com. degree from Vijaya College, University of Mysore, Mulki, India; a B.D., degree from United Theological College, Bangalore, India; a M.Th. degree from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University; and an M.Phil. and a Ph.D. from Drew University.<br /> <br /> Before 2004, Suda served for eight years as the district superintendent for the Ontario District of the North Central New York Annual Conference.<br /> <br /> Sudarshana Devadhar was elected to the episcopacy in 2004. He began his assignment as the leader of the New Jersey Episcopal Area on September 1, 2004. After serving in the New Jersey Area for 8 years, he was assigned to the Boston Area in July 2012. &quot;I envision a Church of the Pentecost in which the Holy Spirit is igniting, gifting and empowering God&#39;s children of all ages, backgrounds, colors and personalities to glorify their Creator as passionate witnesses for Jesus Christ,&quot; said Bishop Devadhar. &quot;Such a church does not merely serve the poor, the left out, the different, but welcomes them warmly into its hearts, homes, and worship.&quot;<br /> <br /> Bishop Devadhar enjoys spending time with his family. His wife, Prema, is his partner in ministry and they are blessed with an adult daughter, Trina. Bishop Devadhar also enjoys reading and listening to devotional music. His key philosophy in life are to love everyone.</p>
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Gaspar João Domingos

Active

Africa

Angola East Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Gaspar Jo&atilde;o Domingos is the Resident Bishop of the West Angola Area, which includes West Angola Conference in the Africa Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>Son of Jo&atilde;o Domingos Manuel and In&ecirc;s Jos&eacute; Gon&ccedil;alves, he was born in Luanda, Angola.&nbsp; He married Lucretia Manuel Alexandre on December 16, 1983 in Luanda.</p> <p>In 1986 Bishop Domingos finished his technical studies at the S. Carlos School in Brazil. He earned his bachelor&#39;s degree in theology at the Methodist Institute of Higher Education in Brazil and graduated from the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey, University of Geneva, in Switzerland.<br /> <br /> He has served as student and associate pastor at Rudge Ramos Methodist Church, in Brazil, and as pastor of the Galilee United Methodist Church in Angola for 5 consecutive years. After that, and during the churches&#39; process of pacification of Angola, he was transferred in 1994 to work for the Angola Council of Christian Churches, as Director of the Department of Justice, Peace and Reconciliation. When elected to the episcopacy, Bishop Domingos was serving as General Secretary, Angola Council of Christian Churches. Before his work experience with the church, he was a primary school teacher and an officer in the Angolan Fisheries Minister&#39;s office.<br /> <br /> He was elected to the episcopacy at the 9th Africa Central Conference of the Methodist Church in Maputo, Mozambique, on August 17, 2000, and was consecrated bishop of the United Methodist Church on August 20th, 2000. He was appointed to preside over the Annual Conference of West Angola at the same time.<br /> <br /> Lucretia and Bishop Domingos have six children: Ariane Marcelina, Ismael Alex, Taines Silvia Alexandre, Elyeser Joel, Terena Eunice and Gl&aacute;ucio Domingos.</p>
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Sally Dyck

Retired

United States

North Central Jurisdiction

Chicago Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Sally Dyck serves as the Ecumenical Officer of the Council of Bishops. She previously served as the Resident Bishop of the Chicago Area, which includes the Northern Illinois Conference in the North Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>She was born in Ritzville, Washington. She was born into a Mennonite family and joined the United Methodist Church as a young adult.</p> <p>She graduated from Boston University College of Liberal Arts with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and from Boston University School of Theology. She received a certificate from the Ecumenical Institute which is a joint program of the World Council of Churches and the University of Geneva, Switzerland. She was ordained in the East Ohio Annual Conference. She also received a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological School, Dayton, OH, in Black Church Studies as a Bishop James S. Thomas fellow.</p> <p>She served the communities and the churches of Faith (1978-1984), Church of the Redeemer (1984-1997), and Garfield Memorial (2003-2004). She also served as a district superintendent (1997-2003) in the Wooster area.</p> <p>Sally served as a director of the Board of Global Ministries (1999-2004), chairing the Personnel Committee. She was a jurisdictional delegate six times and a General Conference delegate four times. In February 2006 she was elected to the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches.</p> <p>Sally was elected to the episcopacy in Davenport, Iowa, in 2004 and assigned to the Minnesota Annual Conference. After serving 8 years in the Minnesota area, she was assigned to the Northern Illinois Conference in July 2012. She seeks to be the bishop to the nones (those persons who check &quot;none&quot; when asked their religious preference). She begins her day with prayer, Bible study, and a 3-6 mile run through the cathedral of nature.</p> <p>Ken Ehrman and Sally Dyck met in Boston and were married on May 15, 1976.</p>
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LaTrelle Easterling

Active

United States

Northeastern Jurisdiction

Baltimore-Washington Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop LaTrelle Easterling is the episcopal servant and leader of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, the oldest and most diverse annual conference in The United Methodist Church.&nbsp; She is the first woman to lead this historic conference. Bishop Easterling was appointed to this office in September 2016, following her election to the episcopacy that July.</p> <p>Prior to being elected, she served as Dean of the Cabinet of the New England Conference and as a superintendent, leading 57 congregations in the Boston Hope District.</p> <p>&nbsp;She was ordained a Deacon in 1995 and an Elder in 1997, and was pastor of Union UMC in Boston&rsquo;s historic South End, Pearl Street UMC in Brockton, Mass., and Old West Church, UM, in Boston.</p> <p>Easterling is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana. The child of Mary and Walter Miller, she grew up attending University UMC, under the leadership of Rev. George Rice and then Rev. Harry A. Coleman. As an active United Methodist, Easterling sang in numerous choirs, served as a youth group leader and Sunday school teacher. Upon moving to Denver, Colorado, she joined the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where she learned the art of preaching and the importance of advocacy and justice ministries.</p> <p>A strong proponent of education, Easterling received a bachelor&rsquo;s degree from Indiana University and a Law degree from Indiana University School of Law. She graduated&nbsp;summa cum laude in 2004 with a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology.</p> <p>Prior to entering the ministry, she worked as a human resources manager and director, and as a prosecuting attorney.&nbsp;</p> <p>A delegate to General and Jurisdictional Conference in 2012 and 2016, Easterling serves on a number of boards and agencies, including the Committee for the National Plan for Hispanic and Latino Ministries, The Council of Bishop&rsquo;s Immigration Task Force, the Boards of Directors for Wesley Theological and American University, the Board of Child Care and The Jane Robinson Bancroft Foundation. Easterling also serves as the President of the Northeast Jurisdiction Multi-Ethnic Center, the Anna Howard Shaw Board of Boston University School of Theology, and Boston University School of Theology Dean&rsquo;s Advisory Counsel. Upon arriving in the Baltimore-Washington Conference, she founded The Seeds of Security ministry, or SOS, which benefits people in crisis who are seeking to leave abusive relationships.</p> <p>Easterling is a much sought-after speaker and preacher, poet and published author. She has received numerous awards and recognitions, most recently receiving the 2017 Rainbow Push Trombone Award for Faith in Action, presented by the Rev. Jesse Jackson.</p> <p>She is married to the Rev. Marion Easterling Jr., pastor of Wesley Grove UMC in Hanover, Md., and the former pastor of Parkway UMC in Milton, Mass. They have two grown sons, Garret and Miles.</p>
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Leonard Fairley

Active

United States

Southeastern Jurisdiction

Louisville Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Leonard Fairley is the Resident Bishop of the Louisville Area, which includes Kentucky Conference in the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church. He was elected to the episcopacy in 2016.&nbsp;</p> <p>Bishop&nbsp;Fairley had served the North Carolina Conference since 1984 and his last appointment&nbsp;in North Carolina was serving as the District Superintendent of the Capital District. The Capital District is the largest district in the North Carolina Annual Conference.</p> <p>Bishop Fairley graduated from Pfeiffer College and Duke University&#39;s School of Divinity. He served at St. Peters in Hamlet, NC and Soapstone in Raleigh before becoming the Rockingham District Superintendent. After serving as a District Superintendent for seven years he returned to the local church in 2012 as Lead Pastor at Saint Francis in Cary, NC.&nbsp;</p> <p>Bishop Fairley has served on numerous boards and agencies in the North Carolina conference including:&nbsp;</p> <p>Conference Vitalization Consultant<br /> Chair of Congregational Development<br /> Task Force on Lay Academy<br /> Vice Chair of Conference Finance &amp; Administration<br /> Vice-Chair of Conference Board of Church and Society<br /> NC Conference Transition Team<br /> Conference Board of Ordained Ministry<br /> NC Conference Episcopacy Committee<br /> General and Jurisdictional Conference Delegate</p> <p>He has also participated in Mission Work Teams in Costa Rica, Jamaica, Montserrat, Zimbabwe, Haiti and the Appalachia Service Project.</p> <p>Bishop&nbsp;Fairley has published a book of poetry, &ldquo;Who Shall Hear My Voice.&rdquo; He also was a contributing writer to &ldquo;The Day the Earth Moved Haiti: From Havoc to Healing.&rdquo;</p> <p>He was married to his lifelong soul mate, Priscilla Ann Russell, before she died in 2013. He has two adult children, son Joshua Fairley and daughter, Elizabeth Galbreath. He is also the proud grandfather of three grandchildren.</p> <p>On Sept. 30, 2018, Bishop Fairley and Dawn Sparks became husband and wife during a small, intimate ceremony officiated by Bishop Lindsey Davis.</p>
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Robert Fannin

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Robert E. Fannin is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Ashland, Kentucky, and spent his childhood in Brooksville, Florida. He received a B.S. in Business Administration from Florida Southern College, M. Div. and Doctorate of Sacred Theology from Candler School of Theology, Emory University. His doctoral project dealt with the local ministers&#39; professional relationships to other helping professions. He received honorary doctorates from Florida Southern, Birmingham Southern and Huntingdon Colleges.<br /> <br /> Before going onto the ministry, Bob Fannin was part of the J.C. Penny management training program, served in the U.S. Army, and became a representative for the Burroughs Computer Corporation.<br /> <br /> After completion of his doctoral studies, he served in the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in Lake Alfred, Gainesville and Stuart. In June of 1986, he was appointed District Superintendent of the Miami District and in June of 1991, to First United Methodist Church, Lakeland.<br /> <br /> He has served the Florida Annual Conference in the past as Chairperson of the Board of Ordained Ministry, as President of the Credit Union and as Chairperson of the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry. He has served as a member of the General Council on Ministries, The Board of Higher Education and Ministry, Vice-Chair of GCFA and was the President of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Court of Appeals.<br /> <br /> Bob Fannin was elected to the episcopacy from the Southeastern Jurisdiction in 1992, and served the Birmingham Area until his retirement in 2004.<br /> <br /> Bishop Fannin has participated on the faculties of Schools of Christian Mission around the Southeastern United States for many years. He has his wife, Faye, have three children: Stephanie, Allison and Robb, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.</p>
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Robert Bob Farr

Active

United States

South Central Jurisdiction

Missouri Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Robert Farr serves as Bishop of the Missouri Area of The United Methodist Church. He was elected by the South Central Jurisdiction in July 2016, and assigned to the Missouri Area beginning September 2016. The Missouri Conference includes 800 local churches, approximately 1,000 retired and active clergy and 80,000 weekly worshippers, offering ministry through local churches, colleges, campus ministries, social services and mission projects throughout the world.<br /> <br /> Before his work as Bishop, Rev. Bob Farr has served as the Director of the Center for Congregational Excellence for the Missouri Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church from 2007-2016, guiding 35 church starts into life and has overseen over 150 Healthy Church consultations in the Missouri conference. He led 128 individual church consults in 29 conferences across the connection, serving on the Cabinet, Mission Council and as a Conference Director. He offered oversight of new church planting, church transformation, language-based faith communities and shared in leadership development.<br /> <br /> From 2000-2007, he served as senior pastor of Church of the Shepherd in St. Charles where he led the congregation through relocation that increased worship from 450 to 1,200 in worship attendance. Prior to that, Farr started Grace UMC in Lee&rsquo;s Summit in 1990 and Hope Church in Lone Jack, a daughter congregation of Grace, in 1998. Farr was ordained deacon in 1983 and elder in 1987 after attending seminary at Perkins School of Theology, where he served student appointments of Celeste, White Rock and Kinston charge and as student associate at Wesley UMC in Greenville, Texas.<br /> <br /> As a writer, he has co-authored several books with Kay Kotan and published by Abingdon Press, including: <em>Renovate or Die &ndash; 10 Ways to Focus Your Church in Mission</em> (2011), G<em>et Their Name &ndash; Grow Your Church by Building New Relationships</em> (2013), <em>10 Prescriptions for a Healthy Church (2015), and The Necessary Nine</em> (2015). In 2018 he authored <em>Obvious Wisdom</em>, 52 tips for effective ministry.<br /> <br /> Farr has also had the opportunity to share learning across the connection through the Healthy Church Initiative, School of Congregational Development, Path One and South Central Jurisdiction new church planting trainings. Bob helped form Route 122, a transformational church network and is a regular guest speaker across the connection.<br /> <br /> He is a certified Fire Chaplain through Global Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Farr&rsquo;s passion for the global church has taken him to India, Mexico, South Korea, Russia, South Africa, China, Haiti and Mozambique. For the past five years, he and his wife have helped support Nhachengue UMC in southern Mozambique, including the drilling of a deep water well. He and Susan have been married since 1979 and have two adult children and three grandchildren.</p>
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Moises Domingos Fernandes

Retired

Africa

Moises Domingos Fernandes was born in Malange, Angola, and was the Pastor of the Bethel Church in Luanda, at the time of his election to the episcopacy in 1988. The consecration ceremony was held in Lubumbashi on August 19, 1988.<br /> <br /> Bishop Fernandes was assigned to the Eastern Angola area and is now retired.<br /> <br /> He holds a B.D. degree in Theology from Seminario Evangelico de Teologia, Matanzas, Cuba. He is married to Luciana da Silva Clementa Fernandes and they have 8 children.
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Violet Fisher

Retired

United States

Violet L. Fisher was born into a Methodist family, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, in the town of Easton. She graduated from Bowie University (B.S.) and George Washington University (M. Ed.) She taught in the public school systems of Virginia and Maryland for twenty-two years.<br /> <br /> Violet&#39;s call to ministry began when she was sixteen years old. During that time, there was no place in ordained ministry for women, especially in the Delaware Conference of the Central Jurisdiction. At the age of twenty-five, Violet was ordained by the King&#39;s Apostle Holiness Church of God and served as National Evangelist and Missionary (short term) to East Africa, Republic of Haiti, and Jamaica, W.I.<br /> <br /> Returning to the church of her birth, Violet graduated from Eastern Baptist Seminary (Philadelphia, PA) in 1988. She was ordained deacon (1988) by Bishop F. Herbert Skeete and elder (1990) by Bishop Susan M. Morrison.<br /> <br /> Violet served as Associate Pastor to St. Daniel&#39;s United Methodist Church (Chester, PA); Senior Pastor to Sayer&#39;s Memorial United Methodist Church (Philadelphia, PA); and as District Superintendent Eastern PA Conference. She served as Dean of the Cabinet 1998-99. She was a delegate to General and Jurisdictional Conferences 1996 and 2000, leading her delegation, and also delegate to World Methodist Council (1996) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She also served as Dean of the NEJ School of Evangelism 1998-99. Violet served on the General Board of Church and Society 1996-2000, the General Board of Discipleship; and Older Adult Ministry (1996-2000). She serves on the Board of Directors Eastern Baptist Seminary (1997-present).<br /> <br /> Violet was elected to the episcopacy in 2000 and was assigned to the New York West Area. She retired from that Area in 2008. She is the mother of one son, Marcus.
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Ciriaco Francisco

Active

Philippines

Manila Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Ciriaco Quintanay Francisco is the Resident Bishop of the Manila Area, which includes Bulacan Philippines, Middle Philippines, Palawan Philippines, Pampango, Philippines, Philippines Cavite, Quezon City Philippines East, Rizal Philippines East, South Nueva Ecija Philippines, Southern Tagalog East, Southwest Philippines and West Middle Philippines conferences in the Philippine Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He previously served the Davao Episcopal Area after his election to the episcopacy in 2012.</p> <p>He earned his Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary and has a second master&rsquo;s in educational administration from the University of the Philippines. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>He was assigned in various local churches from 1976-2000 and 2008-2012. He served as superintendent in the North and South Bulacan districts from 2001-2008. He was elected delegate to the 2000 General Conference.</p> <p>Francisco is a member of the Council of Bishops and the executive committee of the College of Bishops; vice chairperson of the Connectional Table; chairperson of the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters; and a member of the Commission on a Way Forward. He is also president of the College of Bishops of the Philippines Central Conference.</p> <p>Francisco and his wife, Restetita Victoria, have three children and three grandchildren.</p>
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Elias Galvan

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Elias Galvan is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in San Juan Acozac, Puebla, Mexico, into a Methodist parsonage. He has a B.A. degree from California State University at Long Beach and a Rel. D. from the School of Theology at Claremont where he obtained a Rel. D.</p> <p>He became a probationary member of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, and later was received into full membership and ordained an elder. He has served the following appointments: Asbury United Methodist Church as Associate Pastor; Pastor of City Terrace United Methodist Church and the Church of All Nations in Los Angeles; Director of Ethnic Planning and Strategy; District Superintendent, Santa Barbara District, with two years as Dean of the Cabinet; Conference Council Director.<br /> <br /> He was a delegate to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences of 1972 - 1984, serving as chair of one of the legislative committees in 1972.<br /> <br /> During 1983 and 1984 he served as President of the Southern California Ecumenical Council. He has been very active in MARCHA, the national Hispanic caucus, of which he was the first chairperson of the coordinating committee; appointed by the Council of Bishops to Chair the Committee to Develop a National Plan for Hispanic Ministries for the 1989-1992 quadrennium.<br /> <br /> In 1984, he was elected to the episcopacy and was assigned to the newly-created Phoenix Area, Desert Southwest Conference. He served on the General Council on Ministries (1984-88); General Board of Discipleship (1989-92); President of the College of Bishops of the Western Jurisdiction (1989). Trustee, School of Theology at Claremont, California (1985- ); General Board of Global Ministries (1992-2000).</p> <p>Bishop Galvan retired in 2004.</p> <p>On July 12, 1986, he married Zoraida Freytes, a native of Puerto Rico, who was raised in a United Methodist parsonage. They have one son, Elias Gabriel.</p>
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Jose Gamboa

Retired

Philippines

Jos&eacute; Gamboa, Jr., was born in Cabanatuan City, Philippines, the son of Rev. Jos&eacute; and Guadalupe Castro Gamboa. His father served in the ministry for 46 years and his mother as deaconess and later as local pastor.<br /> <br /> He received his A.B. from Philippine Wesleyan College; his Bachelor of Sacred Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC; and his Doctor of Education at Centro Escolar University, Manila. From his senior year in high school up to his studies at Wesley Seminary, Jos&eacute; was a scholar of Bishop Fred P. Corson of the Philadelphia Area.<br /> He served as local pastor, then was ordained deacon and elder by Bishop Jos&eacute; L. Valencia. In 1962, he was appointed to the faculty of Philippine Wesleyan College in Cabanatuan City; in 1969, he was called to teach at Union Theological Seminary, Manila. In 1974, he was appointed Director of the Theological Education by Extension program of the seminary, and in 1977, he received his appointment as Professor of Christian Education.<br /> <br /> He served as Director of the Division of the Ordained Ministry, Philippine Central Conference, from 1971 to 1980; also as Chairperson of the Committee on Non-Traditional Styles of Theological Education of the Association for Theological Education in South East Asia (ATESEA). He is a member of the F. and A.M. Cabanatuan City Lodge No. 53.<br /> <br /> He was elected bishop on June 20, 1986, by the adjourned session of the Twelfth Session of the Philippines Central Conference in Knox Memorial United Methodist Church, Manila, on the birthday of his wife, Edita Gamboa. He was consecrated on June 21, 1986. He is married to Edita Bote.
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Larry Goodpaster

Retired

United States

Southeastern Jurisdiction

<p>Bishop Larry Goodpaster is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.&nbsp; He is a former president of the Council of Bishops.</p> <p>He was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He spent his early childhood in Crenshaw, Mississippi, before moving with his family to northern Indiana. He earned his B. A. degree from Millsaps College, then attended Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he earned an M. Div. degree. Larry was ordained a deacon in the former North Mississippi Conference by Bishop Edward J. Pendergrass. He was ordained an elder by Bishop Mack B. Stokes. He earned his D. Min. degree from Candler School of Theology.</p> <p>Upon receiving his M. Div. degree, Larry served a variety of appointments in Mississippi, including an appointment as a District Superintendent of the Tupelo District. At the time of his election to the episcopacy, he was Senior Pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Tupelo, Mississippi. He was also a member of the Task Force that brought about the 1988 merger of the former North Mississippi Conference, and the Mississippi Conference, resulting in the current Mississippi Conference.</p> <p>&nbsp;He was a delegate to three General Conferences (1992, 1996, and 2000), and four Jurisdictional Conferences (1988-2000).</p> <p>Larry M. Goodpaster was elected to the episcopacy at the 2000 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference and assigned to the Alabama-West Florida Area where he served for eight years. In 2008, he was assigned to the Western North Carolina Conference.</p> <p>He has published a book and several articles in preaching journals, and was an instructor in the Course of Study for Local Pastors for 9 years.</p> <p>Deborah Phoebe Cox and Larry M. Goodpaster were married on September 26, 1971, while he was attending Candler School of Theology. They have two daughters and one son-in-law. Their older daughter is Amy, who is married to Eric Bradley. Their younger daughter is Lucy.</p>
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David Graves

Active

United States

Southeastern Jurisdiction

Alabama-West Florida Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop David Graves is the Resident Bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Area, which includes the Alabama-West Florida Conference in the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>As a district superintendent, Bishop Graves implemented a district strategy that empowered both clergy and laity with leadership tools for effective and vital ministry. This strategy revitalized several churches that experienced growth in worship attendance and membership;&nbsp;Sunday School and small group&nbsp;discipleship; missional giving and professions of faith. On Christmas Eve 2014, through a district offering, the Kingsport District generously gave more $230,000 for the District Partnership with Giru, South Sudan.&nbsp;</p> <p>Bishop Graves previously served as the Senior Pastor of Church Street United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Prior to Church Street, he served six years as the district superintendent for the Kingsport District of the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. In 2011 and 2012, he served as Dean of the Cabinet. He has been an ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church for over 27 years and previously served as Senior Pastor of Ooltewah United&nbsp;Methodist Church, a large-membership church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for 11 years. Prior, he served as pastor of two Kingsport area churches, St. Matthew and Mountain View United Methodist. He was on staff and was given his first appointment at Hixson United Methodist Church in the Chattanooga area where he served for 11 years.</p> <p>Bishop Graves is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, and graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, with a Master of Divinity.&nbsp;</p> <p>He has shared 36&nbsp;years of marriage with his wife, Nancy, and they have two children, Casey and Gregg. Casey is married to her husband Bryan, and they reside in Kingsport with their son Brooks and daughter Lucy. Bishop Graves&#39; and Nancy&rsquo;s son, Gregg, lives and works in the Chattanooga area.&nbsp;</p>
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William Grove

Retired

United States

William Boyd Grove was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Bethany College (B.A.), Drew University School of Theology (M. Div.), and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (D.Min.). He has received several honorary degrees, and alumni awards from Bethany College, Drew University and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He was presented the Distinguished West Virginian Award by Governor Gaston Caperton in 1992.<br /> <br /> He was received into the Pittsburgh Conference and was ordained deacon and elder by Bishop Lloyd C. Wicke. He served churches in western Pennsylvania from 1954 until his election as bishop.<br /> <br /> William Boyd Grove was elected to the episcopacy by the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 1980 and was assigned to the West Virginia Episcopal Area [1980-1992] and the Albany (NY) Episcopal Area [1992-1996]. He retired from the active episcopacy in 1996.<br /> <br /> He has served as President of the General Board of Church and Society [1984-1988], and as President of the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns [1988-1996]. From 1996 2000, Bishop Grove served as Ecumenical Officer of the Council of Bishops, the first person to hold that office. He chaired the United Methodist delegations to the National Council of Churches, the Consultation on Church Union and the Eighth Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1998. He co-chaired the continuing Dialogue between the United Methodist Church and the Roman Catholic Church from 1996-2000.<br /> <br /> Bill is a poet and hymn writer, and is a member of the Order of St. Luke, which is committed to liturgical and sacramental renewal. He has traveled widely and has preached throughout the world.<br /> <br /> Mary Lou Naylor and William Boyd Grove were graduated from Bethany College in 1951, and on July 29, 1951, were married in Franklin Street Church, Johnstown, PA, where they had gone to Sunday School and Methodist Youth Fellowship together. The Groves have two daughters, Susan and Rebecca, and five grandchildren: Hannah, Gretchen, Carissa, Daniel and Sarah.
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Alfred Gwinn

Retired

United States

Alfred W. Gwinn, Jr. was born in Ironton, Ohio. He grew up in Russell, Kentucky, and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a B.A. degree in History and Psychology and from Asbury Theological Seminary with a M.Div. degree. He has received honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from Union College, Kentucky Wesleyan College, and Asbury Theological Seminary.<br /> <br /> Al was ordained elder by Bishop Roy Short. He has pastored rural, town, inner city, and urban congregations, as well as an African-American congregation. During a ten-year tenure at Lexington Centenary UMC, he led the congregation through relocation and the building of an $11 million facility. Worship attendance more than doubled and it became the largest congregation in the conference.<br /> <br /> His last appointment was as Senior Pastor of Lexington First Church (Mother of Kentucky Methodism). Al served as Associate director of the Conference Council on Ministries, Lexington District Superintendent, chaired the Board of Ordained Ministry (1996-2004), chaired the Committee on New Church Starts, chaired the Area Episcopal Committee (1991-2000), was a prominent leader in the Uniting Committee of the Kentucky and Louisville Conferences. He was a General Conference Delegate in 1988, l992, l996, and 2000, and head of the delegation in 2004. He was a member of the General Council on Ministries and the SEJ Administrative Council.<br /> <br /> Alfred W. Gwinn, Jr., was elected to the episcopacy by the Southeast Jurisdictional Conference in 2004 and was appointed Bishop of the North Carolina Conference/Raleigh Area.<br /> <br /> He has chaired the Design Team for the Council of Bishops&#39; District Superintendents and Directors of Connectional Ministries Annual Training and served as board trustee of many institutions.<br /> <br /> Al and Joyce Gwinn have two daughters, Deborah Ann and Christine Denice. Debbie is married to Paul Robert Mann and has two children, Wesley Sentel Plunkett and Luke Abrams Plunkett. Christy is married to Philip Stephen Morgan and has two children, Paul Tyler Morgan and Alicia Hannah Morgan. Both families live in Lexington, Kentucky.
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Grant Hagiya

Active

United States

Western Jurisdiction

Los Angeles Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Grant Hagiya is the Resident Bishop of the Los Angeles Area, which includes the California-Pacific Conference in the Western Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.&nbsp; His prior Episcopal assignment was for eight years to the Greater Northwest Area, which included the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Annual Conferences.<br /> <br /> Bishop Hagiya is a graduate of the Claremont School of Theology, where he received his M.A., M.Div., and D.Min. degrees. &nbsp;He graduated with an Educational Doctorate in Organizational Leadership at Pepperdine University in 2012.&nbsp; Abingdon has published a book based on this research entitled <em>Leadership Kaizen: How To Become a Better Church Leader.</em><br /> <br /> Bishop Hagiya has served as a full time Professor at the Claremont School of Theology, teaching in the area of Religion and Society and Urban Ministries.&nbsp; He has remained as an Adjunct Professor at Claremont for the last 25 years, and currently teaches Religious Leadership and United Methodist studies classes.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Prior to his election to the episcopacy, he served as the Senior Pastor at churches in Berkeley, Gardena, and Los Angeles, California as well as the Los Angeles District Superintendent and Dean of the Appointed Cabinet of the California Pacific Annual Conference. His most recent pre-Episcopal appointment was as the Executive Director of the Center for Leadership Excellence, a joint position between the California-Pacific Annual Conference and the Claremont School of Theology, where he served as the Director of Leadership for the annual conference and a faculty member at the Claremont School of Theology.<br /> <br /> Bishop Hagiya has served as a General and Jurisdictional Conference delegate since 1996, and was the head of his annual conference delegation to General Conference in 2000.<br /> <br /> He is a professional coach with the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) designation from the International Coaching Federation.&nbsp; He is also a Certified Gallup StrengthFinders Coach through Gallup, Inc.&nbsp; He is currently in training for certification as a professional Team Coach from the international Global Team Coaching Institute.<br /> <br /> Grant is married to Janet, who retired as a high school librarian, and has three children, Lexie and Jamie, a professional Cross fit athlete who co-own Torrance Fitness Gym, and Trent, a competitive weight-lifter.&nbsp; They have four grandchildren:&nbsp; Sage, Clark, Tegan and Willa.&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;</p>
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Laurie Haller

Active

United States

North Central Jurisdiction

Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area

Iowa Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Laurie Haller serves as the Resident Bishop of the Iowa Area in the North Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church. She is also the interim bishop for the Dakotas-Minnesota Area, supervising the Dakotas Annual Conference.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> She was elected as a bishop at the 2016 North Central Jurisdictional Conference. Prior to her election, she served in the Michigan area since 1982. She was serving as senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Birmingham in the Detroit Annual Conference when she was elected to the Episcopacy.</p> <p>Prior to her appointment to First UMC, she served six years as district superintendent of the Grand Rapids District in the West Michigan Conference, where she led a campaign to raise $500,000 plus a $500,000 matching gift to build the 24-room Ubuntu Retreat Center at Africa University in Zimbabwe. Her previous appointments were as co-senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids for thirteen years, pastor of Aldersgate and Plainfield UMCs in Grand Rapids, pastor of Hart United Methodist Church, associate pastor of Ludington United Methodist Church, and pastor of Ogdensburg United Methodist Church in Traverse City.</p> <p>Bishop Haller received a Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, where she spent her junior year studying sacred music at the Berliner Kirchenmusikschule in West Berlin, Germany. She also received a Master of Music degree in organ performance from the Yale University Institute of Sacred Music and School of Music, and a Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School. During her years at Yale, Bishop Haller was the director of music at Stratford United Methodist Church in Stratford, Connecticut. She was ordained in the General Conference Mennonite Church in 1982 and transferred her ordination credentials to the West Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church in 1987.</p> <p>Bishop Haller served eight years on the Board of Ordained Ministry in the West Michigan Conference, including four years as chairperson. Prior to her election as bishop, she had served on the Michigan Area Committee on the Episcopacy.</p> <p>Bishop Haller was elected as a General Conference delegate from the West Michigan Conference in 2016, 2012, 2008, 2004 and 1996 (alternate), and as a Jurisdictional Conference delegate in 2016, 2012, 2008, 2004, 2000 and 1996. She is a trustee at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, was a director of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry from 2000-2008, and, until her election served as a member of the North Central Jurisdictional Conference Committee on the Episcopacy.</p> <p>Bishop Haller has been a Bible Study teacher at the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference (2015), a preacher at Lakeside Chautauqua in Ohio (2015), preacher at Epworth Heights in Ludington, Michigan (2009, 2004, 1997), and a preacher and lecturer at Bay View Assembly in Petoskey, Michigan (2010, 2002). She was chosen to participate in the Academy of Preaching and was the recipient of a Clergy Renewal Grant from the Lilly Endowment in 2000.</p> <p>Bishop Haller is a prolific writer whose essays and articles have appeared in the Michigan Christian Advocate, Worship Arts, United Methodist Reporter, Ministry Matters, UM Insight, the United Methodist News Service Daily Digest, MIConnect, and Faith in Action.</p> <p>Bishop Haller is married to Rev. Gary Haller, senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in Birmingham, Michigan. They have three children and two grandchildren</p> <p>Bishop Haller&#39;s 2015 book, Recess; Rediscovering Play and Purpose, is available through&nbsp;<a href="http://ccpublishinghouse.tictail.com/product/recess?" target="_blank">Cass Community Publishing House (http://ccpublishinghouse.tictail.com/product/recess?)</a>. - See more at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iaumc.org/bishoplauriehaller" target="_blank">https://www.iaumc.org/bishoplauriehaller</a>.</p>
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John Hardt

