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The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was a leader in evangelicalism. The present denomination was founded in 1968 in Dallas, Texas, by union of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church. The UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley in England, as well as the Great Awakening in the United States. As such, the church's theological orientation is decidedly Wesleyan. It embraces liturgical worship, holiness, and evangelical elements.
A bishop is a senior role in many Methodist denominations. The bishop's role is typically called the "episcopacy", based on the Greek word episkopos (επισκοπος), which literally means overseer. Superintendent is another translation of episkopos but in Methodist churches this is a role distinct from bishop. The first Methodist bishops were appointed in America, and American Methodist denominations still recognize the office of bishop.
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.
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.
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.
Timothy Wayne Whitaker is a bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 2001. Whitaker distinguished himself as a U.M. pastor, a college lecturer, a member of Annual Conference and U.M. General Agencies and community organizations, a district superintendent, an author, and as a bishop.
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.
William Bryant Oden (1935–2018) was an American bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1988. He was born 3 August 1935 in McAllen, Texas. He was married to Marilyn Brown Oden, the author of over eight books. They have four children and four grandchildren.
Roy Clyde Clark was an American bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1980.
Larry Martin Goodpaster is a bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 2000.
Peter D. Weaver is a retired bishop of The United Methodist Church.
Albert Frederick "Fritz" Mutti, III is a retired American bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1992.
Frederick Bohn Fisher was an American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected in 1920. He also gained notability as a pastor, missionary, author, and official in the Methodist missionary and men's movements. He is also one of the founders of the prestigious Mount Hermon School, Darjeeling. The yellow house in Mount Hermon School is named after him as Fisher House.
Richard J. Wills Jr is a bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 2004.
Beverly J. Shamana was a bishop in The United Methodist Church, elected and consecrated to the Episcopacy in 2000. She was the second African American woman elevated to the position of bishop within the United Methodist Church.
Mary Ann Swenson is an American bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1992.
Joel Neftali Martinez is a Mexican-American bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1992. Prior to his election to the episcopacy, Rev. Martinez gained notability as a Pastor and District Superintendent in the Methodist and United Methodist Churches and as a denominational official in the area of ethnic ministries.
Methodist viewpoints concerning homosexuality are diverse because there is no one denomination which represents all Methodists. The World Methodist Council, which represents most Methodist denominations, has no official statements regarding sexuality. British Methodism holds a variety of views, and permits ministers to bless same-gender marriages. United Methodism, which covers the United States, the Philippines, parts of Africa, and parts of Europe, concentrates on the position that the same-sex relations are incompatible with "Christian teaching", but extends ministry to persons of a homosexual orientation, holding that all individuals are of sacred worth.
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.
Bishop Melvin G. Talbert was an American bishop in The United Methodist Church (UMC), the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States.
