Grant J. Hagiya is a bishop in the United Methodist Church, having been elected to that position in 2008. [1]
Bishop Hagiya was born 3 January 1952 in Chicago, Illinois and is a third-generation Japanese American (Sansei). He is married to Janet, a high school librarian, and has 3 children, Alexis (Education Coordinator at the University of Southern California), Jamie (A professional basketball player), and Trent (Finishing his undergraduate degree). [2]
He loves all sports and holds a Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt) in Kenpo Karate, having studied since he was in Jr. High School.
Bishop Hagiya received his B.A. in Psychology from San Jose State University in 1974. He received a Master of Arts in Religion from the Claremont School of Theology in 1976, and a Master of Religion and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Claremont in 1977. He attended the Graduate Theological Union from 1978, and finished his coursework for the Ph.D. in theological ethics, but had to take a leave of absence before the dissertation in order to fulfill his role as the Chairperson of the National Japanese American Caucus. He received his Ed.D. degree in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University. His dissertation was on the traits, qualities and characteristics of highly effective UMC clergy. His field of interest is in leadership studies, organizational development through systems theory, and change management.
Bishop Hagiya was ordained a United Methodist Deacon in 1976 and an Elder (Methodism) in 1980. He was appointed to three churches in his ministry career: Berkeley UMC in the California-Nevada Annual Conference, North Gardena UMC in the California-Pacific Annual Conference, and Centenary UMC also in the California-Pacific Annual Conference (see Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church). [2]
He served the Claremont School of Theology as assistant professor of Urban Ministries and Religion and Society, and dield education director, and continued to serve as an adjunct professor throughout his career in the Cal-Pac Annual Conference. He served as the district superintendent of the Los Angeles District and dean of the Cabinet prior to being elected to the episcopacy. He was slated to create the Center of Leadership Excellence between the California-Pacific Annual Conference and the Claremont School of Theology right before his election as a bishop.
He was a delegate from the California-Pacific Annual Conference to General Conference (United Methodist Church) and Jurisdictional Conference three times, and served as head of the delegation one time.
He has served as chairperson of the Board of Ordained Ministry and numerous other church and community organizations.
He has served as a board member of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, the General Commission on Religion and Race, and the General Board of Global Ministries. [2]
In 2016, Grant J. Hagiya became Resident Bishop of the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church, after having served as the Resident Bishop of the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church, presiding over its Alaska, Pacific Northwest, and Oregon-Idaho Annual Conferences. Previously (2008–12) he served the Seattle Area, which included the Pacific Northwest and Alaska Conferences. That area was merged with the Portland area (Oregon-Idaho Conference) in 2012.
Hagiya also serves as the Chairperson of one of the 4 Focus Areas of the denomination: "Developing Principled Christian Leaders."
In 2013, Hagiya's first book on church leadership titled Spiritual Kaizen: How to Become a Better Church Leader was published by Abingdon Press.
Robert Sheldon Duecker was an American bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1988.
Gregory Vaughn Palmer is an American bishop of The United Methodist Church, elected in 2000. He was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, Herbert Palmer, is also a United Methodist pastor.
Roy Isao Sano is a retired Japanese-American bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1984.
Kenneth Lee Carder is a retired American bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1992. Carder distinguished himself as a pastor, a member of Annual Conference and General U.M. agencies, a bishop, seminary professor, and an author.
Jonathan Doyle Keaton is an American bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1996.
David Jerald Lawson was an American who gained notability as a pastor and university campus minister in the Methodist and United Methodist churches, as a district superintendent, annual conference official, and as a bishop of the United Methodist Church (UMC), elected in 1984. He also played a key role establishing and developing Africa University, which is the only UMC university on the continent.
Leontine Turpeau Current Kelly was an American bishop of the United Methodist Church. She was the second woman elevated to the position of bishop within the United Methodist Church, and the first African American woman.
Elias Gabriel Galvan is a Mexican-American former Bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1984.
Robert Tsugio Hoshibata is a bishop of The United Methodist Church (UMC), the second-largest Protestant denomination in the United States. He was elected to the episcopacy in 2004. His first assignment was as Bishop of the Oregon-Idaho Conference of the UMC. He currently serves as Bishop of the Phoenix Episcopal Area, Desert Southwest Conference for the UMC.
Clay Foster Lee Jr. is a retired American Bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1988.
Larry Martin Goodpaster is a bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 2000.
Wilbur Wong Yan Choy was an American bishop in the United Methodist Church, elected in 1972. He was the first Asian American elected as a bishop in the church.
Robert Eric Hayes Jr. is a member and serves as Bishop Emeritus of the Global Methodist Church. At its May 22, 2023, weekly meeting, The Global Methodist Church's Transitional Leadership Council (TLC) received the Rev. Dr. Robert Hayes Jr. as a clergy member in the new denomination and then immediately voted to confer upon him the title bishop emeritus. Hayes joins Bishop Emeritus Mike Lowry as the only other bishop granted that status.
Leroy Charles Hodapp distinguished himself as a Methodist pastor, district superintendent, Annual Conference official, and bishop of the United Methodist Church (U.M.C.) who was elected in 1976.
Mary Ann Swenson is an American bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1992.
Minerva Garza Carcaño is the first Hispanic woman to be elected to the episcopacy of The United Methodist Church (UMC), the second-largest Protestant denomination in the United States. She was elected in 2004. Her first assignment was as Bishop of the Phoenix Episcopal Area of Desert Southwest Conference of the UMC. She was then appointed as Bishop of the California-Pacific Annual Conference of the UMC in 2012, and currently serves as Bishop of the California-Nevada Annual Conference of the UMC. She also serves as the leader of the United Methodist Church's Immigration Task Force.
B. Michael Watson is a bishop of The United Methodist Church, elected in 2000. He served as resident bishop of the North Georgia Annual Conference, which comprises 1,000 churches, more than 1,500 clergy members, and more than 320,000 lay members. He retired in 2016 and currently serves as ecumenical officer of the Council of Bishops.
Founded in 1987, Lifewatch, Taskforce of United Methodists on Abortion and Sexuality (TUMAS) is a 501(c)(3) organization that serves as the unofficial anti-abortion group within the United Methodist Church (UMC). The organization publishes a quarterly newsletter titled Lifewatch and is a member of the National Pro-Life Religious Council. The organization also frequently holds seminars to address within Methodist Christianity the theological, moral, and social aspects of defending women and their unborn children from abortion. It is committed to reversing the Roe v. Wade decision "by first providing theological leadership within the church, which will set an example that political, legal and cultural forces will follow."
Bishop Melvin G. Talbert was an American bishop in The United Methodist Church (UMC), the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States.
Cedrick D. Bridgeforth is an American United Methodist clergyman who was elected bishop by the Western Jurisdictional Conference in November 2022. He is the first openly gay African American man to be elected bishop in the United Methodist Church.