Deceased

United States

<img src="/files/tables/contacts/2464015/files/bishop-obit-2000-hardt.jpg?width=600" /><br /> <br /> John Wesley Hardt comes from a parsonage family, having been born to the Reverend and Mrs. W.W. Hardt in San Antonio, Texas. He attended Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas, and then went on to Southern Methodist University to get his B.A. degree, serving much of this time as a supply pastor. John relieved his father as pastor at Malakoff, his future wife&#39;s home town. Following the death of his father, he served there another year. He received his B.D. degree at Perkins School of Theology at S.M.U. He later did graduate work at Vanderbilt University and Union Theological Seminary, New York.<br /> <br /> Ordained deacon and elder by Bishop A. Frank Smith, he joined the Texas Annual Conference. John Hardt served four other pastorates in the Texas Conference, each one involved with a major building program. In 1977 after serving at First United Methodist Church, Beaumont, Texas, for eighteen years, he was appointed District Superintendent of the Houston East District, where he was elected to the episcopacy by the Jurisdictional Conference in 1980. He was assigned to the Oklahoma Area. Following retirement in 1988 he has served as Bishop-in-Residence at Perkins School of Theology at SMU, Dallas Texas, and now is Bishop-in-Residence Emeritus.<br /> <br /> John was a delegate to all General Conferences from 1960 to 1980, and has been active on general and conference agencies. He has served as a trustee of St. Paul School of Theology, Lon Morris College, Southern Methodist University, Oklahoma City University and has received honorary degrees from Southwestern University and Oklahoma City University. He has been active in Rotary International and has traveled extensively. He is the author of four books, a book of sermons entitled, Not the Ashes, but the Fire, published in 1977, Lakeview, A Story of Inspiring Unity, published in 1992, Cecil Peeples, Giant of the 20th Century, and Forward in Faith, a history of Marvin United Church, Tyler, TX, published in 1999.<br /> <br /> On September 13, 1943, while John Wesley was serving the Methodist Church in the home town of Martha Carson, they were married. They have four children: Betty (Mrs. Ed Lesko), William C., John S., and James J. (known as Joe). Eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren are also part of their main circle of love and pride.
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Cynthia Fierro Harvey

Active

United States

South Central Jurisdiction

Louisiana Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey&nbsp;is the Resident Bishop of the Louisiana Area, which includes the Conference in the South Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>&nbsp;In connection with her Episcopal assignment, she serves as the President Designate of the Council of Bishops, having served as the Secretary of the Council of Bishops 2014-2018.&nbsp; She also serves on the Boards of Trustees for Centenary College, Dillard University, and Southern Methodist University, and The Perkins School of Theology Executive Board.&nbsp; Bishop Harvey is the Vice-Chair of the Commission on United Methodist Communications for The United Methodist Church is a board member of the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana and President of the Louisiana Interchurch Conference.&nbsp;</p> <p>After graduating from the University of Texas in Austin in 1980, Bishop Harvey spent 12 years in the corporate world as a regional director of marketing for the Rouse Company, a shopping center developer with properties throughout the United States. She focused on properties in Texas, Colorado, Arkansas and Louisiana.</p> <p>Harvey went on to serve as associate pastor for The Foundry United Methodist Church in Houston from 1992-1996 and as executive pastor for Memorial Drive UMC in Houston from 1996-2008. She then moved to the position of Director of Missional Excellence for the Texas Annual Conference, serving from February of 2008-May 1, 2010.&nbsp; Just prior to her election as a United Methodist bishop during the 2012 South Central Jurisdictional Conference, Harvey served as Deputy General Secretary for United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).</p> <p>She is a graduate of Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, where she earned a Master of Divinity.</p> <p>She and her husband, Dean Alan Harvey, were married in 1981. Dean is a financial advisor and owns his own firm. Their daughter, Elizabeth Grace Harvey Reames is married to Tyler Reames and they make their home in Dallas.</p>
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Susan Hassinger

Retired

United States

Born in Hanover, Pennsylvania, Susan Wolfe Hassinger is a graduate of Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pennsylvania and Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Susan has served as pastor of local churches in Fleetwood, Springfield, and Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania. Additional ministerial appointments have included a term as a District Superintendent, local church consultant and Director of the Office of Resourcing in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.<br /> Susan Hassinger was elected to the episcopacy in July, 1996, by the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference, and from 1996 until 2004 she served as Episcopal leader of the Boston Area.<br /> <br /> Since retiring in 2004, she has been bishop-in-residence and adjunct faculty at Boston University School of Theology, Boston, Massachusetts, and has served serve as the interim bishop of the Albany Area from September 1, 2006, until June 2010.<br /> <br /> Susan has also served as a director for the General Board of Global Ministries (1980-1988) and the General Board of Discipleship (1992-1996). Elected to Jurisdictional Conferences from 1976-1996, she was also a delegate to General Conferences from 1980-1996. Her vocational interests and training include conflict and change management, dismantling racism, women&#39;s concerns, sexual ethics issues, and spiritual direction.<br /> <br /> Her daughters are Rebecca and Rachel, and she has three grandchildren.
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Sue Haupert-Johnson

Active

United States

Southeastern Jurisdiction

North Georgia Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop&nbsp;Sue Haupert-Johnson is the episcopal leader of the North Georgia Annual Conference. She was elected bishop by the 2016 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church and consecrated July 15, 2016. Her first assignment as bishop is to the North Georgia Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church&nbsp;and she began serving the North Georgia Conference on September 1, 2016.</p> <p>A Florida native, Bishop Haupert-Johnson (or &ldquo;Bishop Sue&rdquo;)&nbsp;is a graduate of the University of Florida (B.S. in Business Administration), University of Florida College of Law (J.D.), and Candler School of Theology at Emory University (M.Div.). She was a federal law clerk and a litigator with the Tampa law firm of Carlton, Fields before she answered her call to ministry.</p> <p>After graduating summa cum laude from Candler, she was ordained a deacon in the Florida Annual Conference in 1996 and an elder in 1998. She subsequently served pastoral appointments as an associate pastor at 4,500-member First UMC, Lakeland; as pastor of a 300- member rural/suburban church, Hillsborough UMC, Tampa; and as a lead pastor of two large-membership churches, First UMC, Cape Coral, and First UMC, Ocala.&nbsp;Bishop Haupert-Johnson served as the North Central District Superintendent of the Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church from 2013-2016.</p> <p>As district superintendent, she guided&nbsp;a diverse area of very large and very small churches, urban, suburban, and rural churches; African-American, Haitian, and Hispanic churches; a Native American ministry; a large camp and retreat center, and a vibrant campus ministry. She was the &ldquo;missional strategist&rdquo; for this region, equipping and resourcing churches for ministry and helping them work together to reach their mission fields for Jesus Christ.</p> <p>A leader in the Florida Annual Conference, Bishop&nbsp;Haupert-Johnson&nbsp;served for six years as the Chair of the Order of Elders, calling elders to accountability and seeking to deepen the covenant between clergy. She served on the Conference Strategic Leadership Team and the Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits. She chaired the Conference Standing Rules Committee and the Resolutions Committee. She served on the Board of Ordained Ministry for nine years and helped shape the development of the Center for Clergy Excellence.</p> <p>She was the Florida Conference&#39;s clergy delegation leader for General Conference 2016.&nbsp;She represented the Florida Conference at the quadrennial United Methodist Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference four times and the United Methodist General Conference in 2008,&nbsp;2012 and 2016. She also was chairperson of the Judicial Administration Legislative Committee at the 2012 General Conference.</p> <p>She currently serves on the General Board of Global Ministries Board of Directors, the Called Session Design Team for 2019 General Conference, the General Council on Finance and Administration Apportionment Sustainability Task Force, Clark Atlanta University Board of Trustees, Emory University Board of Trustees, Gammon Theological Seminary Board of Trustees, LaGrange College Board of Trustees, Oxford College Board of Trustees, Paine College Board of Trustees, Reinhardt University Board of Trustees, Wesleyan College Board of Trustees, Young Harris College Board of Trustees, United Methodist Children&rsquo;s Home Board of Trustees, Georgia United Methodist Foundation Board of Trustees, Glisson Camp and Retreat Center Board of Trustees, Wesley Woods Senior Living Board of Trustees, Methodist Foundation for Retired Ministers Board of Trustees and as the chair of the Board of Advisors of Candler School of Theology at Emory University.</p> <p>Bishop Haupert-Johnson&nbsp;is married to Rev. Allen Johnson. They have a daughter, Samantha. She enjoys NCAA football and basketball, all things Broadway, reading, movies, yoga, and running.</p>
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Robert Hayes

Retired

United States

South Central Jurisdiction

<p>Bishop Robert E. Hayes, Jr. is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Houston, Texas, to Dr. Robert E. Hayes, Sr., and his wife, Dorothy Willis Hayes. Following in the tradition of his grandfather and father, Bob is the third generation of Methodist ministers in his family. Growing up in a Methodist parsonage, the call to ministry came early, and at age 13, Robert gave his life to Christ. He says that his life was shaped by his father&#39;s preaching, and his mother&#39;s knowledge of the great hymns of our Methodist heritage.</p> <p>Bob completed his undergraduate studies at Huston-Tillotson College in Austin, Texas, majoring in English, and did his seminary graduate work at Perkins School of Theology, SMU, Dallas, Texas. He later completed his D.Min. at Drew University, Madison, New Jersey. He was ordained both a deacon and an elder by Bishop Kenneth Copeland in the Texas Annual Conference. He has served McCabe UMC, Longview, Texas, Blueridge UMC, Houston, Texas, and the Riverside UMC, Houston, Texas. He also served as Superintendent of the Houston Southwest District and Conference Treasurer of the Texas Annual Conference (2001-2004).</p> <p>Robert E. Hayes, Jr., was elected to the episcopacy by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference in Corpus Christi, Texas, on July 15, 2004, the first of four bishops that were elected, and was assigned to the Oklahoma Area.</p> <p>Bishop Hayes has served on numerous boards and agencies. Robert Hayes is married to Deliliah &quot;Dee&quot; Bernard Hayes. He is the father of three grown children: Joya, Robert III, and Ryan.</p>
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J. Woodrow Hearn

Deceased

United States

<p><img src="/files/tables/contacts/2463672/files/2020-285-bishop-hearn-obit-2000.jpg?width=600" /><br /> <br /> J. Woodrow Hearn was born in McIntyre, Louisiana. After receiving an A.B. degree from Louisiana Tech University, he attended Boston University School of Theology from which he earned an M.S.T. and a Th. D. in Social Ethics. He also did graduate studies in New Testament at Harvard Divinity School.</p> <p>Woodrow Hearn was ordained deacon by Bishop John Wesley Lord and elder by Bishop Paul E. Martin. He joined the Louisiana Annual Conference as a Probationary Member and served the following appointments: Davidson Memorial, Lafayette; Associate Minister at First Church, Shreveport; Elysian Fields, New Orleans; Executive Director, Fort Worth Council of Churches; Conference Council Director; District Superintendent, Lake Charles District; First Church, Baton Rouge. Dr. Hearn was also Secretary of the Louisiana Annual Conference.</p> <p>Woodrow Hearn served on the General Council on Ministries for two quadrennia (1976-84) and on the General Board of Global Ministries, 1984-1992. He was President of the Board from 1988-1992.</p> <p>J. Woodrow Hearn was elected to the episcopacy by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference in July 1984. He was assigned to the Nebraska Area for 1984-1992. In 1992, he was assigned to the Houston Area where he served until his retirement in 2000.</p> <p>Anne Connaughton and Woodrow Hearn were married on August 24, 1952. They have four children: Mark, Paul, Diana, and Bruce.</p>
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L. Jonathan Holston

Active

United States

Southeastern Jurisdiction

Columbia Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop L. Jonathan Holston is the Resident Bishop of the Columba Area, which includes the South Carolina Conference in the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church. He was elected to the episcopacy in 2012.</p> <p>Bishop Holston earned his Master of Divinity in biblical studies from The Interdenominational Theological Center, Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Ga., in 1983. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in religion from the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga.</p> <p>Coming to South Carolina from the North Georgia Conference, Bishop Holston served as senior pastor of St. James United Methodist Church in Atlanta for seven years before his episcopal election. Prior to that, he served as superintendent of the Atlanta-Decatur-Oxford District from 1997-2005.</p> <p>Bishop Holston has served on numerous boards and committees of The United Methodist Church at the conference and general church level.&nbsp; Holston served as a member of the General Council on Finance and Administration, chair of General Conference Finance and Administrative Legislative Committee and as a member of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, the Southeastern Jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy, Hinton Rural Life Center, Appalachian Development Committee and the Southeastern Jurisdictional Association for Native American Ministries, among other noted roles.</p> <p>His love for missions has taken him around the world and gained him the recognition as a mission specialist. He has also traveled extensively as a specialist in missions to Uganda, Costa Rica, Haiti, Honduras, Zimbabwe, Kenya, India, China and Hong Kong.</p> <p>&nbsp; Bishop Holston was a delegate for General Conference in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012.&nbsp; He served as delegate for Jurisdictional Conference in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012.&nbsp; In 2001 and 2005 he was a delegate for the World Methodist Conference.</p> <p>Bishop Holston is married to the former Felecia Brown.&nbsp; They have two grown children: son Karlton and daughter Brittany.</p>
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John Hopkins

Interim

United States

North Central Jurisdiction

Illinois Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop John L. Hopkins is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church. He is currently serving as the interim bishop of the Northern Illinois Area.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;He&nbsp;was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and his childhood was spent in Montgomery, Houston,&nbsp;Atlanta,&nbsp;and Ft. Wayne. After marrying Elaine M. Smithson in 1964, he attended Indiana University, receiving a B.A. with Honors in Psychology. He graduated from Yale Divinity School and was selected for the two-year Wheelock Residency at the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College where he practiced hospital,&nbsp;campus,&nbsp;and parish ministry. During this residency, he served as the Protestant Chaplain at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital&nbsp;in Hanover, New Hampshire. He was ordained deacon and elder in the North Indiana Conference.</p> <p>After serving a two-point charge in LaPorte, Indiana, Hopkins was appointed&nbsp;in 1976 as&nbsp;Wesley Foundation Director at Ball State University.&nbsp;In 1983 he&nbsp;became Director of the Council on Ministries in North Indiana and, in 1989&nbsp;was appointed in South Indiana as Senior Pastor at The Methodist Temple in Evansville. He was elected to the episcopacy in July 1996 at the North Central Jurisdictional Conference and assigned to the Minnesota Area for eight years. In September 2004, Bishop Hopkins was assigned to the Ohio East Area&nbsp;until retirement in 2016.</p> <p>Bishop Hopkins was appointed by the Council of Bishops&nbsp;from 2004-2012&nbsp;to serve as&nbsp;the first&nbsp;Chair of the Connectional Table which provides a forum for the understanding and implementation of the vision, mission, and ministries of the global church.&nbsp;During this time, Hopkins helped lead The Call to Action effort focused on increasing vital congregations around the world.&nbsp;</p> <p>He&nbsp;has&nbsp;served on the Executive Committee of the Council of Bishops, the United Methodist Publishing House&nbsp;Board,&nbsp;the General Board of Church and Society,&nbsp;the General Council on Ministries, and the Committee for the Advance for Christ and His Church.</p> <p>His episcopal responsibilities have included serving on the trustees of Hamline University, Ohio Wesleyan University, Mt. Union University, Baldwin Wallace University, and The Methodist Theological School in Ohio.</p> <p>Bishop Hopkins was instrumental in the formation of Operation Classroom in Sierra Leone and Liberia. His mission travel has&nbsp;included&nbsp;Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Korea, China, Japan, Mexico, Bulgaria, Germany, Philippines,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Vietnam.&nbsp;Currently, he serves on the&nbsp;board of&nbsp;Educational Opportunities, Inc.&nbsp;that provides scholarships for clergy to study in the Holy Land.</p> <p>Bishop Hopkins and Elaine live in Indianapolis. &nbsp;They have three sons and seven grandchildren. &nbsp;Bishop Hopkins enjoys exercise, technology,&nbsp;kite flying, music,&nbsp;and guitar jams</p>
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Robert Hoshibata

Active

United States

Western Jurisdiction

Phoenix Episcopal Area

<p>Robert Tsugio Hoshibata is the Resident Bishop of the Phoenix Area&nbsp; in the Western Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>A sansei, or third generation Japanese-American, Hoshibata was born and raised in Hawaii. He learned to know Jesus Christ and grew to love the church through the ministry of Wahiawa United Methodist Church in the plantation town of Wahiawa.</p> <p>Following graduation in 1973 from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, with a B.A. with high honors, he studied at the Claremont School of Theology where he graduated with a D.Min. degree in 1977. While in seminary, Bob was named a Crusade Scholar and ordained deacon in 1974. After graduating from seminary, Bob was appointed to serve the North Gardena United Methodist Church and was ordained elder in 1979. After 7 years at North Gardena, Bob moved to the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference in 1984. For 14 years, he served as senior pastor for the Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church in Seattle, Washington.</p> <p>At the invitation of Bishop Elias G. Galvan, Bob was appointed Seattle District Superintendent until his election to the episcopacy in July of 2004 by the Western Jurisdictional Conference. Upon election to the episcopacy, he was assigned to the Portland Area (2004-2012), and in 2012 was assigned to the Phoenix Area (Desert Southwest Conference) then reassigned in 2016.</p> <p>Bob has served as a member of the World Division of the General Board of Global Ministries, and as a board member of the General Council on Ministries for two quadrennia. His general church assignments have included the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (2004-2008); and the General Board of Church and Society (2008-2012, president 2012-2016). Currently he serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Claremont School of Theology.</p> <p>Bob and his wife, Greta were married in 1974 and have three adult children.</p>
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H. Hasbrouck Hughes

Retired

United States

<p>Harold Hasbrouck Hughes, Jr., was born in Richmond, Virginia, son of Harold H. Hughes, Sr., and Mildred Powers Hughes. His father was a Methodist minister. He was educated at Woodrow Wilson High School, Portsmouth, Virginia; Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, Virginia; and the Duke Divinity School, Durham, North Carolina. In 1982 he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity by his alma mater, Randolph-Macon College. Subsequently he has been awarded this degree by Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL., and Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, FL.</p> <p>He was ordained deacon and elder by Bishop Paul Neff Garber. His appointments in the Virginia Conference were Lawrence Memorial, Bent Mountain; Walmsley Boulevard, Richmond; Mt. Olivet, Danville; Stanleytown; Cokesbury, Woodbridge; Front Royal; Asbury, Harrisonburg; District Superintendent, Lynchburg District and Reveille, Richmond.</p> <p>In 1988, he was elected to the episcopacy by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, and was assigned to the Florida Area where he served until retirement in 1996. In retirement he serves as Bishop-In-Residence, Virginia Wesleyan College, Norfolk/Virginia Beach, VA.</p> <p>Mera Gay and Hasbrouck Hughes were married June 17, 1950, at Elm Avenue Methodist Church in Portsmouth, Virginia. They have four children: Christine Layman (Mrs. Joseph M.) of Dayton, Virginia; H. Hasbrouck (Brouck) Hughes, III, of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina; Kathryn Wise (Mrs. Neal E.) of McLean, Virginia; and Laura Saltzer (Mrs. Michael A.) of Chesapeake, VA.</p>
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Janice Huie

Retired

United States

South Central Jurisdiction

<p>Bishop Janice Riggle Huie is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church. She is a former president of the Council of Bishops.</p> <p>She serves with the Texas Methodist Foundation in the area of Leadership Formation, following twenty years as a bishop of the United Methodist Church. Previously, she served as bishop of the Texas Annual Conference and the Arkansas Conference.</p> <p>During her tenure in the Texas Annual Conference, she adopted a bold new missional strategy aimed at making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world with primary priorities of: Congregational Excellence (new church starts and re-vitalization of existing congregations), Clergy Excellence (recruiting gifted young pastors and supporting and training current pastors) and a Re-aligned Missional Structure.</p> <p>During her tenure in Arkansas, the former Little Rock Conference and North Arkansas united to form one Arkansas Conference, with a focus on making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Bishop Huie served as president of the General Board of Higher Education &amp; Ministry from 2000-2004, president of the Council of Bishops from May 2006 through May 2008, president of the UMCOR Board of Directors 2008-2012, and president of the South Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops in 1998 &amp; 2013.</p> <p>After graduating with honors from the University of Texas in Austin in 1969, Bishop Huie went to Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, earning a Master of Theology. In 1989 she was awarded a Doctor of Ministry degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta.</p> <p>Janice Riggle Huie and her husband Bob were married in 1970. Bob is a retired United Methodist pastoral counselor. Their younger son, David, died in an accident when he was thirteen. Their older son Matthew is married to Shambryn Wilson Huie and they have a three children: Abigail Reagan Huie, David Riley Huie and Zachary Park Huie.</p>
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Joseph Humper

Retired

Africa

<p>Joseph Christian Humper was born in Bonthe Sherbro (the village of Somway-Kenema), Gone Section, Sitia Chiefdom, Southern Province of Sierra Leone, West Africa.</p> <p>His higher education included the Bible Training Institute in Bo; Bo Teacher&#39;s College. His training in theology was completed at Trinity College, Legon, Ghana (where he received a Certificate in Theology-First Class), the University of Ghana at Accra (Diploma in Theology-First Class); Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone (B.A.); Union Theological Seminary in New York City (S.T.M. in Systematic Theology) and Garrett Evangelical in Evanston (D.Min candidate); and Gbanga School of Theology, Monrovia, Liberia (D.D.).</p> <p>He has worked as teacher and pastor in a variety of settings, and other related positions in the Sierra Leone area, including Conference Youth Director, Director of the Ministerial Training Program, Bishop&#39;s Chaplain, Conference Council Director, and Associate Executive Secretary of the West Africa Central Conference. Volunteer positions in the Conference include Registrar of the Board of Ordained Ministry, Annual Conference Secretary. He was ordained deacon and elder by Bishop Benjamin A. Carew.</p> <p>He has also served on a number of committees and organizations related to the church. He has held such positions as President, Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL); President, Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone (IRCSL); and Honorary President, World Conference on Religion and Peace.</p> <p>Joseph Humper was serving as Conference Council Director when he was elected to the episcopacy on August 14, 1992, by the West Africa Central Conference. He was assigned to the Sierra Leone Area and served there until his retirement in 2008.</p> <p>Joseph C. Humper is married to Nancy Mamie Humper; they have four children: James, Josephine, Joseph and Marvel.</p>
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William Hutchinson

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop William W. Hutchinson is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Hobbs, New Mexico, a small oilfield town in the southeastern corner of the state. He attended the University of Oklahoma where he began as an accounting major. Upon accepting the call into ordained ministry, he changed his major and graduated with a BA in Philosophy. Bill received his M.Div. from Duke Divinity School. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from McMurry University in 1987 and from Centenary College in 2003.</p> <p>Bill spent his entire ministry in the New Mexico Annual Conference. His first appointment was to found a new church in Hobbs, New Mexico. From there he served a small rural church in Marfa, Texas, a medium size church in Artesia, New Mexico, and a large church in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He was appointed District Superintendent in 1986 and became pastor of Central United Methodist Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1989. Upon completion of eight (8) years at Central, he was appointed Executive Director of the New Mexico Conference Methodist Conference Foundation, Inc.</p> <p>He was elected to the Episcopacy on July 13, 2000 was assigned to the Louisiana Area.</p> <p>Bill was elected to the General Conference Delegation in 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000. He was elected on the first ballot and headed the clergy delegates in 1992, 1996, and 2000. He was a member of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry from 1988-1996. In that time he was on the faculty for the training event for new District Superintendents and Conference Council Directors; was on the design team for the National Clergywomen&#39;s Consultation in 1991 and was Chair of the Identification, Enlistment and Ethnic Minorities Concerns Committee.</p> <p>Kay Aitken and Bill Hutchinson were married on August 30, 1964. They have two sons, John and Mark. Mark is married to Laura Fernandez Hutchinson and they have one child, Madison Ann.</p>
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John Innis

Retired

Africa

Liberia Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop John G. Innis is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born to Philip Dwah and Conwree Innis in Grand Bassa County, Liberia. He obtained his B.Sc. in Education from the William V. S. Tubman Teachers&#39; College. He later attended the Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, where he obtained a Master of Divinity Degree (M.Div.) in 1988.</p> <p>He returned to Liberia in June of the same year and again resumed work at Camphor, this time as director of the mission station and pastor of the Garfield Memorial United Methodist Church in Tubmanville. During the height of the Liberian Civil War which started in December 1989, the mission station became a place of refuge for thousands of displaced persons. The campus remained opened until 1993 when it was raided by rebels and Rev. Innis was severely beaten and almost killed in the process.</p> <p>He was, in 1994, appointed as Administrative Assistant to Bishop, the Rev. Dr. Arthur F. Kulah. Rev. Innis served in this position until 1996 when he was employed as Executive Secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries in New York. While working in the United States, He received a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Christian Leadership at Columbus University in Metairie, Louisiana, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Church Administration from the Institute of Christian Works, Burlington, Washington.</p> <p>Rev. Innis was ordained deacon in The United Methodist Church in 1989 and an elder in 1991. He was elected bishop in December 2000, and assigned to the Liberia Area of The United Methodist Church. In 2003, he was additionally assigned to the Cote d&#39;Ivoire to give supervision to The United Methodist Church there, which he did until the election of Bishop Benjamin Boni in March of 2005.</p> <p>He is married to Irene Janjay Zeon and God has blessed their union with four children: Chenda, Janjay, Bleejay and Blason.</p>
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Neil Irons

Retired

United States

<p>Neil L. Irons, born in Elkins, West Virginia, is a graduate of Davis and Elkins College. While in school, he served the Belington Circuit of the Evangelical United Brethren Church in West Virginia. After receiving an M. Div. from United Theological Seminary, he was ordained by Bishop J. Gordon Howard and appointed to First Church in Huntington, West Virginia.</p> <p>Neil then began matriculating at Vanderbilt University with a major in Biblical Studies, especially the Old Testament, and a minor in History of Religions. He earnedboth the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. During this period he served the Epworth Church in the Tennessee Conference. He was an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana for three years and then transferred to the West Virginia Annual Conference where he was pastor of the Chapel Hill Church in Buckhannon, as well as a part-time assistant professor at West Virginia Wesleyan College. He was later appointed asthe Romney District Superintendent. He was elected to the episcopacy in 1984 by the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference. He has been awarded honorary degrees by Davis and Elkins College, Centenary College (NJ), West Virginia Wesleyan College, Albright College, and Shenandoah University. In 1999 he was honored as Davis and Elkins College&#39;s alumnus of the year. In 2002 he was honored as United Seminary&#39;s distinguished alumnus.</p> <p>Neil was the preacher at baccalaureate services at Davis and Elkins, West Virginia Wesleyan, Lycoming, Albright, and Centenary Colleges, and Shenandoah University: opening convocation speaker for LaGrange College and Drew University School of Theology; speaker at the inauguration of the president of United Theological Seminary. Currently he is on the Board of Trustees of Lycoming College.</p> <p>From 1996-2001 Neil was president of the North American Section of the World Methodist Council. He was a member of the WMC presidium, serving until 2006. In 1995, Neil represented the American religious community at the Service of Reconciliation in St. Paul&#39;s Cathedral, London, England commemorating the end of WWII. He was also one of five international religious representatives to attend the state dinner sponsored by Queen Elizabeth II on the previous evening for visiting international heads of state and the British representatives. In 2000 he was one of the World Methodist Council&#39;s officers to go to South Africa to present the World Methodist Council Peace Award to Nelson Mandela. In 2004 he was selected to become a member of the Order of Jerusalem, WMC.</p> <p>Bishop Irons has served on the General Commission on Archives and History as president; on the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry; the University Senate; General Commission on Theological Education as chairperson; member of the planning team of IAMSCU (International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities). In Pennsylvania he serves as the chairperson of the Future Action Team and is a member of the governing board of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches.</p> <p>Neil retired in September, 2004 after serving as resident bishop for the New Jersey Area (1984-1996) and for the Harrisburg Area (1996-2004). In 2009, he began serving as the Executive Secretary of the Council of Bishops, with his office in Washington, DC. Personal interests are pipe organ, piano, and hiking. He has been published as a writer of articles for magazines and books.</p> <p>His wife, Inez, died in 1993, and they have two children, Andrew and Anne. In 2002, he married Susan Thomas. Susan has two children, Jim and Elizabeth. Susan and Neil make their home in Mechanicsburg, PA.</p>
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S. Clifton Ives

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Cliff Ives is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Farmington, Maine, and as the son of a United Methodist minister. He graduated from the University of Maine and from Boston University School of Theology, with both a Master of Divinity degree and later the Doctor of Ministry in Church and Society.</p> <p>S. Clifton Ives was ordained both deacon and elder by Bishop James K. Mathews. He served for thirty years in the Maine Annual Conference, including pastorates at Cape Elizabeth, Bangor, Waterville, and Westbrook. Cliff was Director of the Conference Council on Ministries from 1973-76 and Superintendent of the Southern District from 1986-92.<br /> <br /> Cliff was first elected to General and Jurisdictional Conference in 1972 and then to successive General Conferences 1976-92. From 1984-88 he served on the Board of Directors of the General Board of Discipleship. For ten years Cliff was a member of the World Methodist Council, and at the time of his election to the episcopacy he was a member of the Anna Howard Shaw Center Committee and the Advisory Board of Habitat for Humanity, as well as President of Spiral Arts Urban Ministry in Portland, Maine. &nbsp;He served as Vice-President and President of the General Commission on Religion and Race, 1992-2000. In 2000 he was elected President of the General Board of Church and society.<br /> <br /> S. Clifton Ives was elected to the episcopacy by the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 1992 and assigned to the West Virginia Area. Upon his retirement in 2004, Cliff and Jane returned to Maine, now living in Portland. He enjoys running, gardening, swimming, sailing, skiing, carpentry, and mountain climbing. His special interest in world missions has led him twice to Haiti as a volunteer in mission, as well as to Russia, Africa, and Argentina.<br /> <br /> Cliff and his wife, Jane, have three grown children (Bonnie Marden, Stephen, and Jonathan), and seven grandchildren.</p>
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Alfred Johnson

Retired

<p>Bishop Alfred Johnson is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born to Earl E. and Cora Johnson in Philadelphia, PA. He credits his loving and praying parents and his home church, Tindley Temple UMC, with giving him a strong foundation in the Christian faith.</p> <p>He received an A.A.S. from Community College of Philadelphia. He went on to receive a B.A. from Albright College, Reading, PA, his Th.M. from Boston University School of Theology and a D.Min. in Urban Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC. Albright and Centenary Colleges granted him honorary doctorates in Divinity and Humane Letters, respectively.</p> <p>He was ordained deacon and elder in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. His first full-time appointment was as Pastor-Director of the Chester Missionary Project of Chester, PA. Later, he was appointed pastor of Tioga United Methodist Church in North Philadelphia. From 1983 to 1986 he served as pastor of Leola UMC in Leola, [Lancaster County] PA. From 1994-1996 he served as district superintendent over a section of Philadelphia.</p> <p>Alfred was elected a delegate to the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conferences 1984-1996 and a delegate to the General Conferences of 1988 - 1996. Prior to election as a bishop he served the denomination as a member of the Board of Directors of the United Methodist Development Fund, chair, the Board of Directors of the Northeastern Jurisdictional Multi-Ethnic Center for Ministry, chair, NEJ Court of Appeals and various other task groups.</p> <p>Alfred Johnson was elected to the episcopacy in July, 1996, and assigned the New Jersey Area. As a bishop he was assigned to the General Council of Ministries, NEJ Urban Steering Committee and the Multi-Ethnic Center.</p> <p>He retired from the active episcopacy on September 1, 2004, and served as interim pastor of the Huntington-Cold Spring Harbor Church on Long Island, NY, from November 2004 June 30, 2005</p> <p>On February 5, 2005, Alfred married the Reverend Sherrie Boyens Dobbs. She passed in March of 2020.</p>
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Peggy Johnson

Active

United States

Northeastern Jurisdiction

Philadelphia Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Peggy Johnson is the Resident Bishop of the Philadelphia Area, which includes the Eastern Pennsylvania and Peninsula-Delaware conferences in the Northeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>She was baptized and grew up in the Methodist Church in Baltimore, Maryland. She pursued a degree in Music Education at Lebanon Valley, a United Methodist-related college in Eastern Pennsylvania. She taught elementary vocal music in Baltimore County Public Schools for two years. During this time she felt a call to ministry, specifically with deaf people and people with disabilities. She left teaching and began to pursue a Master of Divinity degree at Asbury Theological Seminary. Peggy met her husband, Michael C. Johnson, at seminary and they graduated together.</p> <p>Upon graduation they were offered appointments in the Baltimore Annual Conference.</p> <p>Peggy was ordained Deacon by Bishop James K. Mathews and elder by Bishop D. Frederick Wertz. In her early ministry, she served a four-point country charge in Frederick MD, as campus minister for Gallaudet University (a leader in higher education for deaf persons located in Washington, DC), and as co-pastor, with her husband, Mike, of Lansdowne United Methodist Church, in Baltimore, MD. In 1988 she was appointed to pastor the historic Christ UMC of the Deaf in Baltimore, where she served for 20 years. She earned her Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary and taught deaf and disability courses as adjunct faculty at the seminary.</p> <p>The Rev. Peggy A. Johnson was elected a bishop of The United Methodist Church by the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 2008, and was assigned to the Philadelphia Area, comprised of nearly 1,000 churches of the Eastern Pennsylvania and Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conferences.</p> <p>The Johnsons have two adult sons: Peter and Gabriel.</p>
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Scott Jones

Active

United States

South Central Jurisdiction

Houston Episcopal Area

<p>Scott Jameson Jones currently serves as the resident bishop of the Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church with an office Houston.</p> <p>He was born in 1954 in Nashville, Tennessee and was raised in Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana and Colorado.&nbsp; He received degrees from the University of Kansas (B.A. in Philosophy), Perkins School of Theology of Southern Methodist University (Master of Theology) and Southern Methodist University (Ph.D. in Religious Studies).&nbsp; His dissertation research was focused on Wesley Studies and the History of Biblical Interpretation.</p> <p>He was ordained deacon in the Kansas East Annual Conference and elder in the North Texas Annual Conference. From 1986 to 1997 he served as pastor of three congregations in North Texas.&nbsp; In 2003-2004 he served as interim pastor at Stonebridge UMC in McKinney, Texas. From 1997 to 2004 he served on the faculty of Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. In 2004 he was elected a bishop by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference and assigned to serve as the resident bishop of the Kansas Area as of September 1, 2004. In 2012 the Nebraska Conference was added to his area and he led the creation of the Great Plains Conference which included the UMC congregations of both states. Beginning September 1, 2016 he serves as resident bishop of the Texas Annual Conference. He also serves as bishop of the United Methodist missions in Laos and Thailand.</p> <p>He currently serves as chairperson of the denomination&rsquo;s Committee on Faith and Order. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Southern Methodist University, the Texas Methodist Foundation and Houston Methodist Hospital.&nbsp;</p> <p>His books include&nbsp;<em>The Once and Future Wesleyan Movement,</em>&nbsp;(2016),&nbsp;<em>Ask: Faith Questions in a Skeptical Age,</em>&nbsp;(with Arthur Jones, 2015), T<em>he Wesleyan Way: A Faith that Matters (2013), The Future of the United Methodist Church</em>&nbsp;(edited with Bruce Ought, 2010),&nbsp;<em>Staying At the Table: A Gift of Unity For United Methodists</em>&nbsp;(2008),&nbsp;<em>Evangelistic Love of God and Neighbor: A Theology of Discipleship and Witness&nbsp;</em>(2003), and&nbsp;<em>United Methodist Doctrine: The Extreme Center</em>&nbsp;(2002), all from Abingdon Press.&nbsp; Other books he has written include J<em>ohn Wesley&rsquo;s Conception and Use of Scripture and Gathered Into One: The World Methodist Conference Speaks.</em>&nbsp;He was co-author of&nbsp;<em>Wesley and the Quadrilateral: Renewing the Conversation.</em></p> <p>Bishop&nbsp;Scott is married to Mary Lou Reece, who is president of Reece Construction Company.&nbsp; They have three children: Jameson, Arthur and Marynell.</p>
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Charles Wesley Jordan

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Charles Wesley Jordan is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Dayton, Ohio, son of the Rev. David N. Jordan and Naomi Harper Jordan. His father was the pastor of McKinley M.E. Church in Dayton. He has a B.A. degree from Roosevelt University, a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and honorary degrees from Simpson, Morningside, and Rust Colleges.</p> <p>Most of Bishop Jordan&#39;s ministry, prior to his election to the episcopacy, was served in the Northern Illinois Conference as a pastor of local churches, a District Superintendent, an Urban Missioner and a Conference Program Staff person. He has participated in many organizations and activities in the denomination and in the communities he has served. He was elected to five General Conferences and chaired his conference delegation twice. He served eight years each on the General Board of Global Ministries and the General Council on Ministries. He was a member of the General Board of Church and Society, 1992-2000, and served as president, 1996-2000. He was the Episcopal representative on the North Central Jurisdiction Commission on Religion and Race, 1992-2000. He also served as trustee of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (1982-97) and was elected a life trustee in 2000.</p> <p>Charles Wesley Jordan was elected to the episcopacy in1992 by the North Central Jurisdictional Conference. He was assigned as the bishop of the Iowa Area, where he served until his retirement, September 1, 2000.</p> <p>He has been the Bishop in Residence at Claremont School of Theology since 2001. In Southern California, he currently serves on the board of Directors of Progressive Christians Uniting, and is the convener of the Hope for the Children of Africa Committee of the California Pacific United Methodist Conference.</p> <p>Bishop Jordan is married to Margaret Crawford Jordan, and they have two adult daughters, Diana and Charlie Jordan Brookins.</p>
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Rodolfo Juan

Active

Philippines

Davao Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Rodolfo A. Juan is the Resident Bishop of the Davao&nbsp;Area, which includes Bicol Philippines, &nbsp;<br /> East Mindanao, Mindanao Philippines, Northwest Mindanao Philippines, and Visayas Philippines conferences in the Philippine Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was elected to the episcopacy in 2008 and re-elected in 2012.</p> <p>Juan is president of the College of Bishops, UMC Central Conferences, which consists of 19 Episcopal Areas in seven Central Conferences in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. He represented the Executive Committee of the Council of Bishops at the 2012 General Conference of the Malaysia Methodist Church in Kuala Lumpur.</p> <p>Juan is vice&ndash;chair of the Clergy of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines. He is also a member of the boards of trustees of Wesleyan University&ndash;Philippines, Philippines Christian University, Union Theological Seminary, Kapatiran Kaunlaran Foundation Inc., Harris Memorial College and Mary Johnston Hospital.</p> <p>Earlier in his ministry, he served for 10 years as chaplain (with a rank of major) in the Philippines Armed Forces. He also organized the Philippine Emmaus Walk.</p> <p>Juan received a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta.</p> <p>Juan and his wife, Dr. Lurleen Lapuz Juan, have two children.</p>
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Hee-Soo Jung

Active

United States

North Central Jurisdiction

Wisconsin Episcopal Area

<p>Hee-Soo Jung is resident bishop in the Wisconsin Annual Conference, and has served in this role since September of 2012. He played a key role in Wisconsin&rsquo;s Imagine No Malaria Campaign, which raised more than $1 million.</p> <p>Prior to leading the Wisconsin Conference UMC, Bishop Jung served eight years as bishop of the Northern Illinois Conference (Chicago area). He was instrumental in inspiring the Harvest 2020 movement in Northern Illinois, which resulted in many new faith communities.</p> <p>Previously, Bishop Jung served as an elder in the Wisconsin Conference, where he was a pastor and a district superintendent. Bishop Jung taught and chaired the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Kangnam University in South Korea. He also served as pastor of congregations in California, Texas, and South Korea.</p> <p>He is currently the president of the General Board of Global Ministry, chair of the UM Korean National Plan, and a member of the Board of Directors for Bread for the World. Bishop Jung serves as a member of the Ecumenical Forum&nbsp;for Korea at Geneva, Switzerland, and is actively involved in Korea peace and reconciliation. He has served as faculty for the Two-Year Academy for Spiritual Formation since 2005,&nbsp;and has taught in various Five-Day Academy sessions in the U.S. and abroad.&nbsp;Previously, Bishop Jung served as president of United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), and as a member of the Board of Directors for the General Board of Discipleship, the UM National Hispanic Plan, the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, and the General Commission on United Methodist Men.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Bishop Jung earned a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also holds an M.A. from the Institute of Buddhist Studies, affiliated with the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA; an M.A. from the Dongguk University Graduate School in Seoul, South Korea;&nbsp;and a B.Th. from the Methodist Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea.</p> <p>Im-Hyon, Bishop Jung&rsquo;s wife, is an elder in the Wisconsin Conference and currently serves as the director of International Relations, Asia &amp; Global Programs, for the Upper Room/Discipleship Ministries. The Jung&rsquo;s are the parents of two adult sons, Jae-Hugh and Jae-Joon, who is married to Brittney.</p>
Benjamin Justo

Retired

Philippines

<p>Benjamin A. Justo was born in the Philippines, and is married to Elizabeth Justo, and together they have two children: Karl Barth and Nympha.</p> <p>He received the following degrees: Secretarial Science; Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Divinity, Union Theological Seminary, Cavite; Master of Theology, Southeast Asia Graduate School of Theology; Doctor of Ministry, Union Theological Seminary, Cavite; and Doctor of Education (candidate) De La Salle University, Manila.</p> <p>He was a local pastor for 12 years, Cagayan de Oro, Malaybalay, Bukidnon, Bayombong and Solano, Nueva Vizcaya Chaplain, Children&#39;s Garden, Taytay, Rizal College Director/President, Aldersgate College, Solano, Nueva Vi zcaya District Superintendent (6 years) in South Isabela, Nueva Vizcay a, and Quirino Dean of Academic Affairs (8 years), UTS, Cavite Faculty member, UTS, Cavite Part-time Professor, Graduate School of Education, PCU, Cavite Exchange Pastor, Tarzana, CA, USA, 1997 President, Methodist Youth Fellowship, Mindanao, 1959-1961; Member, Evangelistic Team, NVQIW, UMC, 1971-1978 Principal Delegate to the Philippines Central Conference, 1972- 2000.</p> <p>In addition, he serves or has served as Chairman, NPAC Board of Discipleship 1974-1978; Member, Board of Trustees, Eveland College, Isabela 1981-1984; Vice Chairman, Board of Education 1984; Principal Delegate to the General Conference, 1984; Member, PCC Coordinating Council, 1984-1988; Member, Connectional Process Team, General Conference, 1996-2000; Chaplain for 5 years, Magat Lodge 68 F&amp;AM, 1971; Chair, Board of Trustees, Quirino Province Livelihood and Development Center, Inc, 1984-88; Chair, Board of Trustees, Nueva Vizcaya Rural, Socio-Economic and Religious Life, Inc., 1985-87; Vice-Chair, Northern Luzon Ecumenical Council, 1985-87; Coordinator, South East Asia Graduate School of Theology, Philippine Area, 1990-96; Member, Philippine Theological Society, 1988-2000; Affiliate Member-Officer, PCCL University Church, Dasmarinas, Cavite, 1990-2000.</p> <p>Benjamin A. Justo was elected to the episcopacy from the Northeast Philippines Annual Conference on the 7th Ballot, Dec. 16, 2000, during the 2000 PCC Session. He was assigned to serve the Baguio Episcopal Area, and served there until his retirement in 2008.</p>
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Charlene Kammerer

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Charlene Payne Kammerer is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>She was born in Orlando, Florida. She grew up in Winter Garden where her home church was First United Methodist. She graduated from Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, with a B.A. degree in Religion and philosophy. She continued her preparation for Christian ministry by obtaining the Master of Christian Education and Master of Divinity degrees from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She was ordained deacon and elder in the Florida Conference. She received a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.</p> <p>Charlene P. Kammerer was elected to the episcopacy in 1996, and assigned to the Western North Carolina Conference of the Charlotte Area. She served there until 2004, when she was assigned to the Virginia Conference.</p> <p>Charlene&#39;s service in the church has included equal years in parish ministries and connectional ministries, including service as a campus minister at Duke University and a District Superintendent of the Tallahassee District, Florida Conference. Her long-time interests in ministry include higher education, mission involvement, and the spirituality of administration. She has served as a director of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women and as director of the General Board of Global Ministries, including Chairperson of the United Methodist Committee on Relief from 1992-1996. She has received the Outstanding Alumnae Award from both Wesleyan College and Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Florida in 1989. She has led Disciple Bible study groups, retreats and taught in Schools of Mission.<br /> <br /> Charlene was married to Leigh Kammerer on August 29, 1970. They have one son, Christopher Hal. Charlene and Leigh have been partners in ministry since being students together at seminary.</p>
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Kainda Katembo

Retired

Africa

Congo Central Conference

Kainda Katembo was born in Mpidi, Zambia. After attending primary schools in Kolwezi and Likasi, Kainda went to high school in Mulungwishi. He holds degrees from the theological school in Mulungwishi and the theological school in Kinshasa, where he received his M. Div.<br /> <br /> Kainda Katembo was ordained both deacon and elder by Bishop John Wesley Shungu and became a member of the Southern Zaire Annual Conference. At this time he was assigned to do pioneer pastoral work in a rural area of Zaire. After two years he became District Superintendent in Kaniama and Murung. He later taught in the theological school at Likasi and left this position to work on his M. Div. degree at Kinshasa.<br /> <br /> Kainda had been principal of a church-owned junior high school and Assistant Pastor of Katuba/Lubumbashi Church for just one year when he was elected bishop.<br /> When Kainda Katembo was elected to the episcopacy at the 1980 Africa Central Conference, he became the youngest living bishop in The United Methodist Church. He is assigned to the Southern Zaire Area. The 1984 Africa Central Conference elected Kainda Katembo a bishop for life.<br /> <br /> He is married to Kashala and they are parents to six sons: Kainda, Kafweta, Xutela, Kanema, Naweji and Verda.
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Jonathan Keaton

Retired

United States

North Central Jurisdiction

<p>Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church</p> <p>He was assigned to serve as episcopal leader of the Illinois Area of the United Methodist Church September 1, 2012 until he retired. From 2004-2012, he served as the resident bishop of the Michigan Area, which includes the Detroit and West Michigan Conferences. Prior to Michigan he served as the resident bishop of the Ohio East Area for eight years.</p> <p>Bishop Keaton was elected to the Episcopacy in 1996 after serving as the district superintendent of the Aurora District in the Northern Illinois Annual Conference. Prior to that, he was an Associate Council Director in Northern Illinois. Bishop Keaton also served two churches: Broadway UMC in Rockford, Ill. and St. Luke UMC in Chicago, Ill. Bishop Keaton was elected to three General Conference delegations with the Northern Illinois Conference.</p> <p>Bishop Keaton has served as a member of the General Council on Ministries from 1988-1996; the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry from 2009-2012. Bishop Keaton chaired the denominational initiative, Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century (SBC-21) from 1996-2008. &nbsp;Bishop Keaton is serving as a member of the Council of Bishop&rsquo;s Leadership Team on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations.</p> <p>Bishop Keaton graduated with a Master of Divinity Studies from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary where he later received a Doctorate in Sacred Theology. Bishop Keaton received his Bachelor of Science in Biology degree from Philander Smith College.</p> <p>Bishop Keaton has co-authored two books, &ldquo;The Confessions of Three Ebony Bishops&quot; with Bishop Edsel A. Ammons and Bishop Ernest S. Lyght and &ldquo;Our Father, Where Are the Fathers?&rdquo; with Bishop Ernest S. Lyght.</p> <p>Bishop Keaton and his wife, Beverly, have been blessed with three children: Jonathan II and his wife Lisa reside in Illinois with the Bishop and Mrs. Keaton&rsquo;s two granddaughters, Maliah and Amara.</p>
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Eduard Khegay

Active

Europe

Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference

Eurasia Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Eduard Khegay is the Resident Bishop of Eurasia Episcopal Area in the Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was elected in 2013 on the first ballot during the Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference.</p> <p>Born in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, Khegay studied hydraulic engineering at Bauman Moscow State Technical University, graduating in 1993. That same year, he began to study at the Moscow United Methodist Theological Seminary.</p> <p>He would go on to receive a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University&rsquo;s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta and a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2010 from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington. He was ordained as a United Methodist elder in 2001.</p> <p>Just before his election to the episcopacy, Khegay was pastor of the Raduga United Methodist Church in Moscow and assistant to the bishop since 2005.</p> <p>He has also held a wide range of positions within the Russian United Methodist Church over the past dozen years. He has continued an affiliation with mission and educational ministries in that area.</p> <p>Bishop Khegay is married to Vika Nogay.</p>
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Deborah Kiesey

Retired

United States

North Central Jurisdiction

<p>Bishop Deborah Lieder Kiesey is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>She was born in Sioux City, Iowa, to Reverend Dr. Lyle and Betty Lieder. She is the middle child of five. Her father served, and therefore she lived, in a variety of places in Iowa, including Hornick, Sioux City, Odebolt, Eagle Grove, Spencer and Mason City, where she graduated from high school.</p> <p>She attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, where she graduated with honors with a double major in Religion and Piano Performance. She was named Outstanding Alumna of the Year for Morningside College.<br /> <br /> Deb first felt a call to the ordained ministry while a student at Boston University School of Theology and she earned her Master of Divinity degree there.</p> <p>Upon ordination, she served the following Iowa churches: Richland/Ollie, Washington, Mt. Pleasant, and Iowa City. In 2001 she was appointed to the Waterloo District and served there until her election to the episcopacy in 2004 by the North Central Jurisdictional Conference and appointed to the Dakotas Area.</p> <p>Deb has been a delegate to General Conference since 1988 and was the first elected clergy from the Iowa Conference in 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004. Throughout her ministry she has had the privilege of serving on a wide range of committees and boards, including the Board of Trustees for Iowa Wesleyan College, Morningside College and Dakota Wesleyan University. After serving 8 years in the Dakotas Area, she was assigned to the Michigan Area in July 2012 until her retirement.<br /> <br /> She was married to D. Bradley Kiesey, an attorney from Washington, Iowa who passed in 2021. They were blessed with two adult sons, Joel and Aaron.</p>
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James King

Retired

United States

Southeastern Jurisdiction

<p>Bishop James R. King, Jr. is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Ashland, Alabama, and was ordained deacon and elder by Bishop W. Kenneth Goodson.</p> <p>A graduate of the Interdenominational Theological Center (M.Div.), King served churches in Roanoke, Ala., and Richmond, Calif. He served over a year as director of the Wesley Foundation at Tennessee State University before being named associate director and then director of the Tennessee Conference Council on Ministries.</p> <p>In 1984, he served as an evangelist on a mission team to Grenada, West Indies, and he served for ten years as pastor of Clark Memorial UMC in Nashville (1985-95). In 1996, he was appointed superintendent of the Murfreesboro District, and in 1999 he was named pastor of the 4,500 member Brentwood church. He is a five-time delegate to General Conference.<br /> <br /> James R. King was elected to the episcopacy by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference on July 12, 2000 at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, and assigned to the Louisville Area where he served until 2008, when he was assigned to South Georgia until his retirement.<br /> <br /> Bishop King is married to Margaret Rosetta &quot;Rose&quot; Hayden. The couple has two sons and a daughter.</p>
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Walter Klaiber

Retired

Europe

Walter Klaiber was born in Ulm, Germany. Having studied Protestant Theology at the Theological Seminary in Reutlingen and the Universities of G&ouml;ttingen and T&uuml;bingen, he graduated and served as the pastor of an Evangelical United Brethren congregation in N&uuml;rnberg.<br /> <br /> He was ordained into the Evangelical United Brethren Church in 1966.<br /> <br /> Form 1969-1971, he was Assistant Lecturer in New Testament with Professor Dr. Ernst K&auml;semann; from 1971-1989 he held the position of Lecturer in New Testament Studies and Greek at Reutlingen United Methodist Theological Seminary.<br /> <br /> He continued his studies, earning the Doctor of Theology degree from the University of T&uuml;bingen in 1971; his doctoral dissertation was published in German under the title: Rechtfertigung und Gemeinde (Justification and the Church), 1982.<br /> <br /> In the years 1977-1989 he was Dean of the United Methodist Theological Seminary at Reutlingen. He was elected Bishop of the United Methodist Church in 1989 and was assigned to the Germany Central conference (then West Germany).<br /> <br /> After the Reunification of the separated Central Conferences in East and West Germany in 1992 he was elected Bishop for the whole area.<br /> <br /> Walter Klaiber retired April 2005 as an active bishop of the church, but he still serves as the Chair of the Council of Christian Churches in Germany and as President of the German Bible Society. From 2001 till 2006 he has been one of the Presidents of the World Methodist Council.<br /> <br /> He has written several books; published in English are: Embraced by the Spirit (out of print); Call and Response. Biblical Foundations of a Theology of Evangelism (Abingdon 1997); and together with Manfred Marquardt: Living Grace. Outline of a Theology of The United Methodist Church (Abingdon 2002).His newest book in English is Justified before God (Abingdon 2006 forthcoming). His latest publication in German is a book on Genesis 1-11 and the implications of the biblical account of the Creation and the first phase of the history of humankind on our present understanding of God, nature and human beings (Sch&ouml;pfung, G&ouml;ttingen: Vandenhoeck &amp; Ruprecht 2005).<br /> <br /> He is married to Annegret Klaiber, M.D., and they have three sons and four grandchildren.
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F. Arthur Kulah

Interim

Africa

Liberia Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Arthur Kulah is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church. &nbsp;</p> <p>He was born in Kanyea, a small village in rural Liberia. As the eldest son of a tribal chief, Arthur spent his early years, together with the rest of the family, in farming and other rural activities. Arthur received his early education in public school and Gbarnga United Methodist Church School.</p> <p>While attending Cuttington College and Divinity School, Arthur was also Pastor of First Church in Suakoko. He then became District Superintendent of the Gbarnga District. He was ordained both deacon and elder by Bishop S. Trowen Nagbe and joined the Liberia Annual Conference.<br /> <br /> Arthur continued his formal education at St. Paul School of Theology, receiving an M.R.E., he then returned home to be a Director of Christian Education and then Dean of the Gbarnga School of Theology. He again went to the United States to receive both an M.Div. and a D.Min. from Wesley Theological Seminary. During 1978-79 Arthur was Director of the Conference Course of Study.<br /> <br /> A few months after returning to his responsibilities at the Gbarnga School of Theology, the Liberia Central Conference elected Arthur Flumo Kulah to the episcopacy in 1980.</p> <p>Bishop Kulah was assigned to the Liberia Area. At the 1984 meeting of this Central Conference, Arthur Flumo Kulah was elected for life, and served until his retirement in 2000. From 2008-2012, Bishop Kula served as interim Bishop in Nigeria.<br /> <br /> It was while attending school in Gbarnga that Violet Mamusu Sackie met Arthur Kulah. On February 16, 1956, they were married. They have seven children: Josie Kau Meaper, Saye Timothy, Arthurine Yie, Malomen Groma (whom they adopted), Bartum Nya Kwetee, Kialawo Zonpu and Yeamah Bender. At the end of the civil war in 1997, the Kulahs adopted 27 homeless and parentless children.</p>
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Clay Lee

Retired

United States

<p>Born in Laurel, Mississippi, Clay Foster Lee, Jr. attended the Laurel Public Schools, graduating from R. H. Watkins High School in Laurel, and was the recipient of the Lauren Eastman Rogers Award as Honor Student for the entire school. He received his B.A. Degree from Millsaps College, and his B.D. from Emory University&#39;s Candler School of Theology. He was awarded the Doctor of Divinity in 1985 by Millsaps College and Doctor of Letters in 1990 by Tennessee Wesleyan College. While a student at Millsaps, he was a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Fraternity and received the Galloway Medal for the best sermon preached by a ministerial student.</p> <p>After graduation from Candler, Clay Lee served the Unity Charge; Capitol Street Methodist Church in Jackson as Associate Pastor; Raymond Methodist Church; First Methodist Church in Quitman; Galloway Memorial Methodist as Minister of Evangelism; Philadelphia&#39;s First Methodist; Leavell Woods Methodist in Jackson; Executive Director, Mississippi Conference Council on Ministries; Superintendent of the Brookhaven District; and Senior Minister of Galloway Memorial United Methodist in Jackson. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Arthur J. Moore and elder by Bishop Marvin A. Franklin.</p> <p>Active in the General Church, Clay Lee served as a member of the General Board of Pensions for three quadrennia, and was Chairman of the Committee on Disability of that Board from 1984 to 1988. He served as President of the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits from 1992-1996. The Board honored Bishop Lee in 1999 with the establishment of the Clay F. Lee award to be given annually to an individual who has given meritorious service to pension work within the denomination. Bishop Lee was also named as the first recipient of the award.</p> <p>He was a Millsaps College trustee from 1974-1986, and served as secretary of that Board from 1980-86. Named the speaker for the 1987 &quot;A Protestant Hour,&quot; his sermons from that broadcast were published by Abingdon Press in a volume entitled, Jesus Never Said Everyone Was Loveable. During the 1992-1996 quadrennium, he served as chairperson of The Appalachian Development Committee. Serving on the Mississippi Religious Leadership Conference, he was elected Vice-Chairperson in 1988 and served on the Executive Committee of the Mississippi Blood Services from 1976-1984. While in Knoxville, he served seven years on the Board of Directors of The United Way of Greater Knoxville. Clay also served as Secretary of the Joint Committee on Communications of the Southeastern and South Central Jurisdictions in 1984, and Chairperson from 1992-1996.</p> <p>Clay was elected a delegate to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences from 1976-1988. He was elected to the episcopacy by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in July 1988, after having served Jackson&#39;s Galloway Memorial Church for twelve years, and was assigned to the Holston Area. He is now retired and living in Jackson, Mississippi.</p> <p>Dorothy Stricklin married Clay Foster Lee, Jr. on May 27, 1951. Their children are Cecilia Ann Lee, Jack Stricklin Lee, Lisa Margaret Lee Mullins, Timothy Clay Lee and Melanie Kay Lee Bernheim. There are eight grandchildren, 4 boys and 4 girls.</p>
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Linda Lee

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Linda Lee is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>She was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She was ordained deacon by Bishop Dwight E. Loder and was ordained elder by Bishop Edsel A. Ammons. A graduate of United Theological Seminary (M. Div. and D. Min.), Lee began her ministerial career as a chaplain intern at Adrian College prior to her graduation from seminary. She was appointed to serve Residence Park United Methodist Church, Dayton, Ohio, and then served as assistant to the dean for educational administration at Methodist Theological School.</p> <p>She also served as an associate pastor at Central United Methodist Church, Detroit, and as pastor of Conant Avenue United Methodist Church, Detroit, prior to being named to the Detroit Conference cabinet (1995-2000). Lee served as chair of Black Clergywomen of the United Methodist Church (1996-98) and has been a member of a number of annual conference committees including the Board of Ordained Ministry. She has served as a speaker for numerous schools, retreats, and conferences, and is a two-time delegate to General Conference. She is a contributing writer in several publications and has served as an adjunct professor of spirituality at Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, Michigan.<br /> <br /> Linda Lee was elected to the episcopacy by the North Central Jurisdictional Conference on July 14, 2000, in Middleton, Wisconsin, the first African American woman to be elected bishop in the North Central Jurisdiction. Her first assignment was to her home area of Michigan, an unusual action which had not occurred for 40 years and that required special action of the Jurisdictional Conference. Linda Lee was assigned to the Wisconsin Area in 2004, after one quadrennium of service in Michigan.<br /> <br /> She is married to Lamarr V. Gibson, and they have three children: Garvey, a registered nurse; Amon, an educator; and Afi, a banker; and twelve grandchildren.</p>
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Paul Leeland

Active

United States

Southeastern Jurisdiction

Charlotte Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Paul L. Leeland was assigned as the Resident Bishop of the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church in July, 2016.&nbsp; He began his duties on September 1, 2016.</p> <p>He was elected to the episcopacy in 2008 and has been the bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Conference for the past eight years.</p> <p>Bishop Leeland, 67, is originally from North Carolina and a graduate of North Carolina Wesleyan, Duke Divinity School, and North Carolina State University. He was elected to the episcopacy in 2008, and was assigned to the Alabama-West Florida Conference.</p> <p>Prior to his election in 2008, he served in the North Carolina Conference for 33 years following a stint as Director of Family Counseling in Atlanta after completing seminary.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just prior to his election to the episcopacy, Leeland was the superintendent for the Goldsboro District in the North Carolina Conference.</p> <p>Leeland was ordained by Bishop Robert Blackburn in 1976. As a member of the North Carolina Conference, he served small, medium and large membership churches. He served as the District Superintendent of the Goldsboro District. &nbsp;&nbsp;And he was appointed Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Ministerial Relations serving under two bishops for a total eight years.</p> <p>Leeland was elected as a delegate to Jurisdictional Conference beginning in 1988 and consecutive years through 2008. He was elected as a delegate to General Conference in 2000, 2004 and 2008. He has served general conference boards and agencies. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Red Shoe Award, presented by clergywomen of the North Carolina Annual Conference for &ldquo;encouragement and support of women in ministry through advocacy, appointment, mentoring and friendship.&rdquo;</p> <p><br /> In 1968, Janet Elaine Dowell and Paul Lee Leeland were married. They have three married children: Rebekah, Nora and Paul Andrew. They have four grandchildren: Ryon, Joshua, Andrew and Madeline.</p>
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Sharma Lewis

Active

United States

Southeastern Jurisdiction

Richmond Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Sharma D. Lewis, resident bishop of the Richmond episcopal area, became the first African-American woman to be elected bishop in the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church in 2016.</p> <p>Prior to her episcopal assignment, she held a distinguished record of service in the North Georgia Conference including her appointment as district superintendent of the Atlanta-Decatur-Oxford District in 2010.&nbsp;In 2007, Bishop Lewis&rsquo; remarkable pastoral leadership at Wesley Chapel, a three-year tenure, led to over 600 new and restored members and worship attendance doubled. While there, her visibility as a strong spiritual and pastoral leader propelled her into numerous leadership roles in the local community, including Hands on Henry County and Many Hearts, Many Hands McDonough. Her ministry here culminated as she received the Harry Denman Award for Evangelism in 2010 as well as the G. Ross Freeman Leadership Award. Prior to these roles, Bishop Lewis was appointed in 1999 as the associate (and subsequently senior associate) pastor of the 8,000-member Ben Hill United Methodist Church in Atlanta and as senior pastor of the Powers Ferry UMC, a cross-racial assignment in Marietta, Ga.&nbsp;</p> <p>Bishop Lewis has offered her gifts to The United Methodist Church in a variety of ways including as a board member of the Wesley Woods Foundation, SEJ Committee on the Episcopacy, Cabinet representative for United Methodist Women and the Committee for Equitable Compensation.&nbsp;She is currently a board member and vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Evangelism for the World Methodist Council (WCC) of The United Methodist Church, a member of the Black Clergywomen and Black Methodist for Church Renewal (BMCR) of The United Methodist Church.&nbsp;Bishop Lewis has also been appointed as liaison to the Interagency Sexual Ethics Task Force (IASETF), a taskforce of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women.&nbsp;Bishop Lewis serves on the Board of Governors for Wesley Theological Seminary and as ex-officio of the six United Methodist colleges in the Virginia Conference. She is also a member of the Southeastern Jurisdiction (SEJ) Committee on Coordination and Accountability (CCA) and a member of the Study Commission Ministry (GBHEM).&nbsp;The North Georgia Conference honored Bishop Lewis by electing her as the first African-American female to lead the delegation to the 2012 General and Jurisdictional Conferences. In 2015, she was once again voted to lead the delegation to the 2016 General and Jurisdictional Conferences.&nbsp;</p> <p>Bishop Lewis was born and raised in Statesboro, Ga. in a loving Methodist family where individuals have answered God&rsquo;s call to serve the church and to minister to God&rsquo;s people. A graduate of Mercer University (B.S., Biology, 1985), the University of West Georgia (M.S., Biology, 1988) and Gammon Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center (M.Div., 1999), Bishop Lewis worked as a research biologist and chemist prior to surrendering to God&rsquo;s call upon her life. She has led mission experiences to Jamaica, Kenya and the Philippines. Bishop Lewis is a member of the Atlanta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She has received the Delta Sigma Theta Pinnacle and Torch Award. She is the recipient of the 2014 Gammon Theological Seminary Distinguished Alumna and Trailblazer Award given by The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc., Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter.</p>
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William Lewis

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop William Bryant Lewis is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Pinckneyville, Illinois, the third child of Harmon Eracie Lewis. Sr., and Ethel Brown Lewis. The family moved to Carterville, Illinois, and Bill grew up and attended public schools there, except for a WWII interlude when his father followed the defense industry and the family lived for a while in Metropolis, Illinois, and Knoxville, Tennessee.</p> <p>Graduating from Carterville Community High School, he responded to a call to the ministry and entered Southern Illinois University. After receiving an A.B. degree from SIU he attended Perkins School of Theology and Vanderbilt Divinity School for two quarters each, then completed his M.Div. at Drew Theological School.</p> <p>Following a year of graduate study at Drew, Bill returned to the Southern Illinois Conference and was appointed to the Vienna Methodist Church. During the next two years he continued his graduate studies at Vanderbilt University and completed his Ph.D. there. During the years at Vienna a Larger Parish was developed under Bill&#39;s direction that encompassed a two-county area and included 26 churches.</p> <p>Following pastorates at Murphysboro and Edwardsville of six and eleven years respectively, Bill served a term as Superintendent of the Carbondale District. In 1986 he was appointed Pastor of Union United Methodist Church, Belleville, Illinois, from which he was elected to the episcopacy by the North Central Jurisdictional Conference in 1988. He was assigned to the Dakotas area and served there until his retirement in 1996.</p> <p>Janet Mae Dean and Bill Lewis were married in Carterville, Illinois on December 23, 1951. Their three children, Becky, Connie, and Brad, are married and all three families live in Edwardsville, Illinois, where Bill and Janet now make their home in retirement. There are seven grandchildren.</p>
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Richard Looney

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Richard Carl Looney is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in the Methodist parsonage at Hillsville, Virginia. He graduated from Emory and Henry College and Candler School of Theology, with additional study in the University of Edinburgh, Scotland and Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia.<br /> <br /> A member of the Holston Conference, Richard was ordained deacon and elder by Bishop Roy H. Short. Appointments included: the Rising Fawn Circuit, Rising Fawn, Georgia; Baker&#39;s Chapel - Wyndale, Abingdon, Virginia; Pleasant View (formerly Baker&#39;s Chapel), Abingdon, Virginia; White Oak, Chattanooga, Tennessee; Broad Street, Cleveland, Tennessee; The Chattanooga District; Munsey Memorial, Johnson City, Tennessee and Church Street, Knoxville.<br /> <br /> General Church responsibilities included the General Council on Finance and Administration; the General Board of Church and Society and the General Council on Ministry. Pulpit exchanges have been enjoyed in England and Australia and work missions shared in Peru, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Currently, he serves as Episcopal Director of the Foundation on Evangelism, Lake Junaluska, N.C.<br /> <br /> The Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference elected Richard Carl Looney to the episcopacy in 1988. He was assigned to the newly-created South Georgia Area, where he served until his retirement in 2000.<br /> <br /> Carolyn Adele McKeithen and Richard were married on September 3, 1957. They have three children: Teresa Carolyn, David William, and Jonathan Carl, one granddaughter, Maria, and three grandsons, Logan, Joseph and Ian. Carolyn died in 2009.</p>
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J. Michael Lowry

Active

United States

South Central Jurisdiction

Fort Worth Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Mike Lowry is the resident bishop of the Central Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church/Fort Worth Episcopal Area, where he is the spiritual leader for approximately 154,000 United Methodists in 320-plus congregations and developing new faith communities.<br /> <br /> At the time of his election and consecration as bishop in July 2008, he was serving as executive director of New Church Development and Transformation in the Southwest Texas Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Prior to that, he was senior pastor at University United Methodist Church in San Antonio, which grew from 4,800 to 5,700 members during his tenure. His previous appointments include United Methodist Churches in Austin, Corpus Christi, Harlingen and Kerrville and, while a student, serving Plymouth Park in Irving, Texas. Mike began his ministry with the Society of Friends (Quakers) sharing in pastoral leadership for Rich Square Friends Meeting.<br /> <br /> Bishop Lowry was awarded the B&rsquo;nai B&rsquo;rith Award in Social Ethics by Perkins School of Theology (1976) and the Harry Denman Evangelism Award from the Central Texas Conference-Foundation for Evangelism (2015).&nbsp; Churches under his leadership have received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Habitat for Humanity Award (2004), the President&rsquo;s Award from Huston-Tillotson University (2004), the Churchmanship Award from the San Antonio Community of Churches (2003) and the Moore Award Evangelism Award three times.<br /> <br /> He served as a delegate to General Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1996, 2004 and 2008, as well as a delegate to the South-Central Jurisdictional Conference of United Methodist Church in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008.&nbsp; Bishop Lowry has served the larger connection of The United Methodist Church on the Executive Committee of the Council of Bishops (2012-2016), Presiding Bishop for <em>Path One</em> New Church Development (Discipleship Ministries 2009-2016), and President of the South-Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops (2010-2011).&nbsp; He is currently serving as a member of the United Theological Seminary Board of Trustees, the Texas Methodist Foundation Board, the Texas Wesleyan University Board of Trustees and the Texas Health Resources Board of Directors.&nbsp; Past service includes the United Methodist Publishing House Board of Directors, the Perkins School of Theology, S. M. U. Executive Board, the Board of Trustees for Southwestern University, and the Methodist Children&rsquo;s Home Board of Trustees, among others.<br /> <br /> Prior to his election, Mike Lowry held numerous offices including Chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry, Chair of the Board of Global Ministries&rsquo; Committee on Church Extension, and Chair of the Council on Church Revitalization and Church Extension. While serving at the Executive Director for New Church Development and Transformation in the Southwest Texas Conference, he led a successful conference capital campaign to fund new church starts.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Bishop Lowry is a regular blogger at &ldquo;This Focused Center&rdquo; <a href="http://www.bishopmikelowry.com/">http://www.bishopmikelowry.com/</a>.&nbsp; Other publications include:</p>
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Ernest Lyght

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Ernest Lyght is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>The son of William and Attrue Lyght, he was born in Salisbury, Maryland. He received the B.A. degree in history from Morgan State University and the M.Div. degree from Drew University. Princeton Theological Seminary awarded him the Th. M. degree and the D.Min. degree. Bloomfield College (Bloomfield, NJ) awarded him an honorary doctorate degree, as did Centenary College (Hackettstown, NJ) in 1996.<br /> <br /> The Peninsula-Delaware Conference ordained Ernest deacon and elder. He later transferred to the Southern New Jersey Conference, where he served three pastoral appointments: St. Mary Street Union Parish, Burlington, NJ; The Church of The Good shepherd, Willingboro, NJ; Old Orchards UMC, Cherry Hill, NJ. He then transferred to the former Northern New Jersey Conference and served for ten years as pastor of The St. Mark&#39;s UMC, Montclair, NJ. This pastorate was followed by a seven-year term as District Superintendent of the Raritan District.<br /> <br /> He served as a Jurisdictional Conference delegate in 1976 and a General Conference delegate in 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996. He has served on a variety of conference, community and general church agencies/boards, including the General Board of Church and Society (1984-1992) and the General Board of Global Ministries (1992-1996). He served as a Drew University Trustee from 1983 to 2004, when he was elected as a trustee emeritus.<br /> <br /> Bishop Lyght was elected to the episcopacy in 1996 and assigned him to the New York Area. In 2004 he was assigned to the West Virginia Area until his retirement. Ernest served as president of the United Methodist Men&#39;s Commission during the 2000-2004 quadrennium and served as a member of the General Council on Finance and Administration. He also served a second two-year term as secretary of the Council of Bishops.<br /> <br /> Ernest and Eleanor Bell Lyght have two sons, Eric and Erwyn, and two grandchildren, Corinne and Shawn.</p> <p><strong>Publications:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=1054780&amp;rank=1&amp;txtSearchQuery=Ernest+S.+Lyght" target="_blank">Our Father</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=1078194&amp;rank=2&amp;txtSearchQuery=Ernest+S.+Lyght" target="_blank">Our Father - eBook [ePub]</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=446147&amp;rank=3&amp;txtSearchQuery=Ernest+S.+Lyght" target="_blank">Many Faces, One Church</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=667101&amp;rank=4&amp;txtSearchQuery=Ernest+S.+Lyght" target="_blank">The Confessions of Three Ebony Bishops</a></p>
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João Somane Machado

Retired

Africa

<p>Bishop Jo&atilde;o Somane Machado is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Morrumbene, Inhambane, Mozambique. He holds the B.D. degree in Theology from the Methodist School of Theology in Brazil, and an advanced degree also in Theology from the Protestant Faculty of Theology in Kinshasa, Zaire.</p> <p>Jo&atilde;o taught African Theology, Philology and Bantu ethics at the Ricatla Seminary. He was Headmaster and teacher at Cambine Theological School, and served pastorates at Malhangalene, Cambine and Machava. He was Assistant to the Bishop at the time of his election to the episcopacy.<br /> <br /> Jo&atilde;o Somane Machado was elected to the episcopacy in 1988. The consecration ceremony was held in Lubumbashi on August 19, 1988. Bishop Machado was assigned to the Mozambique area where he served until his retirement in 2008.<br /> <br /> He is married to Nocia Madonela Machado and they have four children.</p>
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Tracy Smith Malone

Active

United States

North Central Jurisdiction

Ohio East Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Tracy S. Malone&nbsp;is the Resident Bishop of the Ohio East Area, which includes the East Ohio Conference in the North Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist.&nbsp;</p> <p>She was district superintendent of the Chicago Southern Region, and was dean of the Northern Illinois Conference Cabinet, when she was elected to the Episcopacy in 2016.&nbsp; Prior to that appointment, Malone served several different churches, the last of which was Gary United Methodist Church in Wheaton, Illinois, where she was senior pastor.&nbsp;</p> <p>She currently serves as president of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women and is a member of the Board of Trustees at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.&nbsp; As resident bishop, she also serves on the Boards of Trustees at our United Methodist-affiliated colleges, seminaries and organizations in East Ohio.</p> <p>Malone was elected to represent the Northern Illinois Conference as a delegate at General/Jurisdictional Conferences in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016.&nbsp; She was chairperson of the delegation in 2012 and served as chairperson of the Agenda and Calendar Committee in 2016.</p> <p>During her ministry, Malone has taught courses as an adjunct professor at Aurora University and at Northern Baptist Seminary in Lombard, Illinois.&nbsp; She has also published articles, blogs and book reviews, and has written chapters for several books.&nbsp;</p> <p>Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Malone is the daughter of the late Rev. Willie and the late April Smith. She received her call to ministry at the early age of 13.&nbsp;</p> <p>Malone earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Sociology, with a minor in Computer Science, from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. She has a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois.</p> <p>Malone earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.&nbsp;</p> <p>She and husband Derrick Malone are the parents of two daughters.&nbsp;</p>
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Joel Martinez

Retired

United States

Joel is the grandson of sharecropper farmers who came to the U. S. at the turn of the century. He was born in Seguin, TX, to Guadalupe and Dora Martinez. He graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a B.A. in history. While in El Paso, he met Raquel Mora, a Methodist pastor&#39;s daughter. They married on June 9, 1961, and Joel enrolled in Perkins School of Theology in the fall of 1961.<br /> <br /> Ordained deacon and elder by Bishop Paul E. Martin, Joel held membership in the Rio Grande Conference until his election to the episcopacy in 1992. Pastoral appointments were in Dallas, San Antonio and El Paso. He served as Director of Planning and Development at Newark Houchen Center in El Paso and later, Executive Secretary, Office of Ethnic and Language Ministries, National Division, GBGM. Joel served as district superintendent in the Rio Grande Conference and as President of the Greater Dallas Community of Churches. He was a delegate to the Seventh Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Canberra, Australia, 1991.<br /> <br /> From early exposure to the plight of farm workers, and in student ministry to migrant workers, Joel learned to appreciate the urgent need for poor people to organize in order to participate more equitably in society. He worked with Cesar Chavez during the 1970&#39;s, worked to establish the first federally funded health clinic for the poor in El Paso, was a founding member of the National Hispanic Caucus in the UMC in 1970, and supported the organizing of poor fishermen on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico in the late 1970&#39;s. Joel worked on the initial proposals to the 1976 General Conference for a Missional Priority on the Ethnic Minority Local Church. He chaired the National Missional Priority Coordinating Committee in 1984-88. He chaired the National Plan for Hispanic Ministries National Committee (1992-2000).<br /> <br /> From 1992-2000 Joel was assigned to the Nebraska Episcopal Area. In 2000 he was re-assigned to the San Antonio Area where he served until his retirement in 2008.. He served as President of the General Board of Global Ministries for 2000-2008, and as the Interim General Secretary in 2009-2010.<br /> <br /> Joel is interested in fostering closer relationships between the UMC and the churches in Latin America and the Caribbean. He reads and writes church history with an emphasis on the contributions of Hispanics to the ecumenical church. He enjoys reading, playing golf, and spectator sports - especially track, baseball and football. In 1995 Joel was honored with the Perkins Distinguished Alumni Award.<br /> <br /> Raquel and Joel have three children: Patty, John and spouse Carol, and Rebecca.
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Marcus Matthews

Retired

United States

Northeastern Jurisdiction

<p>Bishop Marcus Matthews is a retired bishop of The United Methodist Church. He is a former Executive Secretary of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church (UMC), a position he has held from Sept. 1, 2016 to August 2020.&nbsp; Previously, Bishop Matthews served as the Resident Bishop of the Baltimore-Washington Conference from 2012-2016.</p> <h4><strong>Early life</strong></h4> <p>Bishop Matthews was born in Florence, South Carolina. His home church, Cumberland UMC, had a pivotal influence in his life. At Cumberland, he was one of the community developers in the first wave of the Black Community Developers program of the General Board of Global Ministries. In 1970, he was selected by the Ford Foundation&#39;s Leadership Development Program to conduct a year-long study of religious institutions such as the Delta Project in Mississippi; the General Commission on Religion and Race, and to do research on a project with juveniles in Syracuse, NY.</p> <h4><strong>Education and Ordination</strong></h4> <p>Bishop Matthews holds a bachelor&#39;s degree from South Carolina State College (1968); a master of divinity (MDiv) from Wesley Theological Seminary (1974); and a doctor of ministry (DMin) from New York Theological Seminary (1981).&nbsp; He was ordained as a deacon by Bishop Paul Hardin, Jr. and he was ordained as an elder by Bishop James K. Matthew in the Baltimore-Washington Conference.</p> <h4><strong>Ordained Ministry</strong></h4> <p>At the beginning of his pastoral ministry, Matthews served as a student intern at Douglas Memorial UMC in Washington, D.C., for a year. He became an assistant pastor at Asbury UMC in Washington, where he continued as associate for two years after his graduation from Wesley. Upon graduation, he served as pastor of Jones Memorial UMC in Washington, DC, (1976-1982) where he oversaw the building of a new sanctuary and established a community development program. He was pastor of Epworth Chapel UMC in Baltimore, from 1982 to 1986, when, during his pastorate, Epworth received 272 new members.</p> <h4><strong>Superintendency</strong></h4> <p>In 1986, Rev. Matthews was appointed District Superintendent of the Baltimore East District and in 1991 was appointed Conference Council Director, a position he held until being appointed Washington West District Superintendent in 1999. He was serving in that position when he was elected.</p> <h4><strong>Episcopacy</strong></h4> <p>Rev. Matthews was elected as a bishop of The United Methodist Church on July 14, 2004, by the Northeastern Jurisdiction on the first ballot.&nbsp; He was assigned to serve the Philadelphia Episcopal Area (Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and Peninsula-Delaware Conference). In 2008, he was assigned to the New York West Area (Western New York Conference and North Central Conference). In 2010, he became the resident bishop of Upper New York Area (and a new conference uniting four former conferences; Western New York, North Central, Troy and Wyoming).&nbsp; In 2012, he was assigned to the Washington Area (Baltimore-Washington Conference), where he served until his retirement in 2016.</p> <p>During his ministry, Bishop Matthews served on the General Commission on Religion and Race, the General Board of Global Ministries, Connection Process Team, the General Council on Ministries, Africa University Development Committee, World Methodist Council Executive Committee, and the Board of the Northeastern Jurisdiction Multi-Ethnic Center for Ministry. In 2004 he was elected Co-Chair of the Endorsing Committee of The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the UMC. He served as president of the GBHEM from 2008-2012. He was elected in 2005 to the Board of Directors of Africa University and he is currently the chair of the Board.</p> <h4><strong>Family</strong></h4> <p>Bishop Matthews is married to Barbara Walker Matthews and they have two children, Jaime S. Matthews and Marci Matthews, and five&nbsp;grandchildren. His interests include movies, reading, jogging and playing with his grandchildren.&nbsp;</p>
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William Bill McAlilly

Active

United States

Southeastern Jurisdiction

Nashville Episcopal Area

<p>William T. (Bill) McAlilly is the bishop of the&nbsp;Nashville Episcopal Area&nbsp;of the&nbsp;United Methodist Church. The Area includes the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences that cover middle and west Tennessee and western Kentucky.&nbsp;He was&nbsp;elected to the episcopacy at the&nbsp;Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference&nbsp;in 2012 and was assigned as the resident bishop of the Memphis&nbsp;and&nbsp;Tennessee&nbsp;Annual Conferences beginning September 1, 2012.&nbsp;</p> <p>A native of Mississippi, Bishop McAlilly earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion, Millsaps College, Jackson, MS (1978) and a Masters of Divinity, Candler School of Theology, Emory University,&nbsp;Atlanta, GA (1981).</p> <p>He was ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church in 1979 and ordained elder in 1982. In the spring of 2017, Bishop McAlilly received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Rust College in Holly Springs, MS.</p> <p>McAlilly has served in a wide variety of ministry settings in Georgia and Mississippi&ndash;a small membership church, a new congregation, a county seat church, a newly organized congregation, and a large membership congregation. Likewise, he has served in a variety of roles including youth minister, associate minister, and lead pastor.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2006, he was appointed to serve as the District Superintendent of the Seashore District of the Mississippi Conference in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and worked closely with Disaster Response and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).&nbsp;</p> <p>He served in many capacities in the Mississippi Annual Conference including the Board of Directors of United Methodist Senior Services, Millsaps College, Mississippi Methodist Foundation; Board of Ordained Ministry; Design&nbsp;Team for the Residency in Ministry Program; and Development of the Transitions Seminar for Moving Pastors.&nbsp; He has been a delegate to four Jurisdictional Conferences and three General Conferences.</p> <p>For the 2017-2020 quadrennium, Bishop McAlilly currently serves on the Connectional Table as president on the Board of Directors for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM). He also is Co-Chair of the Endorsing Committee. He also serves on the</p> <p>Council of Bishops&rsquo; Leadership Teams on Leadership Development and on Leadership Discernment. In addition, he will serve on the Just Peace Board of Directors for this quadrennium, and as Chair of the Quadrennial Orientation for New Bishops Committee.</p> <p>He served as president of the Southeastern Jurisdiction College of Bishops in 2016-17 and continues to serve on the Southeastern Jurisdiction Committee on Coordination &amp; Accountability.</p> <p>Bishop McAlilly currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Emory University, Atlanta, GA; the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Board, Memphis, TN; and the Board of Trustees of Martin College, Pulaski, TN.</p> <p>Compassion for the least and last has been at the heart of his emphasis on missions throughout his ministry&mdash;locally in the communities in which he has served and globally in Mexico, Nicaragua, and Democratic Republic of Congo.&nbsp;</p> <p>Bishop McAlilly has a pastor&rsquo;s heart with a vision for the reign of God.</p> <p>A lover of&nbsp;books, music, and movies, Bishop McAlilly also enjoys golf. He and his wife Lynn have been married since 1978. They have two married adult children: Chris McAlilly and Laura McAlilly Paulk, and five grandchildren.</p>
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Lawrence McCleskey

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Lawrence J. McCleskey is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>Born in Atlanta, Georgia and reared there and in Tampa, Florida, Lawrence McCleskey is a graduate of Duke University (A.B.), Duke Divinity School (B.D.), and Princeton Theological Seminary (D.Min.). He was a delegate to both the Southeastern Jurisdictional and the General Conferences in 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996. He served from 1988-1996 as a member of the Division of Ordained Ministry of the Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and he chaired the Division of Ordained Ministry from 1992-1996. He was a member of the General Commission on Archives and History from 1996-2004, and he served as President from 2000-2004. He currently serves as Chair of the Division of Higher Education of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. He is a trustee of Duke University.</p> <p>J. Lawrence McCleskey was elected to the episcopacy in July 1996 and assigned to the Columbia Area (South Carolina Conference). Prior to his election, he served for thirty-three years as a member of the Western North Carolina Conference, where he was appointed to churches with memberships from 35 to 3700 members. He served six years as Superintendent of the Winston-Salem District, and at the time of his election he was Senior Minister of the Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte. In 2004, he was assigned to the Charlotte Area (Western North Carolina Conference) where he served until his retirement in 2008.<br /> <br /> Lawrence and Margaret Fowler McCleskey have three children: James is Director of the Washington, DC, Office of the Governor of North Carolina. Sarah is Director of Access Services for the Hofstra University Library in New York. Matthew is an on-air host and producer with WAMU, the National Public Radio affiliate at American University in Washington, DC.</p>
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Calvin McConnell

Retired

United States

Cal McConnell was born in Monte Vista, Colorado. His academic preparation for ministry included the University of Denver and the Iliff School of Theology, with a post graduate Master of Sacred Theology degree from Andover Newton Theological School. Bishop Glen R. Phillips ordained him deacon and elder in the Rocky Mountain Annual Conference. He later transferred to the California-Nevada Conference and served in Williams, CA, and later as minister to youth at First United Methodist Church in Palo Alto and as Director of the Wesley Foundation at Stanford University.<br /> <br /> Subsequently, he transferred to the Oregon-Idaho Conference, serving as University Chaplain and Assistant Professor of Religion at Willamette University, before returning to his home conference and serving churches in Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs. He was a General Conference delegate in 1976 and 1980. For 34 years Cal McConnell was married to Dr. Mary McConnell who died in 1986; their family includes two sons, their two spouses and three grandchildren. Cal and Velma Duell were married in December of 1988.<br /> <br /> The Western Jurisdiction elected Calvin McConnell to the episcopacy in 1980 and assigned him to the Portland Area. In 1988 he was assigned to the Seattle Area. In his active episcopacy he served as President of The Upper Room, and was on the organizing Advisory Board of the Academy for Spiritual Formation, and a member of the editorial board of WEAVINGS: A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life. He is past President of the General Commission on Religion and Race, and of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. He served as a trustee of Willamette University, the University of Puget Sound and the Iliff School of Theology. In 1992 he was named by Iliff as its fifth Distinguished Alumnus. He also holds honorary degrees from Rust College and University of Puget Sound. In retirement he was a founding member of the ecumenical extension seminary, Northwest House of Theological Studies in Salem, Oregon, where he taught for two years in the area of the formation and practice of spirituality. He retired from the episcopacy in 1996.
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Michael McKee

Active

United States

South Central Jurisdiction

Dallas Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Michael McKee is the Resident Bishop of the Dallas Area, which includes the North Texas Conference in the South Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He is a native of Fort Worth, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin (1973), a Master of Theology from Perkins School of Theology of Southern Methodist University (1978) and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Texas Wesleyan University (2005). He also was honored with the Perkins Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2017.</p> <p>He was ordained deacon in 1975 and ordained elder in 1979 in the Central Texas Annual Conference, where he served several churches, including 15 years as the senior pastor of First UMC, Hurst.</p> <p>He has held numerous offices including chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry and the Mid-Cities District Committee of Ordained Ministry. He was a delegate to three Jurisdictional Conferences and two General Conferences.</p> <p>In 2012, McKee was elected to the episcopacy by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference and assigned to serve as the resident bishop of the Dallas Area effective September 1.</p> <p>McKee is the immediate past-president of the South Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops. He is president of the Board of the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) of the UMC. He serves on the Boards of Trustees of Southern Methodist University, Texas Methodist Foundation, Southwestern University and Methodist Health System, Dallas. He is chair of the Executive Board of Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.</p> <p>Mike and Joan (Craig) McKee have been married since 1975 and have two children: Erin, who lives with her husband, Darin, and sons, Knox and Ford, in California; and Meredith, who lives in Dallas.</p> <p>---</p> <p><strong>Spouse:&nbsp;</strong>Joan (Craig) McKee</p> <p><strong>Children:&nbsp;</strong>Erin McKee, Chidsey Meredith McKee</p> <p><strong>Education and Honors:</strong><br /> Texas Wesleyan University, Doctor of Divinity, 2005<br /> Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Master of Theology, 1978<br /> The University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Arts, 1973</p> <p><strong>Ministry:</strong><br /> Assigned to Dallas Area (North Texas Conference), effective Sept. 1, 2012<br /> Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Hurst, Texas, 1997<br /> Present Pastor, Overton Park United Methodist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, 1992-97<br /> Pastor, Meadowbrook United Methodist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, 1987-92<br /> Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Joshua, Texas, 1982-87<br /> Associate Minister, First United Methodist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, 1976-82<br /> Associate Minister, Richland Hills United Methodist Church, 1973-76<br /> Ordained Elder, Central Texas Conference, 1979<br /> Ordained Deacon, Central Texas Conference, 1975</p> <p><strong>Membership:</strong><br /> Central Texas Annual Conference</p> <p><strong>Other:</strong><br /> Delegate, General Conference, 2012, 2008, 2004 (alternate)<br /> Delegate, South Central Jurisdictional Conference, 2012, 2008, 2004<br /> Director, General Board of Church and Society<br /> Chairperson, Texas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, 2004<br /> Present Chairperson, MidCities District Committee on Ordained Ministry, 2001-2011<br /> Chairperson, Conference Camps and Assemblies Committee, 1992-2000<br /> Member, Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, 1984-1992; Secretary, 1988-1992<br /> Trustee, Glen Lake Camp Campus Ministry Committee<br /> Southern Methodist University Texas Methodist Foundation, Board Member, 1995-Present; Investment Committee, 1995-2000; Executive Committee, 2003 present; Board Chair, 2005-2006; Loan Committee, 2004-Present; Chair, Development/Stewardship Committee, 2002 and 2003; Chair, Long Range Planning, 2008-Present; Member, Clergy Leadership Initiative, 2010<br /> Board of Trustees, Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas; Member, Executive Committee; Chairperson, Facilities Planning Committee; Board of Trustees, Harris Methodist Health Systems; Chairperson, Pastoral Care Committee; Chairperson, Executive Board, Perkins School of Theology; Co-Chair, Campaign Steering Committee; Past Chairperson, Perkins Alumni Council<br /> Past President, Board of Directors, Women&#39;s Haven of Tarrant County<br /> Past Chairperson, Advisory Board and Member of Steering Committee, More Than Houses Campaign, Habitat for Humanity Founders Award, Trinity Area Habitat for Humanity, 2007<br /> Bishop&#39;s Award in Preaching, Central Texas Annual Conference, 2010</p>
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Marshall Meadors

Retired

United States

A native of South Carolina, Marshall L. (Jack) Meadors is a graduate of Wofford College (Phi Beta Kappa) and Candler School of Theology, Emory University. He holds honorary degrees from Wofford, Columbia, Rust, and Millsaps and Rocky Mountain Colleges. For 34 years he served as pastor and district superintendent in South Carolina. In 1992 he was elected to the episcopacy by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference and assigned to the Mississippi Area where he served until his retirement in 2000.<br /> <br /> Jack&#39;s civic involvement in South Carolina included membership on the Anderson County School Board, a position for which he was twice chosen in general elections. Governor Richard Riley appointed him to the Joint Legislative Committee on Aging and then to the South Carolina Commission on Aging, which he chaired for five years.<br /> <br /> While in Mississippi, Jack served on the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, the General Board of Church and Society and the University Senate. Also, he was president of the Mississippi Religious Leadership Conference, an organization of religious leaders who worked to promote tolerance and understanding in diversity.<br /> Jack chaired the Council of Bishop&#39;s Initiative on Children and Poverty from1996-2000. In 1999 he was a member of the delegation to Belgrade, led by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, which secured the release of three American prisoners of war during the NATO bombing.<br /> <br /> Jack is a Trustee of Wofford College and Trustee emeritus of Emory University.<br /> <br /> Jack was married to Hannah Campbell Meadors, now deceased. He has four children: Jane M. Cromley (teacher), Marshall III (physician), James (President, Meadors Construction), and John (attorney). He has ten grandchildren.
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Jane Middleton

Retired

United States

Northeastern Jurisdiction

<p>Bishop Jane Stewart Allen Middleton is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to Dorothy Mae Nelson and Jack Allen. Because of her father&#39;s work in sales and marketing management for an oil company, they moved frequently; living in Cape Girardeau, Warrensburg, and St. Joseph, Missouri; then Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Johnson County and Wichita, Kansas. She met her husband, Jack, at Oklahoma State University and they were married October 15, 1961.<br /> <br /> She received a B.S. in Education from Oklahoma State and taught at Sumner High School in St. Louis. She spent many years as a stay-at-home mom, active in her church and community in Oklahoma and Connecticut. A 1978 graduate of Yale Divinity School, she was ordained deacon and elder by Bishop Ralph Ward in the New York Annual Conference and served churches in Simsbury, Naugatuck, and New Canaan, CT. She was responsible for Spiritual Life for clergy and laity on Conference staff and was District Superintendent from 1999 until her election to the episcopacy. She trained at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation and leads retreats and conferences on the spiritual life.<br /> <br /> Jane was elected to the episcopacy by the Northeastern Jurisdiction and was assigned to the Harrisburg Area, where her emphasis was assisting churches in growth and in empowering clergy for effectiveness.<br /> <br /> Jack and Jane have two daughters: Mari Jane of Deerfield Beach, Florida, who with Michael Marion has two children, a son Anthony and a daughter Alexis, and Laura Rachelle of Seattle, Washington, who with Rod Whitman, is the mother of a son, Ethan, and a daughter, Louise.</p>
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Carlton Minnick

Retired

United States

Carlton Printess Minnick was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, but at an early age his family moved to Lynchburg, Virginia, where he attended the public schools. After a year in the School of Engineering at the University of Virginia and a year of marine engineering at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, he was employed as an engineer for an electric power company in Lynchburg. At the age of 23 he felt called by God to the ordained ministry and set out to complete his education. He earned the B.A. degree, cum laude, from Lynchburg College and the B.D. and Th.M. degrees from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. He was ordained deacon and elder by Bishop Paul N. Garber and became a member of the Virginia Annual Conference. He holds honorary doctorates from Randolph-Macon College, Millsaps College, Rust College, Methodist College (Fayetteville, North Carolina) and North Carolina Wesleyan College.<br /> <br /> C.P. served two student pastorates and five full-time pastoral appointments in the Virginia Conference. While serving as Pastor of the St. James United Methodist Church in Ferrum, Virginia, he was also Chaplain and Professor of Bible at Ferrum College. He had completed two years as District Superintendent of the Alexandria District at the time of his election to the episcopacy.<br /> <br /> C. P. was elected clergy leader of the Virginia Conference delegation to the General Conferences of 1976 and 1980. He was elected to the episcopacy at the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 1980. He was assigned to the Jackson Area in 1980 and was appointed to the Raleigh Area in 1984. Prior to his election he served on the General Council on Finance and Administration. He has served as an episcopal member of the General Board of Church and Society and the General Board of Global Ministries. During the 1988-1992 quadrennium he was President of the United Methodist Committee on Relief.<br /> <br /> After his retirement in 1996, C.P. served for ten years as bishop-in-residence at Duke Divinity School, retiring from that ministry April 1, 2006.<br /> <br /> Mary Ann and C. P. were married on September 5, 1946, and are the parents of four children: Ann Wheeler, married to Jay Wheeler and residing in San Diego, California; Gregory, a pastor serving in the North Carolina Annual Conference; Patte Martin, married to Thomas N. Martin and living in St. Paul, Minnesota; and Jonathan, a pastor in the North Carolina Annual conference, married to Allana Harper and living in Raleigh, North Carolina. They have seven granddaughters (Wesley, Amanda, Savannah, Allison, Harper, Micah and Molly) and two grandsons (Christopher and Jonathan).
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Cynthia Moore-Koikoi

Active

Northeastern Jurisdiction

Pittsburg Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi was elected as a bishop of The United Methodist Church by delegates to the 2016 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference, meeting in Lancaster, PA. She began her assignment to lead United Methodists in Western Pennsylvania on September 1, 2016.</p> <p>Bishop Moore-Koikoi earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Loyola College in Maryland in 1988, and a Masters of Arts and advanced certification in school psychology from the University of Maryland in 1992. She worked as a school psychologist for Anne Arundel County Public Schools for 17 years, serving in leadership roles as a layperson before answering her call to the ordained ministry.</p> <p>She answered that call while a member of Sharp Street Memorial UMC in Baltimore, her great-grandfather&rsquo;s church and the church which sent her father into ministry. Her husband of three years, the Rev. Raphael Koikoi, currently serves as pastor there.</p> <p>The Bishop is familiar with church life and ministry in rural, urban and suburban settings. Growing up in a preacher&rsquo;s family, when she was in elementary school, her father served a rural hilltop church. Later, they moved to serve a church in suburban Silver Spring, MD, where she went to junior high and high school.</p> <p>Attending Wesley Seminary, she was appointed as a student pastor to &ldquo;a small congregation with a proud EUB heritage in a section of East Baltimore that was experiencing change.&rdquo; The congregation had to learn how to navigate that change. Later she was appointed associate pastor at Calvary UMC, a large congregation in Annapolis.</p> <p>Ordained an elder in 2010, she served on the Conference staff working with churches on discipleship. She later served as district superintendent for the Greater Washington Area, and most recently as superintendent of the Baltimore Metropolitan District.</p> <p>In that role, she played a key spiritual role in the city in 2015 during the unrest after the death of Freddie Gray in police custody. She helped to organize United Methodist churches to open their doors and minister to children and families whose schools were closed, and to meet other basic needs. She became the face of the United Methodist Church, and church volunteers in red T-shirts were visible walking through neighborhoods, praying for and ministering to people.</p> <p>Bishop Moore-Koikoi says she sees the work of bishops as &ldquo;overseeing the work of the church, working prophetically, evangelically and apostolically with all as they cooperate with the Grace of God.&rdquo; A key component of that, she believes, is leaving space for the transforming movement of the Holy Spirit, especially at times when the denomination is divided and many people wonder what the future holds. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s spiritual work -- remembering who God is and who God has called us to be,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;We got God, so we got this.&rdquo;</p> <p>Bishop Moore-Koikoi said she sees herself as a bridge-builder, clear and confident about what she believes, while respecting others who might not believe the same way.</p> <p>Her vision is of a diverse church that embraces justice and the life-saving love of Christ. As a new bishop, she&rsquo;s committed to work for that. It won&rsquo;t be easy, she said, &ldquo;but I remind myself, God has got this. God is in control.</p>
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Susan Morrison

Retired

United States

<p>Susan Morrison was born in Dunkirk, New York. After graduation from Drew University, she spent three and a half years as a short-term missionary in Brazil. Returning to the States, she studied for an M.Div. degree at Boston University School of Theology, graduating magna cum laude. Her Doctor of Ministry degree was earned at Wesley Theological Seminary. She has also studied in London, Rome, Buenos Aires and Cuernavaca, Mexico.<br /> <br /> Susan was ordained deacon by Bishop John Wesley Lord in the Peninsula Conference and elder in the Baltimore Washington Conference by Bishop James K. Mathews.</p> <p>She served pastorates at Marvin Memorial United Methodist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Beltsville, Maryland. In 1980 she was appointed by Bishop Mathews as Superintendent of the Baltimore Northwest District, during which time she served for one year as Dean of the Cabinet. In 1986, she was appointed Council Director of the Baltimore Washington Annual Conference. She served as chair of the committee that developed the current Book of Worship of the UMC.<br /> <br /> At the 1988 General Conference Susan was elected to the Judicial Council. The Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference of 1988 then elected her to the episcopacy and she was assigned to the Philadelphia Area, where she served for eight years. In 1996, she was assigned to the Albany Area, serving there until her retirement in 2006.</p>
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Gary Mueller

Active

United States

South Central Jurisdiction

Arkansas Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Gary E. Mueller is the Resident Bishop of the Arkansas Area, which includes the Arkansas Conference in the South Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was elected to the episcopacy in 201.</p> <p>After a friend invited him to attend UMYF his sophomore year of high school, Mueller came to a point of being ready to profess his faith in Christ. His call to ministry began to emerge a few years later, while he attended the University of Kansas. He went on to receive his theological education at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, and at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He was ordained an Elder in the North Texas Conference in 1981.</p> <p>Mueller remained in north Texas, serving pastoral appointments at First UMC Richardson, Brewster Memorial and McKenzie Memorial UMC, First United Methodist Church Roanoke-Trophy Club-Westlake, First UMC Denton and First UMC Plano. He also served for four years as Director of Connectional Ministries for the North Texas Conference Council.</p> <p>Before his election to the episcopacy, he held a number of leadership roles, including delegate to the 2012 General Conference; four-time delegate to the South Central Jurisdictional Conference; chair of the North Texas Conference Ministry Center Building Committee during the design and construction of a new Conference Ministry Center; representative on the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry Task Force; and chair of the North Texas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry from 2008 until 2012.</p> <p>He married Karen Goodman Mueller in 2016. Together, they have four adult children and spouses, Hailey and Stephen, Nick and Carrie, Kirk and Tiffany and Jeff and Dusty, as well as two adorable granddaughters, Madeline and Claire.</p> <p>Bishop Mueller&rsquo;s passion is leading spiritual revival that results in vital congregations that make disciples of Jesus Christ, who then make disciples equipped to transform lives, communities and the world.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>-----</p> <p><strong>Education and Honors:</strong></p> <p>Perkins School of Theology, Master of Divinity, 1979<br /> University of Kansas, Bachelor&#39;s degree</p> <p><strong>Ministry:</strong><br /> Ordained Deacon, North Texas Conference, 1978<br /> Ordained Elder, North Texas Conference, 1981<br /> Assigned to Arkansas Area (Arkansas Conference), effective Sept. 1, 2012<br /> Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Plano, Texas, 2002-Present<br /> Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Denton, Texas, 1995-2002<br /> Director, Council on Ministries, North Texas Annual Conference, 1991-1995<br /> Pastor, First United Methodist Church Roanoke-Trophy Club-Westlake, Texas, 1988-1991<br /> Pastor, McKenzie Memorial United Methodist Church, 1985-1988<br /> Pastor, Brewster Memorial United Methodist Church, 1985-1988<br /> Executive Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Richardson, Texas, 1982-1985<br /> Associate Pastor for Evangelism, First United Methodist Church, Richardson, Texas, 1979-1982</p> <p><strong>Membership:</strong><br /> North Texas Annual Conference</p> <p><strong>Other:</strong><br /> Delegate, General Conference 2012<br /> Delegate, South Central Jurisdictional Conference, 2012, 2008, 2004, 2000, 1996 (alternate)<br /> Chair, Board of Ordained Ministry, 2008-Present<br /> Chair, Task Force to present proposed constitutional amendments to the North Texas Annual Conference, 2009<br /> Chair, North Texas Conference Ministry Center Building Committee, 2003-2007<br /> North Texas representative, South Central Jurisdiction Mission Council (Jurisdictional Executive Committee), 2000-2008<br /> Chair, Board of Ordained Ministry Residency Committee, 1996-2004<br /> South Central Jurisdiction representative, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry Task Force on residency during provisional membership, 1996-2000<br /> Member, Aldersgate Covenant, 1994-1996 Primary author of legislation adopted by General Conference 1996 defining The United Methodist Church&#39;s mission statement &quot;to make disciples of Jesus Christ.&quot;<br /> Chair, North Texas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry residency program design committee, 1988-1999</p>
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Albert Frederick Fritz Mutti

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Albert Frederick Mutti, III is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Hopkins, Missouri, the son of Albert Frederick Mutti, Jr. and Phyllis M. Turner Mutti. All his life he has been identified by the nickname, &quot;Fritz.&quot;<br /> Fritz holds academic degrees from Central Methodist College (A.B.), Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Saint Paul School of Theology (D. Min.). Central Methodist College and Baker University awarded him honorary doctoral degrees.<br /> <br /> He was admitted on trial in the former Missouri Conference, and was admitted to full connection in the Missouri West Conference. He was ordained deacon and an elder by Bishop Eugene Frank.<br /> <br /> Fritz served in a variety of appointments in Missouri and Indiana. He was Pastor of the Union-Star Chapel-Oak Grove circuit for two years after graduating from seminary. Moving from there to Savannah he became the founding Pastor of Crossroads Ecumenical Cooperative Parish. For eight years he was a member of the Missouri West Conference staff serving as Director of Education and Camping and as Conference Council Director. In 1982 he was appointed Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church, Blue Springs. Bishop W.T. Handy, Jr., appointed him to the Central District in 1987 and to the Kansas City North District in 1989. During these years he was a delegate to five Jurisdictional Conferences and four General Conferences. He led the General Conference delegation in 1984, 1988 and 1992. He served as a director of the General Board of Discipleship (1980-1988), the General Board of Global Ministries (1988-1992), and the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns (1996- 2004). He served as Chairperson of the General Task Force on Concern for Workers (1996-2000), and President of the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns (2000- 2004). In retirement, he serves as a member of the coordinating Council of Churches Uniting in Christ. He and Etta Mae serve as Coordinators of the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund.<br /> <br /> Fritz Mutti was elected to the episcopacy by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference in 1992 and assigned to the Kansas Area where he served until his retirement in 2004.<br /> &nbsp;</p> <p>He is married to Etta Mae McClurg Mutti and were parents of three sons. Etta Mae and Fritz are the authors of a book, Dancing in A Wheelchair.</p>
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Mande Muyombo

Active

Africa

Congo Central Conference

North Katanga Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Mande Muyombo is the Resident Bishop of the North Katanga Area, which includes North Katanga, Tanganyika and Tanzania conferences in the Congo Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>Muyombo was born in a poor family in Kambove village in Haut Katanga province. His father had two wives and 16 children.</p> <p>Muyombo was an executive of the General Board of Global Ministries when he was elected on the fourth ballot during the Congo Central Conference in 2017. He is the first graduate of Africa University to be elected bishop and the youngest episcopal leader in the central conference.</p> <p>Bishop Muyombo holds a Bachelor&rsquo;s (Department of Theology) and master&rsquo;s Degree (IPLG) from Africa University as well as master&rsquo;s Degree in Theology and Doctor of Ministry from Saint Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, USA.</p> <p>After working as President of Kamina Methodist University, he served as the Executive Secretary for Africa at the General Board of Global Ministries and was subsequently promoted to Assistant General Secretary in the Missions and Evangelism Department.</p> <p>Bishop Muyombo is married to Blandine Mujinga, an Africa University alumna and they have three daughters and a son.</p>
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Emerito Nacpil

Retired

Philippines

Emerito P. Nacpil was born in Tarlac, the Philippines. Beginning with student appointments, Emerito served local churches. During this time he was ordained both deacon and elder by Bishop Jos&eacute; Valencia and joined the Philippines Annual Conference. He received a Bachelor of Theology from Union Theological Seminary in the Philippines and a B.A. from Philippine Christian College. He then came to the United States to attend Drew University from which he received his Ph.D.<br /> <br /> Returning home, Emerito Nacpil took up responsibilities at Union Theological Seminary, first as Professor, then Academic Dean, then President. During this time he was also Chairman of the Board of Ordained Ministry of the Middle Philippines Annual Conference.<br /> <br /> In 1974 Emerito Nacpil was named Executive Director of the Association of Theological Schools in Southeast Asia and Dean of the Southeast Asia Graduate School of Theology, the positions he was holding when the Philippines Central Conference elected him to the episcopacy in November, 1980. He had been Chairman of the Commission on Church Structure of the Philippines Central Conference for the past two quadrennia. Bishop Nacpil has also been very active in ecumenical affairs, serving on both the Faith and Order Commission and the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches.<br /> <br /> Bishop Nacpil was assigned to the Manila Area where he administered the Mindanao Annual Conference, the Philippines Annual Conference and the Southwest Philippines Provisional Annual Conference. He retired in 2001.<br /> <br /> Angelina Baron del Rosario married Emerito P. Nacpil on April 16, 1956, when he was finishing his theological training at Union Seminary. She became a pastor&#39;s wife and mother of their two children, Newell and Cynthia.
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Joaquina Nhanala

Active

Africa

Mozambique Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Joaquina Filipe Nhanala is the Resident Bishop of the Mozambique Area, which includes Mozambique North, Mozambique South and South Africa Provisional Conferences in the Africa Central Conference of The United Methodist Church. &nbsp;</p> <p>She was elected July 23, 2008, as the first female United Methodist bishop in Africa.</p> <p>Nhanala was the pastor of Matola United Methodist Church in Mozambique when she was elected.</p> <p>Besides serving a large church in Matola, a suburb of Maputo, Nhanala has coordinated women&#39;s projects for the Mozambique church and led a World Relief HIV/AIDS program designed to mobilize churches for education and advocacy in Mozambique&#39;s three southern provinces. Nhanala and the program were featured in the 2004 Bread for the World video, &quot;Keep the Promise on Hunger and Health.&quot;</p> <p>Although she was baptized and confirmed as a Catholic her father&#39;s religion, Nhanala also attended her mother&#39;s Methodist church. Drawn to the youth programs, she became active in the Methodist church as a teen-ager.</p> <p>Nhanala is married to another United Methodist pastor, the Rev. Eugenio Tomas, and they have four adult children.</p> <p>She and her husband, who married in 1976, were both accepted for theological studies at the 1985 Mozambique Annual Conference and received sponsorship from the Women&#39;s Fellowship.</p> <p>They attended Gbarnga School of Theology in Liberia and Nhanala was ordained a deacon in 1989. When the civil war in Liberia disrupted the couple&#39;s studies, they moved to Ghana, where she completed her diploma in theology at Trinity College. The family then moved to Kenya, where she attended Limuru University and received a bachelor of divinity degree in 1995.</p> <p>In 1998, she graduated from Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology with a master&#39;s degree in Bible studies and theology and also served as a teacher and dean of students there. She speaks five native languages, as well as Portuguese and English.</p>
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Eben Nhiwatiwa

Active

Africa

Zimbabwe Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa is the Resident Bishop of the Zimbabwe Area, which includes the Zimbabwe East and Zimbabwe West conferences in the Africa Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Gandanzara Village, Makoni, Rusape, Zimbabwe. He graduated from Epworth Theological College, Harare, with a Diploma in Theology; from Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana, with a one-year Certificate in Theology; Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of Zimbabwe; BA from Goshen College, Indiana; MSC from Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, M.Th from Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, and a Ph.D. from Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois.<br /> <br /> Eben was ordained deacon by Bishop Abel Muzorewa and elder by Bishop Ralph Alton. He served a number of churches and more at Old Mutare Mission where he served from 1984-1991. In 1992 Eben was one of the pioneering professors at the newly-established Africa University in the Faculty of Theology where he lectured in Pastoral Theology.<br /> <br /> He served the church in various capacities from local, District to Conference levels. Eben was the Conference Secretary for the Zimbabwe Annual Conference from 1992 to 2000 and then in the same capacity for the Zimbabwe East Annual Conference from 2001 to 2004. In 1992 and 2000 he was elected delegate to the Africa Central Conference and then in 2004 he served the church as the clergy delegate and head of delegation for the Zimbabwe East Annual Conference.<br /> <br /> Eben Nhiwatiwa was elected Bishop of the church in August 2004. He is the Episcopal leader of two Annual Conferences, the Zimbabwe East and West. He currently serves as the Board member and Chair of the Finance Committee of the Africa University Board of Directors. At the November 2005 Council of Bishops , Eben was elected to represent Africa Central Conference and the church at the World Methodist Conference in South Korea, in July 2006.<br /> <br /> He says that his style of Episcopal leadership is based on the theology of the ministry of presence; that is, being with the people to make them disciples for Jesus Christ to make a difference in the world.<br /> <br /> Eben and Greater Taremeredzwa Munesi were married on June 2, 1979. They have two daughters Mable and Nyasha.</p>
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Alfred Norris

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Alfred L. Norris, Sr., is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana. He is a child of the church, the first son of Mrs. Adele Washington Norris and the late Reverend L.H.P. Norris. Educated in the public schools of Louisiana, he received his high school diploma from the Southern University Laboratory School, Baton Rouge. He furthered his formal education at Dillard University in New Orleans, obtaining a B.A. degree. He completed his seminary education at Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Georgia, with an M.Div. degree, and was later honored with a D.D. degree. Several other institutions have bestowed honorary degrees upon him.<br /> <br /> Norris was ordained deacon and then elder by Bishop Noah Moore. In the Louisiana Annual Conference, he has served as pastor of the following churches: Haven; Peck; First Street and Mount Zion. From 1968-1972 he was Director of Recruitment for Gammon Theological Seminary. He was District Superintendent of the New Orleans/Houma District of the Louisiana Annual Conference from 1974-1880, and he served as President of Gammon Theological Seminary of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta from 1985-1992.<br /> <br /> Norris participated in a Preaching Mission to Latin America in September 1967, was Guest Preacher for &quot;Bishop&#39;s Week&quot; at Mount Sequoyah, Fayetteville, Arkansas, in June of 1980, and served as Guest Preacher for the Liberia Annual Conference in February, 1988. He has been the guest preacher or lecturer at numerous other conferences, seminars, church services and religious activities nationwide.<br /> <br /> Norris was a delegate to the General Conferences of 1976, 1984, 1988 and 1992 and was elected to lead the Louisiana Conference Delegation in 1992. He was a delegate to the World Methodist Conference each quinquennium since 1976. While in Louisiana, he served as Chairman of the Board of Ordained Ministry from 1980-1988. Additionally, he served on the Board of Publications of the United Methodist Church and was a member of the Association of United Methodist Theological Schools.<br /> <br /> Alfred Norris was elected to the episcopacy by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference in 1992 and was assigned to the Northwest Texas/New Mexico Area, with headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At the 2000 Jurisdictional Conference, he was assigned to the Houston Area. From 1996 until 2004, he was a member of GCFA, serving as President from 2000-2004. He retired in 2004 and returned to Gammon Theological Seminary to serve as Bishop-in-Residence.<br /> <br /> Bishop Norris is a 33&ordm; Mason. He and his wife, Mackie L. Harper Norris, have a son, Alfred, II (Lisa), daughter Angela R. Johnson (Tyrone) and four grandchildren, Alfred, III (Trey) and Justin Douglass Norris, and Mark David and Faith Rachelle Johnson. The Norrises reside in Jonesboro, GA.</p>
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Nkulu Ntanda Ntambo

Retired

Africa

Congo Central Conference

<p>Bishop Nkulu Ntanda Ntambo is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born at Kailo in then Zaire. His father is deceased, but his mother Kahole Julienne is still alive. He has been a Christian since childhood.<br /> <br /> Ntambo finished his six years of elementary school in Kabongo. He went to secondary school in Lubumbashi for six years. Then he went to seminary for four years in Mulungwishi. He has a Master of Divinity degree from Nairobi International School of Theology in Nairobi, Kenya.<br /> <br /> His professional activities include: 1967-1972, Elementary School Teacher; 1976-1977. Senior Pastor at the parish in Lubudi; 1977-1982, District Superintendent Bukama-Lubudi; 1982-1983, Bishop&#39;s Secretary; 1987-1989; District Superintendent Kamina; 1987-1993, Christian Education Director, North Shaba; 1992-1992, Senior Director at Kamina-Ville UMC.<br /> <br /> Bishop Ntambo worked as Assistant Legal Representative of North Shaba for sixteen years (1977-1993). He occupied the following positions: Executive Committee Vice-President; Secretary for Swahili-speaking people at the North Shaba Annual Conference; General Board of Global Ministries director; interpreter at the 1992 General Conference in Louisville; chairperson of the North Shaba Aviation Committee, Construction Committee, Ordained Ministry Committee; IPIM in the country of Burundi (1993-on as D.S., Supervisor and spiritual coordinator for refugees). This year he was the North Shaba delegation leader for the Central Conference at Wembo-Nyama.<br /> <br /> Bishop Ntambo planted about 157 churches in the region of Bukuma and Lubudi. He opened two congregations in Nairobi. During his ministry he visited the following countries in order to fulfill his tasks: Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Senegal, Zambia, U.S.A., Israel, Angola, Gambia, and South Africa.<br /> <br /> He was elected to the episcopacy in 1996 and serves the North Katanga Area, Democratic Republic of Congo until his retirement.</p> <p>He is married to Nshimba Nkulu; they have eight children (three boys and five girls).</p>
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James Jimmy Nunn

Active

United States

South Central Jurisdiction

Oklahoma Episcopal Area

<em>United States<br /> South Central Jurisdiction<br /> Oklahoma Episcopal Area</em><br /> &nbsp; <p>Bishop James (Jimmy) Nunn is the Resident Bishop of the Oklahoma Area of The United Methodist Church, which includes the Oklahoma Conference and Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference in the South Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p><strong>Passion</strong></p> <p>I am passionate about making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.&nbsp; I have been blessed with gifts and graces to make a greater impact on ministries of transformation at the strategic intersections of district, conference, and general church.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Education</strong></p> <p>Abernathy High School, 1975<br /> McMurry University, Bachelor of Arts, 1979<br /> Asbury Theological Seminary, Master of Divinity, 1981<br /> Asbury Theological Seminary, Doctor of Ministry, 1996</p> <p><strong>Transforming the Annual Conference</strong></p> <p>Leading efforts to plant new churches, recruit young, diverse clergy<br /> Developing new leaders<br /> Sharing the story using modern methods</p>
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Karen Oliveto

Active

United States

Western Jurisdiction

Mountain Sky Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Karen Oliveto comes to the Mountain Sky Area after serving as senior pastor of the 12,000-member Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco for eight years. She is the first woman to be senior pastor at Glide, the fifth largest United Methodist congregation in the U.S. She is the first woman to serve as senior pastor in one of the denominations 100 largest U.S. congregations.</p> <p>&quot;My dream is that we live into beloved community. My dream is that we live boldly as the body of Christ. and love so fully, so completely, that the neighborhoods in which United Methodist Churches stand in are utterly transformed by the love that spills out of these communities,&rdquo; Bishop Oliveto said in a&nbsp;<a href="http://rmcumc-email.brtapp.com/viewemail/1566117" target="_blank">pastoral letter</a>&nbsp;to the members of the 400 churches she will serve.</p> <p>The Mountain Sky Area covers all of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah and a small portion of Idaho. The two regional conferences that comprise the area, the Rocky Mountain Conference and the Yellowstone Conference, are in the process of creating a new annual conference under the name Mountain Sky.</p> <p>Bishop Oliveto is the first openly lesbian bishop in The United Methodist Church. Her wife, Robin Ridenour, a nurse anesthetist, is a deaconess in The United Methodist Church.</p> <h4><a href="http://www.rmcumc.org/files/content/communications/mountain+sky+area/bishopolivetoleadership+summit2016.pdf" target="_blank">View Bishop Oliveto&#39;s quadrennial vision for 2016-2020: Living into Beloved Community</a></h4> <p><a href="http://www.mountainskyumc.org/musings-in-the-mountain-sky-area" target="_blank">Follow Bishop Karen&#39;s blog: Musings in the Mountain Sky Area</a></p>
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Øystein Olsen

Retired

Europe

<p>Bishop &Oslash;ystein Olsen is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Narvik, Northern Norway. His parents were Methodists, and he grew up in and became a member of the United Methodist Church in a country with a 90% Lutheran population. He started singing in a boys&#39; choir at the age of 7 and has liked singing since then.</p> <p><br /> &Oslash;ystein earned a diploma from The UMC Nordic Theological Seminary in Gothenburg, Sweden, and was ordained deacon and elder by Bishop Ole Borgen. He obtained additional education in Pastoral Supervision (ABV). His has served as local church pastor in the southern part of Norway for the following congregations: Egersund; Bergen Central, as youth pastor (50%) and Bethany Hospital as hospital chaplain (50%); Halden; &quot;pastor in charge&quot; in Str&ouml;mstad, Sweden; Skien; Kj&oslash;lberg; Oslo Immanuel. He was elected to the episcopacy in March of 2001, and served the Nordic and Baltic Area until his retirement in 2009.<br /> <br /> He has served on the General Council on Ministries 1996-2000, as member and officer, re-elected 2000-2004; Central Conference Executive Committee/Committee on Episcopacy since 1987; Delegate to NE Central Conference 1985-1997; the Norwegian Annual Conference Committee on Episcopacy from 1989, chair 1989-2001; Annual Conference Board of Ordained Ministry 1980-96, 7 years as chair; Annual Conference Church Board of UMC Norway 1981-1989 (1978-81 substitute); as well as other committees and task forces in the Annual Conference, districts and local churches. In addition, for four years he served as the Norway Annual Conference representative in Nordic Ecumenical Council.<br /> <br /> After his election to the episcopacy, Bishop Olsen served as Chair of ECOM (European Commission on Mission), a joint coordinating commission between the European UMC episcopal Areas and the British Methodist Churches in Europe; as Chair of EMC (European Methodist Council), a European equivalent to WMC; The Bishops&#39; Initiative: Children and Poverty Task Force and Vice President and Director of GBGM.</p> <p>In 1967, he married Toril, who is a special education teacher. Their children are: daughter, Elisabeth and two sons, Geir Thomas and Trond Christian. All three are married and live in the Oslo region. The Olsens have three grandchildren: Nicolai, Hannah and Natascha.</p>
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Daniel Onashuyaka

Active

Africa

Congo Central Conference

Central Congo Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Daniel Lunge Onashuyaka is the resident Bishop of the Central Congo Area, which includes Central Congo, Kasai, Western Congo conferences in the Congo Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was elected to the episcopacy in 2017, while serving as Dean of the Faculty of Theology at Patrice Emery Lumumba University, based at Wembo-Nyama Methodist mission.</p> <p>Lunge, born in Emongo village in Sankuru province, initially became a teacher before studying theology.&nbsp;He served as pastor in Katoka, Kananga, and also served as treasurer for the Congo Central Annual Conference.</p> <p>Lunge was appointed to different offices in the church including district superintendent of Kinshasa and assistant to the bishop in Kinshasa.</p> <p>&nbsp;He graduated from Wembo Nyama and Protestant University in Congo. He got aggregation from the Protestant University in Congo in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo. He did his Librarianship studies at Protestant University of Central Africa / Yaound&eacute; (Cameroon), and received a Ph.D. in Theology from UPAC Yaound&eacute; / Neuch&acirc;tel (Switzerland).</p> <p>Lunge is married to Julianne Dembo, and they have seven children.</p>
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Fama Onema

Africa

Bishop Fama Onema is a retired bishop of The United Methodist Church.<br /> <br /> He&nbsp;was born in Utuhi, Democratic Republic of Congo, the former Belgian Congo. He had his secondary school and theological education in Africa, and was ordained deacon by Bishop Newell Booth. Later, Fama Onema went with his family to Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa, where he received his B.A. majoring in Philosophy and Sociology.<br /> After returning to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Fama Onema was ordained elder by Bishop John Wesley Shungu, joined the Central Congo Annual Conference and served as Pastor Youth Director as well as statistician for the Africa Central Conference. He was active in his annual conference, including serving as secretary. He was also Director of the Pastors School, Director of a secondary school and in, 1971, became professor at the ecumenical theological school in the Democratic Republic of Congo.<br /> <br /> On August 28, 1972, Fama Onema was elected to the episcopacy by the Africa Central Conference at Blantyre Malawi and assigned to the all Congo Area, 1972-1976. After 1976, he was assigned to the Central Congo area. He was Moderator of National Synod for 11 years and President of the Executive Committee of L&acute;&Eacute;glise du Christ au Congo (&quot;The Church of Christ in Congo&quot;) for 12 years. He held the position of President of Administration, Council of the Faculty of Protestant Theology in Congo (now Protestant University of Kinshasa). He was a founder of Methodist Patrice Emergy Lumumba University in 1980, which now has five faculties and four colleges (Education, Agriculture, Nursery, Home Economics, Theology, Law and Medicine). He is a member of the General Committee of All Africa Conference Churches, and was Vice-President of All Africa Conference of Churches, and President of the French Protestant Church of Africa. He has lectured for many institutions and seminaries in Congo and abroad. He has a Degree Diploma dis Etudes Superiores (D.S.), two Honorary Degrees and is working on a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion on Culture and Gospel.<br /> <br /> Ekoko and Fama were married on June 5, 1952. They have nine children: Fama, Muyala, Pende, Tawa, Walu, Shaumba, Utshudi, Omba and Shaku.
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Donald Ott

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Don Ott is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and attended the Milwaukee Public Schools, Carroll College (now University)(B.A. 1961) Waukesha, WI, Perkins School of Theology, Dallas TX, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Garrett Theological Seminary (now Garrett Evangelical) (B.D./M.Div. 1965) in Evanston, IL. Adrian College, Adrian, Ml, Albion College, Albion, MI and Garrett Evangelicalconferred honorary degrees, Divinity (1994), Sacred Theology (1997), and Divinity (2012)respectively.<br /> <br /> Don Ott was elected to the episcopacy by the North Central Jurisdiction in 1992. He was assigned to the Michigan Area, which includes the Detroit and West Michigan Conferences. He retired in 2000. At the time of his election as bishop, Don Ott was serving as the District Superintendent of the Milwaukee District, WI Conference. Prior to that appointment in 1987 he had served as pastor at: First UMC, Green Bay, WI; Christ Church-United Methodist, Racine, WI; Wesley UMC, Kenosha, WI; Pleasant Prairie UMC, Pleasant Prairie, WI. Hewas an Associate Council Director and Council Directorof the Wisconsin Conference UMC in the period 1974-1982.He was elected a delegate to the General Conferences of1980-1992 and the North Central Jurisdictional Conferences of1976-1992.<br /> <br /> Bishop Ott was elected to or assigned to the following agencies of the UMC: the General Council on Finance and Administration (Vice President 1997-2000); the JUSTPEACE Center for Mediation and Conflict Transformation; Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary Board of Trustees; the General Board of Global Ministries; the United Methodist Development Fund (President 1992-1996); United Methodist Communications.<br /> <br /> Don and Jan Ott were married December 21, 1963. They are the parents of two children, Denise Lynne Shircel (Thomas) of Kenosha, WI; and Duane Donald Ott (Megan) of Oshkosh, WI. They haveseven grandchildren: Nicolas and Madelyn, Brady and KennedyOtt; Tyler, Amy and Cora Shircel.<br /> <br /> In retirement DonOtt was employed by the Council of Bishops to coordinate the Episcopal Initiative on Children and Poverty, 2001-2004. He served the Council as Retiree Corespondent 2008-2012. Hewas a long time member of the governing Board of the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families andis a member of the City of Pewaudkee, WI Committee on Public Works.</p>
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Bruce Ough

Active

United States

North Central Jurisdiction

Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Bruce Ough is the current Executive Secretary of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church (UMC), a position he has held since Sept. 1, 2020.&nbsp; The Executive Secretary is charged with the day-to-day running of the Council of Bishops&#39; office in Washington, D.C.&nbsp; He is also a member of the Council of Bishops Executive Committee.<br /> <br /> Previously, Bishop Ough served as the resident bishop of the Dakotas-Minnesota Area of The United Methodist Church, where he served from September 1, 2012. Prior to his assignment to the Dakotas-Minnesota Area, he served for 12 years as the resident bishop of the West Ohio Area.</p> <p>Bruce was ordained deacon in 1975 and elder in 1979 in the former North Dakota Conference and served as Council Director and Camp Program Director in the Dakotas, as Director of Oakwood Spiritual Life Center in Indiana, and as senior pastor, district superintendent and Director of the Council of Ministries in the Iowa conference. A 1973 graduate of North Dakota State University, Bishop Ough earned a master of divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1978. In addition, he has done graduate work at Northwestern University and completed the Upper Room&rsquo;s two-year Academy for Spiritual Formation program, for which he also served on the Leadership Team.</p> <p>Bishop Ough&nbsp;was elected&nbsp;as a delegate to numerous General and North Central Jurisdiction Conferences and has served as a member of several jurisdictional and general church agencies. He was appointed bishop of the Southeast Asia Mission (Vietnam, Laos and Thailand) from 2010 &ndash; 2015, served as the president of the North Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops and chaired the Council of Bishops&rsquo; Plan Team on Missional Focus.&nbsp;He chaired the United Methodist Connectional Table for the 2012 &ndash; 2016&nbsp;quadrennium,&nbsp;served as President of the Council of Bishops from 2016 &ndash; 2018, and currently serves as the Executive Secretary of the Council of Bishops in addition to his continued leadership as Resident Bishop of the Dakotas-Minnesota Area through December 31, 2020.</p> <p>Bishop Ough is&nbsp;past president&nbsp;of the Ohio Council of Churches and has been involved with the Minnesota Council of Churches during his years in the Dakotas- Minnesota Area. He&nbsp;serves on the Board of Trustees for Dakota Wesleyan University, Hamline University, and the E. Stanley Jones Foundation,&nbsp;and he has received an honorary doctorate from Dakota Wesleyan University. In May 2020, Bishop Ough&nbsp;was&nbsp;named&nbsp;Distinguished Alum for Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.&nbsp;</p> <p>Bruce is married to Charlene Ough; they are the parents of three sons and seven grandchildren.</p>
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Kasap Owan

Active

Africa

Congo Central Conference

Southern Congo Episcopal Area

<section> <p>Bishop Owan Tshibang Kasap is the Resident Bishop of the Southern Congo Area, which includes Lukoshi, North-West Katanga, South Congo, South-West Katanga and Zambia conferences.</p> </section>
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Gregory Palmer

Active

United States

North Central Jurisdiction

Ohio West Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Gregory Palmer is the Resident Bishop of the Ohio West Area, which includes the Ohio West Conference in the North Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received his undergraduate degree from George Washington University, and later earned his Master of Divinity degree from Duke University. In 1999 he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Baldwin-Wallace College. He was ordained deacon by Bishop James M. Ault in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and ordained elder by Bishop James S. Thomas in the East Ohio Conference.</p> <p>Greg served as Senior Pastor of the United Methodist Church of Berea, Ohio, for seven years. Prior to that he had been a district superintendent, and had served churches in both Ohio and North Carolina. He was the organizing pastor of the James S. Thomas United Methodist Church of Canton, Ohio.</p> <p>Gregory Vaughn Palmer was elected to the episcopacy in 2000 and was appointed to the Iowa Area, which he began serving on September 1, 2000. In 2008 he was assigned to the Illinois Area. After serving in the Illinois Area for four years, he was assigned to the West Ohio Annual Conference in July 2012.</p> <p>Bishop Palmer has served the church in other ways: President of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Canton, Senegal Task Force of the General Board of Global Ministries, General and Jurisdictional Delegate, as a teacher at Pastor&#39;s School in the Burundi Annual Conference and Trustee of Baldwin-Wallace College, Ohio Wesleyan University and United Theological Seminary. He served as President of the Council of Bishops from 2008-2010.</p> <p>In addition, Bishop Palmer has served the communities in which he has lived: Trustee of the Berea Children&#39;s Home and Family Services Board, Board of Zoning and Appeals in Cleveland and Trustee of the Regional Transit Authority in Canton.</p> <p>He and his wife, Cynthia, have two children: Monica and Aaron.</p>
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Jeremiah Park

Active

United States

Northeastern Jurisdiction

Harrisburg Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Jeremiah J. Park is the Resident Bishop of the Harrisburg Area, which includes the Sushesuqhana Conference in the Northeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Jae Chun, Korea. He graduated from Seoul Methodist Theological School, as an honor student, with a Bachelor of Divinity degree and cum laude from the Theological School of Drew University with the M.Div. degree. He received his D. Min. degree from the same school in 1990.<br /> <br /> Jeremiah was ordained deacon by Bishop C. Dale White (Northern New Jersey Annual Conference) and elder by Bishop Joseph H. Yeakel (Western New York Annual Conference). For nine years he served as pastor in Rochester, New York, &nbsp;and Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. From 1988 to 1994 he served the Multi-Ethnic Center for Ministry of the Northeastern Jurisdiction, as Associate Director. From 1994 to1996 he served as Associate Council Director and then as Council Director for two years in the Northern New Jersey Annual Conference. During his tenure on staff of the conference, he was instrumental in raising funds for building a Memorial Chapel in memory of Henry G. Appenzeller, the first Methodist missionary from America to Korea, at Aldersgate Center in Swartswood, New Jersey. In 1998 he became the District Superintendent of the Hudson District of the Northern New Jersey Annual Conference, which was changed to the Palisades District in 2000. He was District Superintendent when he was elected bishop.<br /> <br /> Jeremiah was first elected a delegate to the Jurisdictional Conference in 1996. He was elected a delegate to the General Conference in 2000 and 2004. He served on the Vision Table, Program and Arrangements Committee, Board of Directors of the Multi-Ethnic Center for Ministry, and the Korean-American Mission of the Northeastern Jurisdiction (NEJ). He served as Chairperson of the Conference Commission on Religion and Race and the Multi-Ethnic Ministries Coordinating Committee.<br /> <br /> Upon his election to the episcopacy by the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 2004, Jeremiah was assigned as Resident Bishop of the New York Area and the NEJ Korean-American Mission. The Council of Bishops assigned him to serve on the National United Methodist Council on Korean-American Ministries and the Connectional Ministries Funding Patterns Task Force. After serving the New York Area for 8 years, he was assigned to the Harrisburg Area in July 2012.<br /> <br /> On February 16, 1974, Elizabeth (Lisa) Hyeja and Jeremiah were married. They emigrated to the US in 1976, and have two children: Cathy, who was married to George Wang in 2003, and Matthew.</p>
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Joseph Pennel

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Joe E. Pennel, Jr. is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He is a graduate of Lambuth College, and earned both M.A. and D.Min. degrees from Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Ordained deacon and elder by Bishop Marvin A. Franklin, Joe served parishes located in rural areas, university settings, inner cities, and the suburbs. The congregations ranged from 25 to 4500 and were all in the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences.</p> <p>Joe E. Pennel, Jr., was elected to the episcopacy by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in July of 1996 and assigned to the Richmond Area, where he served until his retirement in 2004.<br /> <br /> He has served as chair of the Board of Advisors for Vanderbilt Divinity School and the Candler School of Theology. He has been a member of the Board of Publications and has served the Tennessee Annual Conference as Chair of the Board of Pensions and the Committee on the Episcopacy.<br /> <br /> In addition to the local church, Joe has a strong interest in theological education, racial/ethnic issues, the emerging role of women in the Church and empowering the laity and spiritual formation. He currently serves in a faculty appointment to Vanderbilt Divinity School as Professor of Pastoral Leadership.<br /> <br /> Janene Dunavant and Joe were married in 1962; they are the parents of Melanie and Heather who are both married.</p>
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Jose Quipungo

Active

Africa

Angola East Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Jos&eacute; Quipungo is the Resident Bishop of East Angola Area, which includes the East Angola Conference in the Africa Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He is the son of Quipungo (King - Khunga Muxinda), and Elisa (Queen - Mbanza Mumbanda), both deceased, born in East Angola - Baixa de Cassange (kingdom of Khunga Muxinda), in X&aacute;-Muteba, Baixa de Cassange, then the province of Malange, and today known as Luanda North.<br /> <br /> Quipungo has been an active member of the United Methodist Church since he was a teenager. He served as Youth Director of the District of Quela. He was a student and an associate pastor in Rudge Ramos Methodist Church in Brazil, and he earned his degree in theology (Social Science and Religion) from the Methodist Institute of Higher Education, in S. Paulo, Brazil.<br /> <br /> He has served as deputy to the National Assembly of Angola, and served as pastor of Monte Sinai United Methodist Church in Luanda from 1999 until his election to the episcopacy. Previously, he served the Central United Methodist Church in Luanda for six years.<br /> <br /> He was elected to the episcopacy at the 9th Africa Central Conference of the Methodist Church in Maputo, Mozambique, in 2000. At the same time, he was appointed to preside at the Annual Conference of East Angola. &quot;I believe that the more united the Church is, the more prosperous it will be in terms of evangelization, health, and education.&quot;</p> <p>In 2004, Quipungo was re-elected to the episcopacy, and became a bishop for life at the 10th Africa Central Conference of the United Methodist Church in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 19, 2004. He was appointed as President of the Africa Central Conference for four years, continuing as leader of the East Angola Annual Conference.</p> <p>Quipungo is married to Laurinda Vidal Quipungo, a physician. Bishop and Mrs. Quipungo have three sons and two daughters, Ars&eacute;nio, Arez, Divino, Elisa and Esperan&ccedil;a, and three grandchildren.</p>
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Samuel Quire

Active

Africa

West Africa Central Conference

Liberia Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Samuel J. Quire, Jr. is the Resident Bishop of the Liberia Area, which includes the Liberia Conference in the West Africa Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born on September 5, 1959, to Samuel J. Quire Sr, and Lucy N. Keah in Garraway municipality, Grand Kru County, Liberia. He &nbsp;served as administrative assistant to Bishop.</p> <p>Quire holds a Master of Divinity from West Africa Theological Seminary in Lagos, Nigeria, and a Bachelor of Theology degree from the Gbarnga School of Theology in Gbarnga City, Liberia.&nbsp;</p> <p>Quire has served as pastor of Jasper Grant United Methodist, Ebenezer United Methodist Church &nbsp;in Monrovia and was director of the Bishop Judith Craig Children&rsquo;s Village.</p> <p>He was elected as a clergy delegate to the 2004 and 2016 General Conferences, the 2004 West Africa Central Conference, and the 2005 All Africa Conference of Churches.</p> <p>He and his wife, Richlain, are blessed with several children.</p>
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Sharon Rader

Retired

United States

<p>Sharon Zimmerman was born in Battle Creek, Michigan. She graduated from North Central College in 1961 with a B.A. degree in Elementary Education and taught in Michigan, Ohio and New Jersey. During that time she did graduate work at the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University. She later graduated from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. Adrian College conferred an honorary doctorate in 1989. She has been a trustee of Albion College, North Central College and Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.<br /> <br /> Sharon was ordained deacon in the Detroit Conference by Bishop Dwight Loder, and elder in the Northern Illinois Conference by Bishop Paul Washburn. She served as Pastor at Mayfair UMC, Chicago; Baseline UMC, Battle Creek, Michigan and University UMC, East Lansing, Michigan. From 1981-86 she was a member of the West Michigan Conference Program staff with responsibilities for Global Ministries, New Church Development and advocacy groups. At the time of her election to the episcopacy she was the Grand Rapids (Michigan) District Superintendent.<br /> <br /> Sharon was elected to the 1980 North Central Jurisdictional Conference and to the 1984, 1988 and 1992 General and Jurisdictional Conferences. She served on the General Council on Ministries (where she chaired the Division on Research, Planning and Futuring); the General Commission on Communications; the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry; and for two years worked for the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women as the developer of a Talent Bank of Women in the United Methodist Church.<br /> <br /> Sharon Zimmerman Rader was elected to the episcopacy by the North Central Jurisdictional Conference in 1992 and assigned to the Wisconsin Area. Bishop Zimmerman has served in the following roles:</p> <ul> <li>1996-2004 Secretary of the Council of Bishops.</li> <li>2004-2008 Executive Secretary for the Connectional Table.</li> <li>2008-2012&nbsp;Ecumenical Officer for the Council of Bishops</li> </ul> <p>She retired as an active bishop in 2008 and is currently Bishop-in-Residence at Garrett Evangelical Seminary.&nbsp;</p> <p>Sharon and Blaine Rader are the parents of Matthew and Mary, and the grandparents of Ethan and Abigail Rader and Jasper and Zimm Davis.</p>
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Harald Rückert

Active

Europe

Germany Central Conference

Germany Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Harald R&uuml;ckert is the Resident Bishop of the Germany Area, which includes the Germany Conference in the Europe Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in 1958 in Nuremberg where he grew up. After passing his university entrance examinations, he studied Food Technology at the TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan in Munich, before finding his way to the pastoral ministry of the United Methodist Church.&nbsp;</p> <p>After a twelve-month internship with the South Germany Annual Conference in Munich-Enhuberstrasse (now the Erl&ouml;serkirche), he studied Theology from 1980 to 1984 at the UMC Theological Seminary in Reutlingen (now Reutlingen School of Theology). Harald R&uuml;ckert gained his first experience as a pastor in local church ministry for the UMC from 1984 to 1988 in the Hof-Stammbach circuit, in north eastern Bavaria. He was also ordained during this period (1986). From 1988 onwards, he worked for 12 years as leading pastor in the Schweinfurt-W&uuml;rzburg circuit in north Bavaria, followed by ten years as Superintendent with responsibility for the Reutlingen District. From 2010 to 2017 he was leading pastor in the Erl&ouml;serkirche circuit in Reutlingen. &nbsp;</p> <p>Since starting his pastoral work in the Hof-Stammbach circuit, where he was responsible for launching the church congregation in Stammbach, R&uuml;ckert has looked in depth at issues of establishing churches, church leadership and development management. Advanced training courses on the management of social organisations and time management together with staff leadership and mentoring have qualified him to play a major role in developing and running the Church Leadership course. This course model provides probationary pastors in local church ministry with intensive mentoring during their second phase of training after completing their theology degrees. While Superintendent for the Reutlingen District, he also chaired the Committee for New Mission (later: church planting group) for church planting projects and activities involved in establishing new churches, also playing a major role in setting up and organising the Youth Church Karlsruhe.&nbsp;</p> <p>Besides his work in local church ministry and special ministry, Harald R&uuml;ckert was also involved in assignments and auxiliary activities in many areas of the UMC and also going over and beyond the UMC: &nbsp;</p> <h4><strong>In the UMC&nbsp;</strong></h4> <p>Since 1992 &nbsp;Member of the Germany Central Conference &nbsp;<br /> Since 1991 Delivering training courses for full-time ministers on church leadership and selfmanagement/burn-out prevention<br /> 2006-2010 Setting up and organising the Youth Church Karlsruhe as Chair of the Youth Church Group 2001-2010 Chair of the Committee for for New Mission (later: church planting group)<br /> 1991-1997 Developing and delivering the Church Leadership course for probationary pastors&nbsp;</p> <h4><strong>Ecumenical activities</strong></h4> <p>2005-2010 Member of the Board of ACK Baden-W&uuml;rttemberg<br /> 2000-2010 Member of the Delegates Assembly of ACK Baden-W&uuml;rttemberg&nbsp;</p> <h4><strong>Interreligious dialogue</strong></h4> <p>Since 2016 &nbsp;Free-church representative for the National ACK on the steering committee for the &raquo;Do You Know Who I am?&laquo; project (National ACK, Central Council of Jews in Germany and four national Moslem associations)&nbsp;</p> <h4><strong>Institutional Welfare</strong></h4> <p>Since 1987 &nbsp;Member of the Supervisory Board of the Martha-Maria Diaconal Work &nbsp;<br /> 2006-2010 Church Council Delegate on the Supervisory Board of the &raquo;Diaconal Works&laquo; Bethanien and Bethesda<br /> 2000-2012 Chairman of &raquo;Lebenszentrum Ebhausen e.V.&laquo; (after-care facility for people with addiction problems)&nbsp;</p> <h4><strong>International</strong></h4> <p>2016 Advisory member of the General Conference delegated by the Connectional Table<br /> 2010-2016 &nbsp;Member of the Connectional Table<br /> 2008, 2012 Delegate for the South German Annual Conference to the General Conference<br /> 1995 Two months pastoral ministry at the First United Methodist Church, Osceola, Arkansas, USA as part of the exchange programme run by the World Methodist Council&nbsp;</p> <p>Harald R&uuml;ckert is married; he and his wife have three grown-up children. &nbsp;</p>
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John Russell

Retired

United States

John Russell was born in Abilene, Texas. He did his college work at Oklahoma City University (B.A.); his alma mater honored him with a D.D. degree in 1968 and a distinguished alumnus award in 1980, where he was Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He holds a L.H.D. from Texas Wesleyan College (1987).<br /> <br /> John was ordained deacon and elder by Bishop W. Angie Smith, and became a full member of the Oklahoma Annual Conference after graduation from Perkins School of Theology. He did additional study at the Graduate Seminary at Phillips University where he also taught United Methodist polity.<br /> <br /> After serving relatively smaller churches, Dr. Russell spent twenty years as pastor of some of United Methodism&#39;s largest congregations (Village Church, Oklahoma City; First Church, Enid; Boston Avenue, Tulsa), with an interim appointment as District Superintendent of the Tulsa District.<br /> <br /> John Russell was delegate to the General Conferences of 1976 and 1980 and to the South Central Jurisdictional Conference of 1972. He was active in conference affairs, serving as Chairman of the Board of Ordained Ministry, as well as civic organizations. He gave the Britt Lectures in Honolulu in 1980. He was a member of the General Council on Finance and Administration; Board of Trustees, Southern Methodist University, and is on some boards at other institutions.<br /> <br /> The South Central Jurisdictional Conference elected John Russell to the episcopacy in 1980 and he was assigned to the Dallas-Fort Worth Area. In 1988 he was assigned to the newly created Fort Worth Area where he served until his retirement in 1992.<br /> <br /> Mary Jean Garrett and John Russell were married the day after Christmas in 1947, while both were still in college. They have two daughters: Mary Margaret (Mrs. William Layton) and Deborah Ann (Mrs. Louis Cordaro). Their son, John Garrett, died in 1982.
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Ruben Saenz

Active

United States

South Central Jurisdiction

Great Plains Episcopal Area

<p>Ruben Saenz Jr. is a native of South Texas and a lifelong United Methodist. He was elected bishop in 2016 at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference and assigned to the Great Plains Conference, based in Topeka, Kansas.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> In his role as an episcopal leader in Kansas and Nebraska, Bishop Saenz has led three former conferences through a unification process that began in 2014. Under his leadership, the conference focuses on the four pillars of a robust ministry and witness for Jesus Christ in the Wesleyan tradition: Love God; proclaim Christ; serve others, especially the poor; and seek justice.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Bishop Saenz is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, and a former high school teacher, high school football coach, and businessperson. He earned his master&rsquo;s of divinity and doctorate of ministry degrees from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. As a pastor, he focused his ministry on intentional spiritual practice and formation, developing a lay apostolate, and giving people the tools and encouragement to move out of generational poverty. He served congregations in East Dallas, Oak Cliff Dallas, El Paso, and Edinburg, Texas. El Buen Pastor &mdash; The Good Shepherd &mdash; in Edinburg, Texas, which was the largest Hispanic-American United Methodist Church in the country during his pastoral tenure.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> In 2010, he was appointed to serve as the Southwest Texas director of congregational and new church development, and he helped start 11 new churches before being named director of the conference connectional ministries and executive director of the Rio Texas Conference&rsquo;s Mission Vitality Center in January 2015. In that role, he oversaw the conference&rsquo;s missional strategies and objectives for congregational vitality, starting new churches, clergy, and lay leadership vitality, uniting people, and transforming communities.&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;<br /> He enjoys drawing and painting landscapes with various mediums, endurance cycling, and hi-intensity workouts, fishing and golfing, an aromatic and flavorful cup of coffee from various regions of the world, visiting new places, meeting new people, and watching NFL football. He has a growing interest in writing for publication, Meso-American civilizations, the Abraham Lincoln presidency, learning how to dismantle systemic &ldquo;isms,&rdquo; and conflict-resolution that reconciles, restores, and rebuilds community.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Bishop Saenz has been married to Maye for 39 years. They have four children, all of which are active in the life of the church. Two of his sons, Aaron and Ruben III, serve as pastors of growing congregations in the Rio Texas Conference. He and Maye have nine grandchildren.</p>
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Roy Sano

Retired

United States

Roy Sano was born in Brawley, California. His parents had emigrated from Japan, and were converted to Christ upon the death of their third child. When Roy was eleven years old, after the start of World War II, the family was sent to the Poston Relocation Center. The family moved to Pennsylvania, under the sponsorship of a Quaker family. It was during this time that Roy felt a call to the Christian ministry and accepted Christ. After World War II, the Sanos returned to California, and their family was reunited after the war. One brother served in the U. S. Armed Forces in the Pacific. Another brother, who had been adopted by a maternal uncle in Japan, served in the Japanese Imperial Army and was imprisoned in Siberia, before returning the U.S.<br /> <br /> Roy Sano&#39;s education includes a B.A. from the University of California at Los Angeles, an M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary, in New York City, an M. Th. from the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, and a Ph. D. from the Claremont Graduate University.<br /> <br /> He served in student pastorates, and upon his ordination he served in Loomis, San Jose, and Los Angeles. Later, Roy was the chaplain and taught at Mills College, Oakland, CA, and served on the faculty of Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA. From 1972-78 Roy was Director of the Pacific and Asian American Center for Theology and Strategies in Berkeley.<br /> <br /> Bishop Sano was elected to the Episcopacy in 1984, and served the Denver and Los Angeles Areas, until his retirement in 2000. He was assigned to several Boards and Agencies of the UMC. He was a delegate to five plenary session of the Consultation on Church Union, and to three Assemblies of the WCC. He was the President of the Council of Bishops, 1991-92; COB Liaison to Association of United Methodist Theological Schools, 2000-04; and served as the first Executive Secretary of the Council of Bishops from 2004-2008.<br /> <br /> He is married to Kathleen Thomas-Sano and his children are Topaz, Timothy, and Barton who is married to Sharon King, with grandchildren, Evan and Kira.
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Franz Schäfer

Retired

Europe

Franz Sch&auml;fer was born in Bottmingen, near Basel, Switzerland. He attended schools in his home town. He received his B.D. degree from the theological seminary of the Basel Mission and joined the Switzerland Annual Conference. He was ordained deacon and elder by Bishop Paul Garber.<br /> <br /> Between 1945 and 1951 Franz W. Sch&auml;fer served first the church at Berne and then at Baden; the next eight years he pastored the Lausanne congregation. In the years 1959-1966 he was appointed District Superintendent. He held a number of leadership positions on conference and church organizations during these years.<br /> <br /> On September 21, 1966, the Central Conference of Southern Europe elected Franz W. Sch&auml;fer to the episcopacy. He was assigned to the Geneva Area, which included Methodist work in ten diverse countries: Switzerland/France, Belgium, Austria (which belonged to Western democratic Europe) and Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria (which belonged to Eastern communist Europe), and also to mission work in North Africa.<br /> <br /> Due to his ministry in this multi-cultural and multi-national Area, Franz W. Sch&auml;fer received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Baldwin Wallace College. Due to his ecumenical activities between the churches in the eastern countries as well as between Western and Eastern Europe, he received the doctoris theolocicae honoris causa from the Theological Faculty of the University in Prague, Czechoslovakia.<br /> <br /> Franz W. Sch&auml;fer has been treasurer of the World Methodist Council and for four years was one of its presidents.
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Robert Schnase

Active

United States

South Central Jurisdiction

San Antonio Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Robert Schnase is a bishop of The United Methodist Church.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> He currently serves as the resident bishop of the R&iacute;o Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. &nbsp;He was assigned to R&iacute;o Texas in 2016 after serving twelve years as the bishop of the Missouri Annual Conference.&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Prior to his election as bishop in 2004, Schnase served for 15 years as senior pastor of First United Methodist Church, McAllen, Texas.&nbsp; The congregation became known for reaching younger generations, bicultural ministry, and for its extensive mission and outreach.&nbsp; He also served congregations in Harlingen, Texas and in Great Britain.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> A native of Texas, Bishop Schnase is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in Psychology. &nbsp;He received his Masters of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Bishop Schnase is the author of several bestselling books: <em>Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations</em>, <em>Five Practices of Fruitful Living, Practicing Extravagant Generosity</em>, <em>Seven Levers: Missional Strategies for Conferences</em>, and <em>Just Say Yes: Unleashing People for Ministry</em>.&nbsp; His latest book is a Revised and Updated Edition of the classic <em>Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations</em>.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Bishop Schnase chairs the board of directors of Wespath (formerly known as the United Methodist Board of Pensions). &nbsp;He served on the UMC Commission on a Way Forward.&nbsp; He is a frequent teacher and speaker at churches, conferences, and seminaries. &nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Schnase lives in San Antonio with his wife, Esther. &nbsp;They have two adult sons, Karl and Paul.</p>
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John Schol

Active

United States

Northeastern Jurisdiction

New Jersey Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop John R. Schol is the Resident Bishop of the Greater New Jersey Area, which includes the Greater New Jersey Conference in the Northeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>Bishop Schol was born and raised in a working class family in Philadelphia. It was here that faith and leadership were nurtured and strong values of hard work, honoring diversity, and grace were formed.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> He served congregations in Saugus, Mass., Philadelphia, Pa. and West Chester Pa. In each of his congregations worship grew, mission in the community expanded and new disciples were made.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> For 12 years, Bishop Schol served as the Executive Director of the Frankford Group Ministry in Philadelphia. This new and emerging cooperative ministry among four United Methodist Congregations went from one staff person to more than 50 staff positions. The organization led the community in developing better race relations, and provided social services, community arts and community economic development. During his ministry and after his leaving the United Methodist ministry in the Frankford community rehabilitated or built more than 200 housing units and served more than 20,000 people a year.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> In the 1990&rsquo;s he was the denomination&rsquo;s urban executive serving at the General Board of Global Ministries. He developed and led two initiatives, Communities of Shalom and Holy Boldness. The Communities of Shalom initiative started more than 1,000 sites globally and trained more than 5,000 people in church and community development. The Holy Boldness started an urban training and congregational development movement.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Bishop John Schol was consecrated a bishop in 2004 after 25 years of experience as a pastor, community developer and denominational executive. As a bishop he first led the Baltimore-Washington Conference where he led a turnaround of the conference toward health and vitality as he supported the growth of 272 congregations that became Acts 2 churches, which are bearing fruit in the areas of church membership, professions of faith, connectional giving and mission involvement. In 2012 he was assigned to lead the United Methodists in Greater New Jersey. Bishop Schol has assisted church leaders in developing and implementing a strategic plan to create vital congregations. Already the conference has or is near achieving its 2018 goals. During his leadership, the conference created new resources for clergy and laity including coaching and cohort groups, and Team Vital, a comprehensive resource for congregations on the path to vitality. A Future With Hope nonprofit corporation was also started to respond to Superstorm Sandy and the United Methodists have repaired more than 273 homes using more than 12,000 volunteers from 48 states who donated 300,000 hours of volunteer service and raised more than $17 million for this five year effort.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> He has also led conferences and congregations in international mission building churches, clinics, parsonages, orphanages and schools in Zimbabwe and Nigeria.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Bishop Schol received a bachelor&rsquo;s degree from Moravian College and a masters and doctors degree from Boston University. He has helped start six nonprofit organizations and has served on the boards of Sibley Hospital, American University (chaired the academic affairs committee), Wesley Theological Seminary, Jane Bancroft Foundation (founding president), The Board of Child Care, United Methodist Archives and History (chairperson), United Methodist Communications, Wesley Enhanced Living, United Methodist Communities, A Future With Hope, Drew University (chairs the School of Theology), Centenary College, The Pennington School, Moravian College, and the New Jersey Coalition for Diverse and Inclusive Schools, Inc.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Bishop Schol is married to Beverly Schol. They have three grown children, Mark, Kristin and Rebecca, and three grandchildren. His hobbies and interests include family, reading, running, photography and travel.</p>
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Beverly Shamana

Retired

Western Jurisdiction

San Francisco Episcopal Area

<p>Beverly J. Shamana is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>Beverly J. Shamana is a native of Los Angeles, California, and was raised with three younger siblings in Pasadena, CA, by her parents Sylvester and Charlene Martin. It was in the Metropolitan Baptist church of her childhood that she was nurtured in the faith, baptized by immersion, and made a personal commitment to Christ. This decision was deepened when her family joined the Lincoln Avenue Methodist Church in the community during her adolescent years.</p> <p>As a student of choral and piano performance in Pasadena schools, she pursued her love of music and earned a B.A. degree from Occidental College in Choral and Music Education in 1961. In Beverly&rsquo;s early career she taught public school choral and music history in Compton and Pasadena School Districts while directing church choirs for ten years. The ministry of the Ecumenical Institute of Chicago was established in the Los Angeles area where she became a participant through her local church, Grace UMC. During this time she established a retail/manufacturing knitting machine business in Pasadena.</p> <p>While serving as the Executive Secretary for the Commission on the Status and Role of Women in the Pacific and Southwest Conference in the mid-seventies, she answered God&rsquo;s call to ministry and entered Garret-Evangelical Theological Seminary, receiving her Master of pinity Degree in 1980. She was ordained deacon in 1979 by Bishop Charles Golden and elder in 1984 by Bishop Jack Tuell in the California-Pacific Annual Conference.</p> <p>From 1980-89, Beverly served multi-cultural churches in Los Angeles and Inglewood, CA, until her appointment to the Conference Council on Ministries as Associate Council Director for eleven years until she was elected to the episcopacy by the Western Jurisdiction in July 2000 with assignment to the San Francisco Area. She served two quadrennia each as an officer on the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (1976-1984) and the General Board of Publication (1988-1996). She was a delegate to six General and Jurisdictional Conferences from 1976 to 2000. Since 2004 she has served as President of the General Board of Church and Society and is a member of the Connectional Table.</p> <p>In 2002, Beverly traveled with the Council&rsquo;s peace delegation to Pakistan and the Middle East. She made an Episcopal visit to the West Angola Annual Conference and Africa University in October 2004, and in 2006, she spent January teaching at Drew Seminary as the Bell Scholar as the Bishop in Residence.</p> <p>Abingdon Press published her book,&nbsp;<em>Seeing In the Dark, A Vision of Creativity and Spirituality,&nbsp;</em>in 2001. Her book challenges the church to affirm the creative gifts as sacred pathways to a deeper companionship with God and a way to a more vital discipleship. Bishop Shamana continues to teach and create gourd art in response to Christ&rsquo;s call to active stewardship using all that we have been given. She enjoys playing the piano and other arts, writing, gardening, and preaching.</p> <p>Bishop Shamana has been married to Mr. Walter Woods since 2002.</p>
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Ann Sherer-Simpson

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Ann Brookshire Sherer-Simpson is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>She was born in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the daughter of Homer W. and Annie Jo Haigwood Brookshire. She holds an associate degree from Mars Hill Junior College (NC), a bachelor&#39;s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a master&#39;s degree from Andover Newton Theological School (MA), and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta. She received the Emory Medal in 1999 and a Doctor of Divinity degree from Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri, in 2000.</p> <p><br /> Ann was ordained deacon and elder in the Texas Conference. While in the Texas Conference, she served pastorates in White Oak, Texarkana, and at Westbury United Methodist Church in Houston. She also served as superintendent of the Nacogdoches District of the Texas Conference.<br /> <br /> She was elected to the episcopacy and consecrated at the 1992 South Central Jurisdictional Conference held in Forth Worth, Texas, and assigned to the Missouri Area where she served as Resident Bishop from 1992 to 2004. She was assigned to the Nebraska Area by the 2004 South Central Jurisdictional Conference, where she served until 2012.<br /> <br /> She was a delegate to General and Jurisdictional Conferences in 1984, 1988, and 1992. She was the chairperson for the Council of Bishops Initiative on Children and Poverty from 2000 until 2004. She served on The UMC General Board of Discipleship from 1997-2004 and served on the Book of Worship Committee from 1988 to 1992. From 1992 to 1996 she was president of the Commission on the Status and Role of Women. Shewas president of the UMC&#39;s General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. Sheserved asvice chair of the Board of Trustees of Saint Paul School of Theology, a curator of Central Methodist University, and a member of the boards of trustees of the Lydia Patterson Institute, Southern Methodist University and Nebraska Wesleyan University. She has visited churches and shared in mission in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Korea, Brazil, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, Finland, Nicaragua, Estonia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Middle East.<br /> <br /> Her children are Robbie, his wife Jennifer and their son Max; and Ann Marie Trammell, grandson&nbsp;Michael Brookshire Trammell.<br /> <br /> In 2009, Ann married Wayne Simpson.</p>
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F. Herbert Skeete

Deceased

United States

Bishop Skeete was born in the Harlem section of New York City. His childhood was spent in Barbados, West Indies, through high school. Following four years in the U.S. Air Force, Herb attended Brooklyn College, receiving a B.A. He served South Ozone Park Church of the New York Conference as he worked for an M. Div. at Drew University Theological School. He was ordained deacon and elder by Bishop Lloyd C. Wicke. Later, Herb received an S.T.M. from New York Theological Seminary and a D.Min., again from Drew. He has taken graduate work in social psychology at the New School for Social Research in New York City, and received honorary D.H.L degrees from Philander Smith College in 1983 and Jewish Theological Seminary of America, New York, in 1986. Also in 1986, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, bestowed a D.D. upon him. Africa University, Zimbabwe, added another in 1996.<br /> <br /> For eight years, Dr. Skeete was Pastor of Union United Methodist Church in Queens and then for the next twelve years was Pastor of Salem United Methodist Church &quot;in the heart of Harlem.&quot; He was elected a delegate to the General Conferences of 1972 - 1980 and to the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conferences 1968-1980. For eight years he was a member of the General Board of Global Ministries, serving as Vice-President of the National Division. He served eight years as a member of the Board of Higher Education and Ministry where he chaired the Division of Higher Education during the first four years, and served as President of the Board the next four years. He attended World Methodist Conferences in Denver, Dublin, Hawaii and Nairobi, and was a member of the Executive Committee for two years. He served another eight years with the Board of Global Ministries (1988-1996) as President of the Board 1992-1996.<br /> <br /> He has served as a trustee of Union Theological Seminary, New York; Drew University; and The American Bible Society. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Boston University, Gammon Theological Seminary and Africa University, Zimbabwe. He has been a popular religious radio commentator in New York City and moderated a monthly television program in Philadelphia. He enjoys carpentry, bicycling, camping, sports, reading and travel.<br /> <br /> F. Herbert Skeete was elected to the episcopacy at the 1980 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference and assigned to the Philadelphia Area for eight years. In 1988, he was assigned to the Boston Area for eight years. He retired in 1996. He served as interim pastor of St. Mark&#39;s UMC in Harlem, NYC (1997-1998) and continues to serve as Pastor Emeritus at Salem UMC in NYC. In 2002, Herb was reactivated by the Council to serve as Interim Bishop in Zimbabwe for a year.<br /> <br /> Shirley Clarissa Hunte married F. Herbert Skeete on October 4, 1952, while he was serving in the U.S. Air Force. Shirley and Herb have two sons, Michael (Linda) and Mark (Terri), and three grandchildren, Matthew, Ajani, and Andrew.
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Dan Solomon

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Dan E. Solomon is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Matador, Texas, in the heart of Texas ranch <font class="pearl-hilighted-word" style="color: white; background: rgb(153, 0, 153);">country</font> on December 15, 1936. His parents were lifelong Methodists, as were his ancestors. Lazarus Solomon, an Irish Jew, came to America and later served with George Washington. His son, John, was converted to Christianity by a Methodist Circuit Rider. John&#39;s first born, John Wesley Solomon, became the first Methodist preacher in a subsequent line of nine Methodist preachers.</p> <p>A graduate of Tulia High School, Dan E. Solomon graduated in 1958 from McMurry College, Abilene, Texas, B.A., (summa cum laude) and from Perkins School of Theology, M. p. (with honors) in 1961. He received the Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio, in 1973.&nbsp; Both McMurry University and Perkins School of Theology have recognized him as a &ldquo;Distinguished Alumnus.&rdquo;</p> <p>Following a year as an Associate Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Plainview, Texas, Dan E. Solomon became the organizing Pastor of St. Stephen United Methodist Church, Amarillo, Texas. Subsequent appointments were: St. John&#39;s, Corpus Christi; Kerrville District Superintendent; Travis Park, San Antonio; and First United Methodist, Corpus Christi.</p> <p>Solomon has chaired several General Conference legislative committees, as well as numerous Annual Conference boards and agencies. An author and lecturer, Solomon has been and continues to be active in civic and community work.</p> <p>He was elected to the episcopacy in 1988 by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference, and assigned to the Oklahoma Area. In 1996, he was assigned to the Louisiana Area. In the 1996 quadrennium he chaired the General Board of Global Ministries.</p> <p>Retiring in 2000, Solomon became Bishop in Residence at McMurry University.&nbsp; He also serves as President of the Texas United Methodist College Association.</p> <p>Golf, sports and exercise are primary relaxation pursuits. He has two sons and one daughter and five grandchildren.</p> <p>Dan and Marcia Solomon live in Abilene, Texas, where Marcia owns and operates MAS Business Service.</p>
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Leo Soriano

Retired

Philippines

<p>Bishop Leo A. Soriano is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He grew up in a parsonage, his father being a Methodist minister. When he was still a small boy, his father accepted the challenge of being assigned as one of the pastors in Mindanao, in the Southern Philippines, which was at that time, in terms of mission work, still considered a frontier area. His father, being a frontier pastor, could not send Leo to school, so Leo went to live with his grand aunt who supported his going to school from high school until he finished college. He entered the ministry, got married and finished seminary training at Union Theological Seminary, where he graduated cum laude and president of his class.<br /> <br /> After being assigned to several local churches, and with four toddlers, he entered a college of medicine to pursue his medical studies. He graduated from the College of Medicine, took his internship, and after passing the medical board exam opted to serve the poor and less privileged in the mountains and rural areas of war-torn Mindanao. After briefly serving as District Superintendent, he was assigned Person-in-Mission in Health Ministries of the Davao Episcopal Area. He also directed the mobile medical-dental clinic. He traveled to the villages in the mountains and depressed areas with his staff by horseback, motorcycle, walking, pump boat, paddle canoe, and carts pulled by caribou.<br /> <br /> He was assigned as administrative assistant to Bishop Paul Locke Granadosin the year before he was elected to the episcopacy in 2000. Re-elected for a second term in 2004, he was assigned to serve the Davao Episcopal Area (2001-2004 and 2005-2012).<br /> <br /> He is married to Dania Aben Soriano, and their four children are all grown up now: Hesed, a social worker; Nezer; a medical doctor; and twin brothers Omar (studying law) and Ronald (studying dentistry).</p>
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Robert Spain

Retired

United States

Robert Hitchcock Spain was born in Loretto, Tennessee. His parents, James Thomas Spain and Grace Hitchcock Spain, were both public educators. At the age of seventeen he joined the Navy and served in the South Pacific until the end of World War II. He began his education in Pre-med at the University of Tennessee. Upon changing his life&#39;s direction he attended the University of North Alabama, Vanderbilt Divinity School, and Scarritt College and received an Honorary Doctorate from Lambuth College. The earned degrees include B.A., M.Div. and M.A.<br /> <br /> As a student he served a circuit of five churches in Wayne County, Tennessee, a station Church in Springhill, and was the Conference Director of Youth Work. Since Divinity School there have been four church appointments: Livingston; Lebanon; Belle Meade in Nashville; Brentwood.<br /> <br /> For five years, he was the District Superintendent of the Nashville District. Bob Spain has been an active participant in his Annual Conference and the General Church. He was elected delegate to the General Conference five consecutive quadrennia and was the first elected the last four quadrennia. He served for eight years on the Board of Church and Society, eight years on the Board of Publications, and four years on the General Council on Ministries. He was a reserve member of the Judicial Council.<br /> <br /> At the time of his election to the episcopacy in 1988, he was the Senior Minister of the 3,200 member Brentwood United Methodist Church. At his consecration was Bishop Roy H. Short, who had ordained him both deacon and elder.<br /> <br /> He served the Louisville Area from 1988 to 1992, which comprises the Louisville and Kentucky Conferences and also the Red Bird Missionary Conference. He was retired in August, 1992 and began teaching clergy and laity through the Focus on Ministry seminar sponsored by The United Methodist Publishing House in Nashville. Upon the untimely death of Bishop Joseph B. Bethea in South Carolina, the SEJ College of Bishops assigned Bishop Spain to the South Carolina Conference. This assignment ended in August, 1996.<br /> <br /> In retirement, Bishop Spain serves as the chaplain at the United Methodist Publishing House.<br /> <br /> On May 14, 1948 Syble Mink and Robert Spain were married. They have two children, Mollie (Philip) Johnston and John Philip Spain. There are five grandchildren.
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C. Joseph Sprague

Retired

United States

Charles Joseph Sprague is a graduate of Ashland College (B.A.), the Methodist Theological School in Ohio (known at Methesco) (M.Div.), and is the recipient of honorary doctoral degrees from Kendall College, Ohio Wesleyan University, and the Chicago Theological Seminary. He is the recipient of the AFSC Courage of Conviction Award, the Rainbow Push Civil Rights/Peace Award, and the William Sloane Coffin Award for Justice and Peace. He is a co-author of a chapter in the seminary textbook, Pastor As Educator, and his book, Affirmations of a Dissenter, was published in December, 2002, by Abingdon Press.<br /> <br /> Recognized for emphasizing internal spiritual nurture and external mission and justice-seeking outreach as vehicles for congregational renewal, Sprague was senior pastor of North Broadway United Methodist Church in Columbus, Ohio when elected to the episcopacy in 1996 by the North Central Jurisdiction. Previously, he had served county-seat, inner city, and university congregations. Additionally, he was Executive Director of both the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Massachusetts Council of Churches. He has served as adjunct faculty at both Ohio United Methodist seminaries. Presently, he is a non-partisan organizer for voter registration in Ohio.<br /> <br /> Prior to his election to the episcopacy, he was a delegate to four General Conferences of the United Methodist Church and five North Central Jurisdictional Conferences. It was his motion that established Communities of Shalom at the 1992 General Conference.<br /> <br /> Elected to the episcopacy in 1996, Joe was assigned as Bishop of the Chicago Episcopal Area and the Northern Illinois Conference, Sept. 1, 1996, and completed his term of service there upon retirement, Sept. 1, 2004. Sprague served in the episcopacy after 27 years as a pastor and seven years as an ecumenical officer. He is known for combining biblical scholarship, personal piety, preaching and teaching with social justice ministries and commitments. Sought as a preacher and teacher, Sprague is a voice for peace, an inclusive church, racial justice and gender equality.<br /> <br /> Joe and Diane Sprague are the parents of four children who, with their spouses, have given them nine grandchildren.
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Elaine Stanovsky

Active

United States

Western Jurisdiction

Greater Northwest Episcopal Area

<p>Elaine JW&nbsp;Stanovsky was born in Vancouver, Washington, the fourth of five children&nbsp;of Edith and Robert Woodworth. She was baptized at First Methodist Church in Vancouver and made her profession of faith as a youth at First United Methodist Church in Bellevue, Washington.<br /> <br /> Elaine earned her BA degree summa cum laude from the University of Puget Sound and her M.Div. degree from Harvard Divinity School. Elaine was ordained deacon and elder in the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference, where she served pastorates at Kennydale and Crown Hill United Methodist churches in the Seattle area. From 1990 to 1995 she served as President/Director of the ecumenical Church Council of Greater Seattle. In 1995 she began her service as the Puget Sound District Superintendent. In 2002 she became the Director of Connectional Ministries and Assistant to the Bishop, a position she held until 2005 when she began her service as dean of the cabinet and superintendent of the Seattle and Tacoma Districts.<br /> <br /> Stanovsky was introduced to the global church in 1972, as a young adult observer for the Pacific Northwest Conference. She served as staff of the United Methodist Council on Youth Ministries in 1973-74, where she met Clint Stanovsky from the Central Texas Conference. She married Clinton in 1977, and together they have three sons: Walker Clinton Stanovsky, Micah Eli Stanovsky, and Carl Axel Stanovsky.</p> <p>Elaine was elected lay head of delegation to the 1976 General Conference while still in college. Clergy colleagues elected her their first delegate to general conferences in 1996, 2000, and 2004. After graduating from college she worked as a summer intern at the General Board of Global Ministries. She has served as a member of the General Council on Ministries, the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, and the General Board of Education and Ministry, as well as the Plan of Organization and Rules Committee of the General Conference. Elaine maintains strong ecumenical and interfaith commitments, including the Renton Ecumenical Association of Churches, the Washington Association of Churches, the Seattle Holocaust Conference, the Consultation on Church Union, and the World Council of Churches. She traveled to Russia twice with the Seattle-St. Petersburg Sister Churches Program.<br /> <br /> The Western Jurisdiction elected her to the episcopacy in 2008 and assigned her to the Mountain Sky (previously Denver) Area, comprising the Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone Annual Conferences. She is vice-chair of the General Board of Discipleship and chair of the Curriculum Resources Committee. In 2009 she represented The United Methodist Church on an interfaith peace mission to the Middle East with the National Interfaith Leadership Initiative.</p>
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Forrest Stith

Retired

United States

Forrest C. Stith is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.<br /> <br /> He&nbsp;was born in Marshall, Texas. He earned a B.S. degree in Education at the University of Nebraska and an M. Div. at Drew Theological School. He immediately became a Probationary Member of the Baltimore Annual Conference and was ordained by Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam.<br /> <br /> Forrest served Douglas Memorial Church, Washington, DC; he was ordained an elder by Bishop Oxnam. He served Sharp Street Church, Baltimore, MD, and became Executive Secretary of the Baltimore Conference Board of Missions and Church Extension and Associate Council Director for Outreach. Forrest became Conference Council Director and was named District Superintendent of Washington East District.<br /> <br /> At the 1984 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference, Forrest was elected to the Episcopacy. He was assigned to the New York West Area; and later was assigned to the New York Area in l992. Upon his retirement in 1996, he and his wife, Josephine, served the United Methodist Church of East Africa, providing episcopal oversight to areas of Uganda, Rwanda, and Southern Sudan, where the late Bishop J. Alfred Ndoricimpa was unable to travel because of political strife. Returning home in 2000, the Stiths served an interim pastorate of one and a half years at Gibbons Resurrection United Methodist Church, Brandywine, MD.<br /> <br /> Forrest holds honorary degrees from Western Maryland College (D.D., 1979) and Nebraska Wesleyan University (D.D., 1986). He has provided leadership to the church, the community, and to the world. Included are the following: COSROW (1984-88), Vice President of GCFA (1988-92) and President 1992-96). He chaired the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Decade--Churches in Solidarity with Women-- for four years.<br /> <br /> In retirement, Forrest continues to study, to teach, to lecture, and to preach. He serves as Bishop in Residence at Asbury United Methodist Church, Washington DC; he is President of the proposed African American Methodist Heritage Center. He is a Life Member of BMCR and serves on the Board of Directors of Cameron Grove Community in Upper Marlboro, MD, where he and Josephine live.<br /> <br /> The Stith&#39;s daughter, Lori Stith Robinson, and her husband, Mark, live in Maryland.
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Thomas Stockton

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Thomas B. Stockton is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Winston Salem, NC. His twin brother, Richard, was born 15 minutes earlier, so the story goes. After receiving an A.B. degree at Davidson College, he attended Duke University Divinity School, where he received a Master of Divinity Degree.</p> <p><br /> He was received into the Western North Carolina Annual Conference on trial and ordained deacon and elder and received into full connection in the Western North Carolina Conference. He served Central Methodist Church in Charlotte for a summer and then he was appointed to Thrift Methodist Church which he served for four years. He then became the Minister of First Methodist Church in Reidsville, North Carolina, before moving to the Dilworth Methodist Church in Charlotte, followed by a move to Central United Methodist Church in Asheville and on to Myers Park United Methodist Church, Charlotte. He moved to Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, High Point, where he served until he was elected to the episcopacy July 12, 1988. He was assigned to the Richmond Area, and retired in 1996. He now serves as Bishop in Residence at High Point University.<br /> <br /> He served for one quadrennium on the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and has served various Boards and Agencies in the Annual Conference as well as serving as Trustee of several Colleges and Homes in the Western North Carolina Conference. He served two quadrennia on the General Board of Discipleship as Chairperson of the Curriculum Resources Committee, and two quadrennia as Vice Chair of Evangelism.<br /> <br /> Jean Stevens and Tom Stockton were married in Winston Salem, August 22, 1953. They have three children, Lisa Stockton Howell, Thomas B. Stockton, Jr., and Shannon Stockton Miller.</p>
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Patrick Streiff

Active

Europe

Central and Southern Europe Central Conference

Central and Southern Europe Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Patrick Ph. Streiff is the Resident Bishop of the Central and Southern Europe Area, which includes Central and Southern Europe Central Conference in the Europe Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Birsfelden near Basel (Switzerland). Having graduated school in Birsfelden and Muttenz, he studied at the Theological Seminary of the United Methodist Church in Reutlingen (Germany) and at the University of Bern (Switzerland). Later he did a doctorate (equivalent to Ph.D.) on John William Fletcher.</p> <p>Patrick Ph. Streiff was ordained elder in the Annual Conference Switzerland-Franceof the United Methodist Church. He served as pastor in Lausanne-Vevey, Neuch&acirc;tel and Biel/Bienne, located in the French-speaking part of Switzerland respectively on the border to this region. From 1998 to 2004 he was part-time director of the &ldquo;Centre M&eacute;thodiste de Formation Th&eacute;ologique&rdquo; in Lausanne (Switzerland), and from 1992 to 2004 he served as lecturer of modern Christian history at the University of Lausanne. His activities beyond the local church also included leadership functions on behalf of the European Section of the World Methodist Historical Society, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the Historical Commission of the United Methodist Church in Europe. He served as clergy delegate to General Conference in 1996, 2000 and 2004 and was consultant for theological education and for the Advisory Committee to the Bishops in Cambodia.</p> <p>Patrick Ph. Streiff was elected bishop of the United Methodist Church in Central and Southern Europe in 2005. He succeeded Heinrich Bolleter and assumed his office on May 1, 2006. His area covers twelve countries in Europe (Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Macedonia, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Switzerland) and two countries in Africa (Algeria, Tunisia). Besides his service in this very diverse Episcopal Area, Patrick Ph. Streiff is chairperson of the &ldquo;Geneva Consultation&rdquo; for theological education and leadership development in French-speaking Methodism (especially in Africa) and of the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters. In addition he is a member of the Connectional Table, of the Study Committee on the Worldwide Nature of the United Methodist Church, of the Task Force of Theological Education and Leadership Formation and of the Task Force &ldquo;God&rsquo;s Renewed Creation: A Call to Hope and Action.&rdquo;</p> <p>In 1979, Heidi Albrecht and Patrick Ph. Streiff were married. They have four children: Rahel Esther, Corinne Simone, Manuel Andreas and Myriam Ruth.</p>
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James Swanson

Active

United States

Southeastern Jurisdiction

Mississippi Episcopal Area

<p>James Edward Swanson Sr.&nbsp;is the resident bishop of the&nbsp;Mississippi Conference of The United Methodist Church. His tenure began Sept. 1, 2012, with his first public appearance one day earlier to the conference&rsquo;s Seashore District.&nbsp;He went there to be with those affected by Hurricane Isaac.&nbsp;The hurricane made landfall on August 28, 2012, causing additional devastation to Mississippi coastal communities recovering from Hurricane Katrina seven years earlier.</p> <p>Swanson listened to the people of Mississippi and discovered values deep within their hearts&mdash;love, generosity, justice and apprenticeship&mdash;thus, becoming the Core Four Values of the Mississippi Conference.&nbsp;It is from this Core Four that the churches seek to center their unique ministries. However, none of these values are accomplished alone.&nbsp;Swanson travels the Mississippi Conference&nbsp;teaching, &ldquo;We are one Church in 1,030 locations.&rdquo;</p> <p>His contagious spirit of hospitality, a determination to excel at being &ldquo;the you&rdquo; God created each person to be and spirited preaching has helped bring life, laughter and light to congregations in the Mississippi Conference and beyond.&nbsp;He continues to emphasize that winning people to Christ requires risk-taking love, and crossing old boundaries to discover where the Holy Spirit is at work. He is modeling with the extended cabinet how coaching can revolutionize ministry. Cabinet members and other conference groups meet for two eight-hour sessions each month to be trained in&nbsp;loving, learning and leading.&nbsp;Because of this coaching, Swanson continually asks Mississippians about their &ldquo;glory sightings&rdquo;&mdash;where they see God at work.</p> <p>Swanson was elected a bishop of&nbsp;The United Methodist Church&nbsp;during the 2004&nbsp;Southeastern Jurisdiction Conference. He was assigned to the&nbsp;Holston Conference&nbsp;where the episcopal office is located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Swanson served the&nbsp;Holston Conference&nbsp;for eight years. Under his leadership, the Sudan Mission initiated. The number of United Methodist congregations in Sudan grew from three to 30 between 2006 and 2012. A residential home for Sudan&rsquo;s district superintendent was built and used as a training site for clergy and laity of South Sudan. Plans were laid for Holston to raise funds for the campaign,&nbsp;Imagine No Malaria&nbsp;to prevent and treat the deadly malaria disease in Sub-Saharan Africa. The campaign resulted in $1.2 million dollars.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Swanson serves as the president of the&nbsp;General Commission of United Methodist Men&nbsp;for 2017-2020. He was re-elected to the post following his service for 2012-2016. Swanson is a member of the&nbsp;International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities (IAMSCU).&nbsp;He serves on the board of trustees for Emory University, Rust College and Millsaps College.&nbsp;He is also the chairman of the board of trustees at Gammon Theological Seminary.</p> <p>Swanson is a sought after preacher, workshop leader and lecturer.&nbsp;He has presented to people in Japan, Korea, Brazil, Russia, Estonia, Chile, Canada, the Holy Land, Egypt, Liberia, Sudan, Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe and throughout the United States.</p> <p>Bishop Swanson is the son of the late Carl Swanson and Arnola Triplett. He is married to Delphine Yvonne Ramsey Swanson. They have the joy of being parents to six adult children, Karen Latrese Swanson Jones married to Earl Jones Jr.; James Edward Swanson Jr. married to Yaki Bryant Swanson; Shondell Swanson married to Angela Drain; Carlton Eugene Swanson married to Ivis Rosario; Janae Evonne Swanson Brown married to Vernon and Joshua Emile&rsquo; Swanson married to LaShay.&nbsp;The Swansons are blessed with 15&nbsp;grandchildren.</p>
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Mary Ann Swenson

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Mary Ann McDonald&nbsp;Swenson is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>She was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She was raised in Jackson, Mississippi, where she was active in Sunday school, youth group, and choir at Capitol Street United Methodist Church. She graduated from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and received a Doctor of Ministry degree from the School of Theology at Claremont.<br /> <br /> Mary Ann was ordained both deacon and elder by Bishop Wilbur Choy. She served as Associate Pastor of Claremont United Methodist Church in Claremont, California; Pastor of Orchards United Methodist Church, Vancouver, Washington; District Superintendent of the Puget Sound District, Pacific Northwest Conference; Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church, Wenatchee, Washington. She also served as Youth Director for St. Luke&#39;s UMC, and Capitol Street UMC in Jackson, Mississippi, Elma UMC and Mason UMC in the PNW Conference and Claremont UMC in Claremont, California.<br /> <br /> Mary Ann served as Dean of the Cabinet, PNW Conference. While assigned to First UMC Wenatchee, she also was President of the Board of Directors of the Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence Center, and served on the North Central Washington AIDS Coalition. She has served as a director of the General Board of Discipleship and General Board of Global Ministries, where she also was the Chair of the Committee to Eliminate Institutional Racism, and the Committee on Personnel and Nominations. She was an elected PNW Conference delegate to General and Jurisdictional Conferences in 1980, 1984, 1988 and 1992.<br /> <br /> Mary Ann Swenson was elected to the episcopacy by the Western Jurisdictional Conference in 1992 and assigned to the Denver Area. During her tenure there she served again with the General Board of Discipleship and as President from 1996-2000. In 2000, she moved to the California-Pacific Annual Conference and began to serve with the GCFA, including President of GCFA.<br /> <br /> Mary Ann McDonald married Jeff Swenson on August 31, 1968. On their 25th wedding anniversary, the Swensons received a tandem bicycle. Since that time they have become avid riders, completing a California coast tour in 1994, an Oregon coast tour in 1995, Washington State tour in 1996, and riding to and from Annual Conference sessions. In the summer of 1998 they rode across the United States from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, covering 4059 miles in 58 days. In the California-Pacific Conference, they frequently ride to Sunday services wherever Mary Ann is preaching.</p>
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Melvin Talbert

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Melvin G. Talbert is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>Born in Clinton, Louisiana, Talbert was one of seven children of sharecropper parents, Florence George and Nettles. He was married to Ethelou Douglas for thirty-eight years prior to her death in February 1999. Talbert has one daughter, Evangeline Violet, married to James H. Sifford, Sr. They have three children: Kaetlin, James, Jr. and Melvin Douglas. Talbert married Marilyn W. Magee April 1, 2000.<br /> <br /> After attending public schools and working various jobs, Melvin received a BA degree from Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA, and an M.Div. degree from Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC)/Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, GA. While at ITC, Talbert became President of the student body during his middler year, while serving a two-point charge in Tennessee. He was ordained Deacon by Bishop Willis J. King, Jr., and was ordained Elder by Bishop Gerald H. Kennedy. After serving as interim at St. John&#39;s (Watts), Associate at Wesley, Los Angeles, and Pastor at Hamilton, Los Angeles, Melvin was named Associate Council Director, Southern California-Arizona Conference. One year later, he was appointed District Superintendent for the Long Beach District. In 1973, Melvin was elected General Secretary for the General Board of Discipleship, Nashville, where he served until he was elected to the episcopacy in 1980 and was assigned to the Seattle Area. He was assigned to the San Francisco Area in 1988, where he retired August 31, 2000.<br /> <br /> Talbert was visiting professor of Evangelism at Claremont, 1978. He was a delegate to General Conference from 1968-80, and was a member of the Social Principles Commission, 1968-72. He is a trustee and Chair of the Board at Gammon, and at various times served as trustee at University of Puget Sound, Claremont School of Theology, and Pacific School of Religion. His civil rights protest experiences impacted his life profoundly, and he takes pride in having spent three days and nights in jail with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He is a sports enthusiast, loves camping, a hacker golfer, and plays a little guitar.<br /> <br /> Melvin was a member of the General Council on Ministries, and was Chair of its Missional Priority Coordinating Committee 1976-84; a member of the General Commission on Religion and Race, 1980-88, and served as its President 1983-88; and a member of the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns 1988-96 and 2000-04. He was a director of the National Council of Churches (NCCCUSA) from mid 1970s August 2004, and served as its President 1996-97. He was a member of the World Methodist Council Executive Committee, and the World Council of Churches Central Committee (its Executive Committee and Finance Committee). He was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus of his seminary in 1990. He was Secretary for the Council of Bishops (COB) for two quadrennia 1988-92 and 1992-96, during which time he carried the title Head of Communion. Talbert was one of forty Presidential Guests to accompany US President Bill Clinton on his peace pilgrimage to Northern Ireland and Ireland December 1995, and has visited the White House on several occasions representing the NCCCUSA and the Council of Bishops. Talbert was Ecumenical Officer for the Council of Bishops 2000-04, and served as Interim Executive Director of Black Methodists for Church Renewal, Inc.</p>
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Mary Virginia Taylor

Active

United States

Southeastern Jurisdiction

Holston Episcopal Area

<p>Mary Virginia Taylor is the Resident Bishop of Holston Area, which inclues the Holston Conference in the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>Called Dindy by her friends and family, she was born in Washington, DC. She moved on her fifth birthday to Atlanta, Georgia, and at nine she joined the church on profession of faith, making Decatur First United Methodist Church her church home.</p> <p>After earning her Bachelor&#39;s Degree from the University of Georgia, Dindy completed her Master of Divinity degree at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. It was at Candler that she met Rusty Taylor. They were married in June of 1973 and began serving as a clergy couple. They were ordained deacons in 1974 and elders in 1976.<br /> <br /> Dindy served for 30 years as a member of the Holston Conference. It was in her fifth year as Cleveland District Superintendent that she was elected to the episcopacy in July, 2004, by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. On September 1, 2004, she became the first woman to serve as Resident Bishop of the Columbia Area (South Carolina Annual Conference) in the United Methodist Church. After serving the Columbia Area for 8 years, she was assigned to the Holston Area in 2012.<br /> <br /> Bishop Taylor has served six times as a delegate to the United Methodist General Conference and to the Jurisdictional Conferences. During those 20 years, she served on the General Council on Ministries and the General Board of Church and Society. She has been the chairperson of the Holston Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and the chairperson of the Conference Council on Finance and Administration. In September 2004, Bishop Taylor was elected to serve as president of the General Commission on Status and Role of Women.<br /> <br /> The Taylors are parents to two daughters: Mandy, who is married to Kyle Young, and Tiffany.</p>
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Solito Toquero

Retired

Philippines

<p>Bishop Solito K. Toquero is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in a small barrio in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. He graduated from Wesleyan University-Philippines with an A.B. degree and earned his Bachelor of Divinity degree from the Union Theological Seminary-Philippines (UTS), magna cum laude. He earned his D.Min. degree from Christian Theological Seminary.<br /> <br /> Solito entered the ministry as a pioneer among Ilocano settlers in a virgin forest in Aurora, Philippines. He served there for four years while taking his AB degree from Wesleyan University. He was then assigned to several local churches in central and southern Luzon while finishing his degree from UTS. Upon his return from the United States, where he finished his D.Min. degree, he became the field person for the Theological Education for Extension Program in UTS, supervising seminars and lectures all over the country. He also served as Field Education Director for two years at UTS, then returned to the local church as administrative pastor in Bulacan and Manila. He was sent as a missionary to Hong Kong, SAR, P.R. of China and ministered to more than a thousand overseas Filipino workers for more than four years.<br /> <br /> Solito was elected to the episcopacy in 2001, assigned to the Manila Episcopal Area, and was reelected in 2004. He served the Connectional Table as the President of the Commission on Archives and History. He retired from the active episcopacy in 2008.<br /> <br /> On April 12, 1970, Alegria J. Hembrador and Solito K. Toquero were married. They have been blessed with two children: Mervin Sol and Armen Ria; and one granddaughter: Awit.</p>
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Pedro Torio

Active

Philippines

Baguio Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Pedro M. Torio Jr. is the Resident Bishop of the Baguio Area, which includes Central Luzon Philippines, Hundred Islands, North Central Philippines, Northeast Luzon Phillipines, Northeast Philippines, Northern Philippines, Northwest Philippines, Pangasinan Philippines and Tarlac Phillipines conferences in the Philippines Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was elected to the episcopacy in 2012.</p> <p>He currently represents the Philippines Central Conference in the Commission on Central Conference Theological Scholarship and Continuing Education Financial Assistance Funds for the Baguio Episcopal Areas. He is also the bishop assigned to the Philippines Central Conference Division of Ordained Ministry, Council on Finance and Administration, and the University Senate. He presently leads the University Senate in developing the first Accreditation Standards for United Methodist theological education institutions.</p> <p>During the 2016 General Conference, he was nominated and voted director of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries for 2017-2020.</p> <p>His passion for evangelism and church planting led to the creating of 28 new local churches in the Baguio Area during the 2013-2016 quadrennium.</p> <p>Torio has a rich background in education, having served as dean at both World Citi College and Aldersgate Divinity School, vice president for Academic Affairs at the University of Eastern Pangasinan, and as a visiting professor at Wesley Divinity School and John Wesley College Divinity School. He has served as president of the United Methodist Youth Fellowship in the Philippines at the district, conference and national level, and ministering to young people is still a high priority for him today.</p> <p>He holds a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology from Duke University Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Divinity School.</p> <p>Torio and his wife, Joyce, have four children.</p>
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Julius Trimble

Active

United States

North Central Jurisdiction

Indiana Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Julius C. Trimble was assigned, July 16, 2016, to the Indiana Episcopal Area or Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church &ndash; (INUMC), by the 184 delegates of the 2016 North Central Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church in Peoria, Illinois. He was elected and consecrated a bishop by the same jurisdiction in 2008 and served eight years as the resident bishop of the Iowa Conference of The United Methodist before his current assignment to INUMC.</p> <p>Trimble, a native of Chicago and a graduate of Illinois State University earned his Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Chicago, Ill., and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary in Ohio.</p> <p>Ordained a deacon and elder in the Northern Illinois Conference of The United Methodist Church, he served two churches in his home conference before receiving an appointment in and transferring his membership to the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church (EOCUMC).</p> <p>During his ministry in EOCUMC, Trimble served churches in the Cleveland area and as the Superintendent of the Cleveland District from 1996-2003. He later served as the Assistant to the Bishop (Chief of Staff) to Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton from 2003 until his election to the episcopacy in 2008.</p> <p>Trimble has preached throughout the United States, Africa, and the Holy Land. He is also the recipient of many honors and awards including the Outstanding Alumni Award in 1998 from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, as well as the 2007 Bishop James S. Thomas Social Action Award from the Methodist Federation for Social Action at Lakeside, OH.</p> <p>As a general superintendent (bishop) of the Church, he continues to promote faith-based responses to domestic violence, as well as encourages the establishment of mental health ministries at the local church and conference level. He is also an active advocate for social justice, faith-based initiatives to address gun violence, as well as immigration reform.</p> <p>In 2015, his book,<em>&nbsp;A Faithful Church, and a Healthy World: Reflections and Poems</em>, was published by the Iowa Conference of The United Methodist Church to support The United Methodist Church&#39;s ongoing-initiative Imagine No Malaria. Additionally, in 2015, he received the Peace and Justice Award from the Iowa Conference Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA).</p> <p>During the December 2017 Advent Commencement of United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, Trimble delivered the commencement address and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in recognition of his exceptional spiritual leadership, compassion for all people, and powerful witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Ohio-based seminary noted his engagement in faith-based work to address social justice issues, as well as his work of advocacy for the United Methodist Global Health Initiative, especially in the efforts, make the world malaria and AIDS-free.</p> <p>Bishop Trimble married First Lady Racelder Grandberry-Trimble, a professional counselor and graduate of Methodist Theological School in Ohio, in May 1978. The couple has three adult children: Cameron, Candiace (Herman Wake), and Julius Thomas.</p> <p>Bishop Trimble&#39;s personal mission statement is &quot;to encourage all people with the love of Jesus Christ to rise to their highest potential&rdquo; or &quot;Be Encouraged&quot; for short.</p>
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Gabriel Unda

Active

Africa

Congo Central Conference

Eastern Congo Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda has been re-elected as a United Methodist bishop by delegates at the Congo Central Conference meeting.</p> <p>Unda was the first bishop elected&nbsp;March 18 at the quadrennial meeting in Kamina, Democratic Republic of Congo. On the first ballot, he received 277 of 287 votes cast. He was elected from the East Congo Episcopal Area, and will continue to serve that area.&nbsp;</p> <p>He was first elected bishop in 2012 after the East Congo Episcopal Area was created by General Conference.&nbsp;Now that he has been re-elected, Unda will serve as bishop for life.</p> <p>In his first term, Unda concentrated on rebuilding sanctuaries destroyed during war, but his focus now will&nbsp;be on building a skills center for women.</p> <p>&ldquo;Women suffered the most during my area&rsquo;s civil war and the center&nbsp;would equip them with training to improve their lives.&nbsp;When you heal a woman, you heal children and the nation too,&rdquo; Unda said.</p> <p>During his tenure as bishop, Unda has overseen a part of the Congo that has experienced recurring violence since 1998, with millions dead or displaced from their homes. Geographically, the East Congo Conference is the largest in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The area defined by this conference encompasses the provinces of Maniema and North and South Kivu to the east &mdash; bordering Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda &mdash; and Oriental and Equateur across the northern part of the country &mdash; which borders South Sudan and the Central African Republic. The episcopal offices are in the city of Kindu, the capital of Maniema Province.</p> <p>Unda has worked with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tnumc.org/congowomenarise/" target="_blank">Tennessee, Memphis and California-Pacific&nbsp;Conferences to collaborate on &ldquo;Congo Women Arise&rdquo;</a>&nbsp; &mdash; an initiative to address the needs of rape survivors in a location often called the &ldquo;rape capital of the world.&rdquo; Research reports&nbsp;<a href="http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/rape-victims-find-help-at-united-methodist-churches" target="_blank">that 12 percent of the country&rsquo;s women have been raped</a>&nbsp;at least once and that 48 women are raped every hour.</p> <p>Unda has been working to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/east-congo-tribes-of-pygmies-face-discrimination" target="_blank">evangelize the indigenous people known as pygmies</a>, as well as get them better access to education and health care.</p> <p>Unda is the youngest child in a family of six.&nbsp; His mother died when he was 8 months old and he grew up under the care of missionaries.&nbsp;He studied theology in Mulungushi.</p> <p>His wife died 10 years ago, and he has eight surviving children.</p>
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Hans Växby

Retired

Europe

Hans V&auml;xby was born in N&auml;ssj&ouml;, Sweden. He became a preparatory member of the Sweden Annual Conference, and moved to Finland after his marriage in 1968. He was ordained elder in the Finland Swedish Provisional Annual Conference. Before his election to bishop in April, 1989, he served local churches in Jakobstad and Borg&aring;.<br /> <br /> Having served twelve years (maximum according to term rules in Northern Europe) in the Baltic and Nordic Area, he reassumed his annual conference membership, and served as a local church pastor for four years. In February, 2005, he was elected to the episcopacy a second time, and served the Eurasia Area through 2012.<br /> <br /> Hans is married to Kaija-Rooka, who was born in Helsinki, Finland. She is a United Methodist pastor, and member of the Finland Swedish Provisional Annual Conference. The V&auml;xbys have two sons: Anssi and Henri.
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Debra Wallace-Padgett

Active

United States

Southeastern Jurisdiction

Birmingham Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett is the resident Bishop of the Birmingham Episcopal Area. She was elected a Bishop of the United Methodist Church at the 2012 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference and assigned to the North Alabama Conference (Birmingham Episcopal Area) effective September 1, 2012.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> At the time of her election, she was the lead pastor of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Lexington, Kentucky &mdash; an appointment she served for eight years. During her tenure, St. Luke UMC grew in membership, strengthened its infrastructure, built a $4.5 million Ministry Life Center and launched a multi-cultural worship service. Her previous service in the Kentucky Conference includes six years as District Superintendent, three years as pastor of Paris First United Methodist Church and 11 years on staff at Lexington First United Methodist Church.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> She is a graduate of Berea College (B.A. in Physical Education), Scarritt College and Graduate School (M.A. in Christian Education), Lexington Theological Seminary (M. Div.) and Asbury Theological Seminary (D. Min.).<br /> &nbsp;<br /> She has served in a variety of roles in the Kentucky Annual Conference, Southeastern Jurisdiction and the General Church including:</p> <ul> <li>Kentucky Conference Board of Ministries Methodist Home Board chair</li> <li>Kentucky Conference Education chair</li> <li>Kentucky Episcopacy Committee chair</li> <li>District Committee On Ministries / Local Pastors&#39; team chair</li> <li>Primary Task Team Children and Poverty Board</li> <li>Delegate, General Conference, 2012, 2008, 2004, 2000</li> <li>Delegate, Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, 2012, 2008, 2004, 2000</li> <li>Delegate, World Methodist Council</li> <li>Director, General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, 2004-20012</li> <li>Member, Southeastern Jurisdiction Episcopacy Committee</li> <li>President General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, 2012-2016</li> <li>Member of the Commission on a Way Forward, 2016-2019</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;<br /> She currently the chair of the standing Committee on Evangelism for the World Methodist Council and a member of the Council of Bishops&rsquo; Executive Committee as Council Life Chair.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Bishop Wallace-Padgett is married to Rev. Lee Padgett, a retired deacon in the United Methodist Church. They are the parents of two young adult, Leanndra and Andrew.<br /> &nbsp;</p>
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Daniel Wandabula

Active

Africa

East Africa Episcopal Area

<p>Daniel A. Wandabula is the Resident Bishop of the East Africa Area, which includes the Kenya/Ethiopia, Uganda/South Sudan, Burundi, and Rwanda Provisional conferences.</p> <p>He was born in Jinja town, Uganda, East Africa. He was raised in a Methodist devoted Christian home. Bishop Wandabula is presently pursuing a Beeson International Leaders Doctor of Ministry Degree Program at Asbury Theological Seminary. He has earned both a Master of Theological Studies degree as well as a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. He was ordained an elder in the Methodist tradition in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1994, by Bishop Zablon Nthamburi.</p> <p>Daniel has served as: Project manager, Methodist Youth Association (Jinja); Administrative Secretary: Methodist Church in Uganda; Senior Pastor: Bugembe Methodist Church (Jinja); Associate Minister: Ebenezer Africa Methodist Episcopal Church, Evanston, IL; and Dean of District Superintendents and Co-coordinator of Church and Project Development in the United Methodist Church in Uganda and New Sudan. He initiated the organization of Church Healthy Ministries, a faith-based mobile clinic that reaches out to the needy communities and patients with HIV/AIDS. This initiative has encouraged patients to share, and live positively. At the same time it has opened the minds of individuals, families and communities to rally behind HIV/AIDS patients.<br /> <br /> Daniel A. Wandabula was elected to the episcopacy on May 27, 2006, at a special session of the East Africa Annual Conference held at Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe. He serves that conference, with an office based in Uganda.<br /> <br /> Bishop Wandabula is married to Betty Wandabula, and they have two daughters.</p>
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Hope Ward

Active

United States

Southeastern Jurisdiction

Raleigh Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Hope Morgan Ward is the Resident Bishop of the North Carolina Conference - Raleigh Area in the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>A native North Carolinian, she was raised on the Morgan family farm in northeastern North Carolina in the community of Corapeake. Her home church, Parkers United Methodist Church, is on a three point charge.</p> <p>Graduate of Duke University and Duke Divinity School.</p> <p>Met spouse Mike on a volunteer in mission workteam to Bolivia in 1975. They were married in 1977.</p> <p>Together, they served as teaching parents at the Methodist Home for Children in Raleigh, North Carolina.</p> <p>She has served as a youth director, Christian educator, pastor, Director of Connectional Ministries and district superintendent in the NC Conference.</p> <p>She was elected to the Episcopacy in July, 2004 and assigned to the Mississippi Conference in 2004 and 2008. In 2012, she was assigned to the North Carolina Conference.</p> <p>Served as president of the General Board of Global Ministries and as president of JustPeace, which is the Center for Mediation and Conflict Transformation of the UMC. She now serves on the General Board of Church and Society and is the bishop assigned to give oversight of the Vietnam Mission Initiative.</p> <p>Her spouse, Mike Ward, is an educator. He has been a high school teacher, coach, principal, and local school superintendent. From 1997-2004, he served as North Carolina State Superintendent of Public Instruction, an elected position. Mike is on the faculty of NC State University, consults across the United States on education, and is an advocate for children.</p> <p>She and Mike have two children and four grandchildren. Brooke Morgan Ward and her husband, Derek Taira, grandson, Morgan, and granddaughter, Nyla, live in Hawaii where they are on the faculty of the UH-Manoa in Honolulu. Jason Ward and his wife, Alison Greene, and grandsons, Amos and Theo, live in Atlanta, Georgia. Jason teaches history at Emory and Alison teaches at Candler.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> She and Mike enjoy sailing and other seaside joys, jogging, and reading.</p>
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B. Michael Watson

Retired

Southeastern Jurisdiction

<p>Bishop B. Michael Watson is a retired Bishop in The United Methodist Church. He previously served&nbsp;as the Ecumenical Officer of the Council of Bishops from 2016-2020.</p> <p>He was born into an active Methodist family in Dothan, Alabama. After graduating from Dothan High School, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and real estate from The University of Alabama, a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University&#39;s Candler School of Theology, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Vanderbilt University. He was ordained deacon by Bishop W. Kenneth Goodson and elder by Bishop Carl J. Sanders.</p> <p>As a member of the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference, Mike Watson served as pastor of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino, Florida, and as pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Milton, Florida. He was appointed to start a new congregation in his hometown, where he served as founding pastor of Covenant United Methodist Church from 1979-1990. From 1990 until his election to the episcopacy in 2000, he served as the pastor of Dauphin Way United Methodist Church in Mobile, Alabama.<br /> <br /> Dr. Watson also served as president of the Mobile County School Board, which is the largest school system in the state of Alabama with more than 66,000 students and nearly 8,000 employees. He served as chairperson of his conference Board of Ordained Ministry, chairperson of the conference Three-year Covenant Community for Spiritual Formation, chairperson of the steering committee of the Southeastern Jurisdiction&#39;s larger church consultation, a member of the Emmaus Community, a trustee of several colleges, a member of Emory University&#39;s Clergy Advisory Council, president of two civic clubs, president of The University of Alabama alumni chapter, president of the ministerial union, board member of the United Way, Boys Club, Girl Scouts, Red Cross, and Inner City Mission.<br /> <br /> A delegate to World Methodist Conferences in Singapore (1991) and Brazil (1996), he is currently a member of the World Methodist Council and a member of the United Methodist National Youth Ministry Organization.<br /> <br /> Benjamin Michael Watson was elected to the episcopacy by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 2000 and was assigned to the South Georgia Area. He served there until 2008, when he was assigned to the North Georgia Area.<br /> <br /> Margaret Lee married Benjamin Michael Watson on June 16, 1973, at First United Methodist Church, Dothan. Margaret and Mike have two children: Benjamin (Ben) Lee Watson and Elizabeth Margaret Watson and three grandchildren.</p>
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Peter Weaver

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Peter D. Weaver is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist. He is also a former president of the Council of Bishops.</p> <p>He was born into a parsonage family in Greenville, PA. He received degrees from West Virginia Wesleyan (B.A.), Drew University (M.Div.), and Boston University (Th.D.) and honorary degrees from Albright and Lebanon Valley Colleges.<br /> <br /> Ordained deacon and elder in the Western Pennsylvania Conference, he served the Whitaker United Methodist Church, Smithfield United Church, and First United Methodist Church of Pittsburgh. Inclusive ministries with urban youth, the poor, industrial workers, the homeless, the arts, young adults, and older adults were developed during these pastorates with a focus on &quot;making disciples of Jesus Christ.&quot; During these years, Pete served on many community Boards, was adjunct faculty for Drew and Pittsburgh Theological Seminaries, produced weekly radio programs, and helped found Bethlehem Haven for Homeless Women and &quot;One Voice Against Racism.&quot; He was a delegate to the 1984-1996 General Conferences and chair of the Mission Division of the General Council on Ministries.<br /> <br /> Elected to the episcopacy in 1996, Peter Weaver served the Philadelphia Area (Eastern Pennsylvania and Peninsula Delaware Conferences) from 1996-2004. During this time, more than thirty new congregations were started, and he helped found &quot;Good Schools Pennsylvania,&quot; focusing on public education reform. In 2004, he was assigned to the Boston Area (New England Conference) which is &quot;focusing on being &quot;Transformed by the Holy Spirit, united in trust, and boldly proclaiming Christ to the world.&quot;<br /> <br /> Pete was the first President of the Council of Bishops to be nominated by the &quot;discernment process&quot; and elected for a two-year term (2004-2006). He has also served on the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, and the General Board of Global Ministries. He has been an active member on the Boards of five colleges and universities and has worked with Jim Wallis and others to &quot;Make Poverty History.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Weaver daughters and families include: Rebecca Hope Schelling and her husband, Brad, and daughter, Emory Grace; Sarah Joy Park and her husband, Jin, and daughter, Audrey Miseon; and Rachel Faith Weaver.<br /> <br /> Pete is married to the former Linda Sells.</p>
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Mark Webb

Active

United States

Northeastern Jurisdiction

Upper New York Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop Mark J. Webb is the Resident Bishop of the Upper New York Area, which includes the Upper New York Conference in the Northeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was elected Bishop in 2012 and assigned to serve as the Episcopal leader of the Upper New York Area effective September 1, 2012. &nbsp;</p> <p>Bishop Webb holds a M. Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Shippensburg University. He also holds a graduate certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Connecticut. At the time of his election to the episcopacy, Bishop Webb was serving as District Superintendent of the York District of the Susquehanna Conference.</p> <p>Bishop Webb served pastorates at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Mechanicsburg, Pa. from 1994-2007, St. Paul&rsquo;s United Methodist Church, Wormleysburg, Pa. from 1991-1994, and Linglestown United Methodist Church from 1989-1991.</p> <p>He received the Harry Denman Evangelism Award in 2002.</p> <p>Bishop Webb was a delegate to General and Jurisdictional Conference in 2004, 2008, and 2012. He previously served as a director of The Board of Discipleship and a member of the Northeastern Jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy. &nbsp;</p> <p>He currently serves the General Church as President of Discipleship Ministries and as a member of the Connectional Table. Bishop Webb serves as the secretary of the Northeastern Jurisdiction College of Bishops and as a Trustee of United Theological Seminary. Bishop Webb was named as one of the top 100 leaders by the John C. Maxwell Transformational Leadership Award in 2018.</p> <p>Bishop Webb encourages working together to develop strategies and outcomes that will bear fruit. He has a passion for leadership development, New Faith Communities, and ensuring existing congregations grow in vitality and fulfill the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ.</p> <p>Bishop Webb is a native of Williamsport, Pa., and is married to Jodi. They have two sons, Tyler (who is married to Lyndsay) and Benjamin.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Spouse:</strong>&nbsp;Joy Dianne Webb<br /> <br /> <strong>Children:</strong>&nbsp;Tyler James Webb - 18, Benjamin David Webb - 16</p> <p><strong>Education and Honors:</strong><br /> Asbury Theological Seminary, Master of Divinity, 1989<br /> Shippensburg University, Bachelor of Science, Sociology, 1986</p> <p><strong>Ministry:</strong><br /> Assigned to Upper New York Area (Upper New York Annual Conference), effective Sept. 1, 2012.<br /> Superintendent, York District, Susquehanna Conference, 2007-Present<br /> Pastor, Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Mechanicsburg PA., 1994-2007<br /> Pastor, St. Paul&#39;s United Methodist Church, Wormleysburg, Pa., 1991-1994<br /> Associate Pastor, Lingelstown United Methodist Church, 1989-1991</p> <p><strong>Membership:</strong><br /> Susquehanna Annual Conference</p> <p><strong>Other:</strong><br /> Delegate, General Conference, 2012, 2008, 2004<br /> Delegate, Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference, 2012, 2008, 2004<br /> Director, General Board of Discipleship, 2004-2012<br /> Hymnal Revision Committee, 2009<br /> Board of Ordained Ministry Congregational Vitalization Team Sessions Committee<br /> District Superintendency Committee, Chair<br /> Order of Elder Chair<br /> Bishop&#39;s Visioning Task Force<br /> Commission on Equitable Compensation<br /> Episcopacy Committee, Vice Chair<br /> Conference Board of Trustees<br /> Committee on Loans<br /> Conference Leadership Visioning Team<br /> Camp Dean<br /> Conference Council on Youth Ministries<br /> District Youth Coordinator</p>
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Rosemarie Wenner

Retired

Europe

Germany Central Conference

<p>Bishop Rosemarie Wenner is a retired Bishop in The United Methodist Church. She is also a former president of the Council of Bishops.</p> <p>She was born in and grew up in Eppingen, nurtured by a small UMC congregation in southern Germany. She studied at the United Methodist Theological Seminary in Reutlingen and served as pastor of congregations in Karlsruhe-Durlach, Hockenheim and Darmstadt-Sprendlingen before her appointment as superintendent of the Frankfurt District in 1996.<br /> <br /> In February 2005, she was elected bishop at the Germany Central Conference in Wuppertal - the first woman elected to the United Methodist episcopacy outside of the United States.<br /> <br /> Bishop Wenner is married to Tobias Wenner and they live in Nussloch, Germany.</p>
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Timothy Whitaker

Retired

United States

Timothy W. Whitaker was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi. He was graduated summa cum laude from Millsaps College with a B.A. degree and summa cum laude from Candler School of Theology at Emory University with an M.Div. degree. He has received honorary doctorates from Bethune-Cookman College and Florida Southern College.<br /> <br /> Tim was ordained deacon by Bishop Edward Pendergrass in the Mississippi Conference and elder by Bishop Mack Stokes in the Mississippi Conference. Later, he transferred to the Virginia Conference where he served rural, town, suburban and center city congregations. He served as Chair of Evangelism, President of the Board of Discipleship, Vice-President of the Board of Global Ministries and Chair of the Division of Elders on the Board of ordained Ministry in the Virginia Conference. While he was Superintendent of the Norfolk District he became the only person elected to the episcopacy in a special session of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference held in February, 2001. He was assigned to the Florida Area.<br /> <br /> While he was active in both annual conference and community affairs, especially in services to the mentally handicapped and the homeless, he has pursued life-long learning in historical theology with a special interest in patristics.<br /> <br /> On March 20, 1971, Melba Jarvis and Tim Whitaker were married. They are the proud parents of Eric and Scott Whitaker. Scott is married to Michele Wroblewski and they have a son, Thor.
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C. Dale White

Retired

United States

Son of Daniel Columbus and Anna Frances Holladay White, Dale was born in Sac City, Iowa. He received his B.A. from Morningside College. While attending Boston University School of Theology (S.T.B.), he served Calvary Church in New port, Rhode Island. Ordained both deacon and elder by Bishop John Wesley Lord, Dale White joined the New England Southern Conference and served the appointments in Hingham and Stoughton; during this time he completed work on a Ph.D. at Boston University.<br /> <br /> In 1961 Dale White became Associate General Secretary of the General Board of Christian Social Concerns and served in this capacity for seven years. He then was appointed to East Greenwich, Rhode Island, and after three years was designated District Superintendent of the Rhode Island-Eastern Massachusetts District of the Southern New England Annual Conference.<br /> <br /> Dr. White published over 150 articles, pamphlets and curriculum units, primarily on issues which require an interpretation of ethical, psychological, and theological data. He was editor of Dialogue in Medicine and Theology and for a number of years he wrote a column for Teens in Together and United Methodists Today. His most recent book is Making a Just Peace: Human Rights and Domination Systems (1998: Cokesbury). In 1966 he was a delegate to the U. N. Population Conference in Yugoslavia and was lecturer at the 1967 International Church and Society Conference in Germany. He was a delegate to the 1972 and 1976 General Conferences and is a member of World Methodist Council. His honors include the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Boston University School of Theology; the Academy of Distinguished Alumni of Boston University Graduate School; the Doctor of Ministry degree from Morningside College; and the Doctor of Humane Letters, Centenary College.<br /> <br /> In 1976 C. Dale White was elected a bishop by the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference and he was assigned to the New Jersey Area. In 1984 he was assigned to the New York Area. Bishop White is a former director of the General Board of Global Ministries. He is also a member of the Board of Center for Theology and Public Policy, Pax World, the International Coordinating Committee for Religion and the Earth, and Population Communications International.<br /> <br /> Bishop White retired September 1, 1992, at which time he undertook responsibilities as Consultant to the General Board of Global Ministries, World Division, coordinating the Africa Advocacy Project. For two years he directed the Urban Gardening Demonstration Project at the Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville. For four years he was pastor of St. Paul&#39;s UMC in Newport, RI.<br /> <br /> On August 25, 1946, Gwen Horton and Dale White were married. They are the parents of six children: Lisa Lynn, Teresa Anne Pendl, David Norman, Rebecca Ruth Blair, Gerald Wesley (deceased), and Hazel Lescalleet, a foster daughter.
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Woodie White

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop Woodie W. White is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>A native of New York City, Woodie White graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in New York. He attended Paine College in Augusta, Georgia. While attending Boston University School of Theology (S.T.B.) he served a pastorate in Worchester, Massachusetts. He then became a probationary member of the Detroit Annual Conference and was appointed as Associate Pastor and later, pastor, at East Grand Boulevard Methodist Church in Detroit. Subsequently, he began two years as Urban Missioner for the conference&#39;s work in Metropolitan Detroit.<br /> <br /> With the establishment of a General Commission on Religion and Race by The United Methodist Church in 1968, Woodie W. White became its first General Secretary, serving in that capacity until 1984 when the North Central Jurisdictional Conference elected him to the episcopacy and he was assigned to the Illinois Area (1984-1992). Bishop White was assigned to the Indiana Area in 1992, and he retired there in 2004. He is now serving as Bishop-in-Residence at Candler School of Theology, Emory University.<br /> <br /> Bishop White holds honorary doctoral degrees from Adrian College, Rust College, McKendree College, Illinois Wesleyan University, McMurry College and Evansville University. He holds numerous other honors, including a Distinguished Alumni Award from Boston University. He was on a four-person task force to examine racism and race relations in Australia and New Zealand for the Committee to Combat Racism of the World Council of Churches. He participated in preaching missions in Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. He has written extensively for denominational and ecumenical periodicals and is coauthor of Racial Transition in the Church, Confessions of a Prairie Pilgrim, and Conversations of the Heart.<br /> <br /> Woodie and Jennie May &quot;Kim&quot; Tolson While have four daughters: Kimberly Yvette, Hope Angela, Valerie Elizabeth, Sharon Denise; one son, Bryan Michael, and two grandchildren.</p>
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D. Max Whitfield

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop David Max Whitfield is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Izard County, Arkansas. His educational background includes a BSA from Arkansas State University, an M.Div. from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist and a D.Min. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from McMurry University.<br /> <br /> He entered college with a determination to work in agricultural business and earned his bachelor&#39;s degree in that field. While still in college, he heard and responded to God&#39;s call to enter ordained ministry. Upon finishing his seminary degree, he returned to his native state of Arkansas to carry out his ministry. He served congregations in Eureka Springs, St. Paul&#39;s Parish in Harrison, Cherry Valley-Vanndale change, First UMC, Bella Vista, First UMC, Russellville, and First UMC, Springdale before being appointed District Superintendent in the North Arkansas Conference.<br /> <br /> He married Judy Leonard in 1967. From their union came three children: Kevin L., Rodney C., and Karen D. (Maleare). Judy died in August of 1991. Max met Valerie Vaughn and they were married on June 18, 1993, and they incorporated their children into one family.<br /> <br /> D. Max Whitfield was elected to the episcopacy by the South Central Jurisdiction to the Episcopacy in 2000, and was assigned to the Northwest Texas/New Mexico Area. He served on the Board of Directors of the General Board of Global Ministries, General Commission on Religion and Race and the General Board of Discipleship. He has also served on the Board of Directors of numerous institutions.</p>
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Richard Wilke

Retired

United States

Richard Byrd Wilke is a native of El Dorado, Kansas, son of Clarence and Pearl Byrd Wilke. He received degrees from Southern Methodist University, where he was president of the student body and Phi Beta Kappa; Yale Divinity School, receiving the senior preaching award; and Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, summa cum laude. He has received additional honorary doctoral degrees from Southwestern College, Asbury Theological Seminary, and Dubuque Theological Seminary. Other honors include the Phillip Award for evangelism, the Boy Scout Silver Beaver award, and October 2005, the Alumni Award for Distinction in Ordained Ministry from Yale Divinity School.<br /> <br /> Dick served thirty years in ministry in Kansas, serving rural, suburban, and university churches. He preached for eleven years at First United Methodist Church in Wichita.<br /> <br /> Richard Wilke was elected to the episcopacy in 1984 by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference and was assigned to the Arkansas Area. He served that Area for twelve years, retiring in 1996. He currently is Bishop in Residence at Southwestern College. He and Julia have established the Foundation for the Institute for Discipleship at Southwestern.<br /> <br /> His book, And Are We Yet Alive? with the study videotape generated much discussion on issues surrounding the decline in membership of the United Methodist Church. Other books include: Signs and Wonders; Tell Me Again, I&#39;m Listening; Our Father and The Pastor and Marriage Group Counseling. He and Julia coordinated, designed and wrote the Disciple Bible Study. Disciple is now impacting churches across America and around the world.<br /> <br /> Bishop Wilke has traveled in South America, Africa, Europe, South East Asia and the Near East. He is widely known as a speaker and preacher, often serving as conference preacher and keynote speaker at regional and national meetings.<br /> <br /> Julia Kitchens married Richard Byrd Wilke on June 20, 1953. The Wilke&#39;s have four children: Stephen (Beth Richardson) parents of Krista Ranby, Katie Wilke, Joel and Julie; Paul (Janelle Dreier) parents of Michelle and Matthew; Susan (Robert Fuquay) parents of Julie, Sarah and Anna; and Sarah, Publisher of the Upper Room.
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William Willimon

Retired

United States

<p>Bishop William Willimon is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>He was born in Greenville, South Carolina. He has degrees from Wofford College, Yale Divinity School, and Emory University. Ten colleges and universities have given him honorary degrees.</p> <p>He was ordained elder in the South Carolina Conference and served churches in Georgia and South Carolina. He joined the Duke Divinity School faculty in 1976 where he served as professor and taught courses in liturgy and homiletics. Twice he has been guest professor at universities in Germany. He is the author of more than sixty books, some of which have been translated into six different languages. Over a million copies of his books have been sold. In 2004 a group of homileticians published a book that examines Will&#39;s preaching, Peculiar Prophet: Will Willimon and the Art of Preaching.<br /> <br /> In 1984 he was named Dean of the Chapel at Duke University, a post that he held for twenty years before being elected to the episcopacy by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 2004. He served the Birmingham, Alabama area.<br /> <br /> Patricia (Patsy) Parker and Will Willimon were married in 1969, and Patsy and Will have two married children, Harriet Willimon Putman, a social worker in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and William Parker Willimon, a development officer at the University of Georgia in Athens.</p> <p><strong>Publications:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=1214910&amp;rank=1&amp;txtSearchQuery=William+Willimon" target="_blank">Resident Aliens</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=1189684&amp;rank=2&amp;txtSearchQuery=William+Willimon" target="_blank">Incarnation</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=1096718&amp;rank=3&amp;txtSearchQuery=William+Willimon" target="_blank">CEB Common English Wesley Study Bible, DecoTone</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/search.aspx?ddlSearchScope=author&amp;txtSearchQuery=William+Willimon" target="_blank">Complete List</a></p>
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Richard Wills

Retired

United States

<p>Richard &quot;Dick&quot; Wills was born in Texas, graduated from Florida Southern University with a B.S. in psychology and received his M. Div. from Candler School of Theology, Emory University. He was granted honorary doctorates from both Bethune-Cookman College and Florida Southern College.<br /> <br /> Dick accepted Christ and felt the call to be a pastor while in the seventh grade in South Houston, Texas. His family moved to Miami, and Dick was ordained in the Florida Annual Conference as a deacon and as an elder. For 18 years he served as senior pastor of Christ Church United Methodist in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. It was while serving there a friend suggested he attend the World Methodist Evangelism Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. This was the beginning of a spiritual renewal in his life that deeply affected his life and leadership in the church. In 2000 Dick authored the book, Waking to God&#39;s Dream.<br /> <br /> On June 12, 1965, Dick married Eileen Willis. They have four children and ten grandchildren. Eileenserved as theprincipal of Andrew Jackson Elementary School in Old Hickory, Tennessee.<br /> <br /> Dick was first elected a delegate to the General Conference in 1988 and then to successive General Conferences, 1992-2004. Twice he was the head of the conference delegation. In 2004 the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference elected him to the episcopacy and he was assigned to the Nashville Area.</p> <p><strong>Publications:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=1208480&amp;rank=1&amp;txtSearchQuery=Richard+Wills" target="_blank">Waking to God&#39;s Dream - eBook [ePub]</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=754774&amp;rank=2&amp;txtSearchQuery=Richard+Wills" target="_blank">Martin Luther King, JR., and the Image of God</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=438442&amp;rank=3&amp;txtSearchQuery=Richard+Wills" target="_blank">Waking to God&#39;s Dream</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=439502&amp;rank=4&amp;txtSearchQuery=Richard+Wills" target="_blank">Waking to God&#39;s Dream - eBook [Adobe]</a></p>
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Joe Wilson

Retired

United States

Joe Wilson, a grandson descendent of one of the first circuit riders in East Texas, was born in Newton, Texas. His family moved shortly thereafter to Orange, Texas, where he completed high school. He attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, receiving a B.A. degree, Perkins School of Theology at SMU, where he was awarded a Masters of Theology and Drew University, where he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree. His doctoral project was on &quot;The Nurture and Spiritual Formation of the Laity through Care Ministry.&quot;<br /> <br /> His first appointment upon graduation from seminary was the United Methodist Church in Calvert, Texas. He then moved to Tyler to pastor Asbury United Methodist where he led the congregation in the building of a new sanctuary. He served Rosebud UMC and Highlands UMC for three years each. In 1972 he was assigned to the League City United Methodist Church in Houston&#39;s Space Center, where he spent six years of ministry and built a new sanctuary. He moved to First United Methodist Church of Lake Jackson in 1978 and served this congregation for six years. Dr. Wilson then spent two years as the Texarkana District Superintendent before being appointed Area Provost (a cabinet position which included the responsibilities of Executive Director of the Annual Conference, Administrative Assistant to the Bishop and Chief Operations Officer of the United Methodist Center). In 1991-2 he was appointed Senior Pastor of Marvin United Methodist Church in Tyler, Texas.<br /> <br /> He has served on and chaired numerous conference, jurisdictional, general and world councils and boards, and has been honored with the distinguished Alumni Award from both Southwestern University and Perkins School of Theology.<br /> <br /> Zoe Strickland and Joe Wilson were married in 1959. Zoe and Joe have two children -- Mari, who lives in Austin with husband Richard, and Paul, who lives in Georgetown. They have five grandchildren.<br /> <br /> Joe Wilson was elected to the General and Jurisdictional Conference delegations of the Texas Conference in 1988 and 1992. He was elected bishop by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference in 1992 and was assigned to the Fort Worth Area, where he served for eight years before retirement in September, 2000. Zoe and Joe now live in Georgetown, Texas, where he serves as Bishop-in-Residence at Southwestern University, Texas&#39; oldest university.
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John Yambasu

Deceased

Africa

Sierra Leone Episcopal Area

<p><img src="/files/tables/contacts/2463383/files/bishop-john-k-yambasu-obituary-1200px.jpg?width=700" /><br /> <br /> Bishop John K. Yambasu was the Resident Bishop of the Sierra Leone Area, which includes the Sierra Leone Conference in the West Africa Central Conference of the United Methodist Church.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/newsdetail/bishop-john-yambasu-of-sierra-leone-dies-in-road-accident-14155464" target="_blank">Bishop Yambasu was killed in a road accident on August 16, 2020.</a></p> <p>Born in southern Sierra Leone, Yambasu studied at United Methodist mission schools. He was ordained a deacon in 1987 and an elder in 1990. He served churches in Moyamba and Freetown until he began to focus on Christian education and youth ministry.</p> <p>A graduate of Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Yambasu taught in many schools, including the denomination&#39;s Harford School for Girls in Moyamba. He also was the Sierra Leone Conference&#39;s director for Christian education and youth ministries and founded the Child Rescue Centre in Sierra Leone, serving as its executive director until he became a regional missionary in 2000.</p> <p>He and his wife, Millicent, have five children&nbsp;&mdash; Rebecca, Adima, John, Emmanuel and Elizabeth.</p>
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Joseph Yeakel

Retired

United States

Born in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, Joe Yeakel attended the Pottsville, Pennsylvania, public schools. His matriculation to Lebanon Valley College was interrupted by a tour of duty with the United States Navy Seabees, returning to Lebanon Valley College from which he graduated with an A.B. degree.<br /> <br /> He served the Gardners-Mt. Victory Charge near Mt. Holly, Pennsylvania, during his senior year in college. He attended United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio (M.Div.), serving as a student Assistant Pastor at the Euclid Avenue EUB Church in Dayton.<br /> <br /> He became a member of the Central Pennsylvania Annual Conference of the former Evangelical United Brethren Church as a probationary member, and was ordained an elder by Bishop George Edward Epp. He was Assistant Pastor at Otterbein Church in Hagerstown, Maryland; Pastor at Messiah Church in York, Pennsylvania; and Memorial Church in Silver Spring, Maryland.<br /> <br /> In 1963 he was elected Assistant General Secretary of the Board of Evangelism with offices in Dayton, Ohio. In 1965 he became the General Secretary of the Board and at the time of church union in 1968, he became the General Secretary of the Board of Evangelism of The United Methodist Church.<br /> <br /> The Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference elected him to the episcopacy in 1972. He administered the New York West Area, 1972-84, and the Washington (DC) Area 1984-1996. He retired on August 31, 1996.<br /> <br /> From 1972-1980 and 1988-1996 he served on the General Board of Church and Society, and as President 1976-1980 and 1992-1996. In 1980-88 he served on the General Council on Finance and Administration, and as its President 1984-88. He was President-Designate of the Council of Bishops (1991-92) and President of the Council of Bishops (1992-93)<br /> <br /> Lois Josephine Shank and Joe Yeakel were married while Joe was a college student. They have five children: Claudia Jo (McIntyre), Joseph Douglas Yeakel, Joanna Irene (Drushal), Mary Jo (an elder in the Ohio West Conference), and Jody Lucille (Kampmeier). There are twelve grandchildren.
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David Yemba

Retired

Africa

Congo Central Conference

<p>Bishop David Kekumba Yemba is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church. He also serves as the Chancellor of Africa University and one of the moderators of the Commission on a Way Forward.</p> <p>He was born in Dungu, the Democratic Republic of Congo. He graduated from Universit&eacute; Libre du Congo with Licence en Th&eacute;ologie (Distinction) and from Universit&eacute; de Strasbourg with Docteur-&egrave;s-Science Religieuse.</p> <p>David was ordained deacon and elder in the Central Congo Annual Conference by Bishop John Wesley Shungu. He combines both academic and pastoral activities in his Christian ministry. He taught Systematic Theology in many institutions of higher learning, including Africa University where he served as founding Dean for almost fourteen years, with a certificate awarded for ten years of pioneer service to the University. Before moving to Africa University in Zimbabwe, he served also as Dean and then as President of the Protestant Interdenominational Seminary in Kinshasa for twenty one years. David Yemba is author of several articles in theological journals and of various church documents and reports.<br /> <br /> As to pastoral ministry, he served as chaplain of Katubue United High School and as one of the pastors of the International Protestant Parish of Kinshasa. He was Administrative Assistant to the Bishop in the West Congo Annual Conference. David was elected delegate to the Africa Central Conference in 1972, 1980, 1984 and 1988 and to the General Conference in 1992. He also served as member of the African Church Growth and Development Committee of the GBGM.<br /> <br /> The Congo Central Conference elected him to the episcopacy on February 12, 2005. He was re-elected in 2008.<br /> <br /> In addition to teaching and administrative duties, David has served as member of the following learning societies and national institutions: National Executive Board of Bible Society in the Congo, Oxford Institute of Methodist Studies and Editorial Board of Quarterly Review with, for the latter, a certificate of recognition awarded. He was elected President of the Association of Theological Institutions in Franco<font>phone</font>&nbsp;Africa, Vice President of the World Methodist Historical Society for Africa and Moderator of Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Church, 1998 &ndash; 2006. He was recently elected National President of Civile Society of Churches and Religious Confessions in the Congo and, in that capacity, Vice President of the National Board of Ethics and Election.<br /> <br /> Henriette K&rsquo;Untu and David K. Yemba were married on August 24, 1969, at Wembo Nyama Mission. They have five children: Rosalie Ogar, H&eacute;l&egrave;ne Ngoy, Emmanuel Yemba, Joseph Yemba and Benjamin Yemba. They also have three grandchildren: Alexandra Ogar, David Ogar and Jonathan Ngoy.</p>
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John Yohanna

Active

Africa

West Africa Central Conference

Nigeria Episcopal Area

<p>Bishop John Wesley Yohanna is the Resident Bishop of the Nigeria Area, which includes the Central Nigeria, the Northern Nigeria and Southern Nigeria conferences in the West Africa Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.</p> <p>Yohanna was elected in 2012 at Bishop Baughman Memorial United Methodist Church.</p>
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