Alfred Lloyd Norris
Encyclopedia
Alfred Lloyd Norris is a retired American
Bishop
of the United Methodist Church
, elected in 1992. He also distinguished himself as a Methodist/United Methodist Pastor
, as a District Superintendent, as the President
of a U.M.
Seminary
, and as a Mason
.
degree in Nursing
from Dillard University
and a Master of nursing degree from Emory University
and taught Community Health Nursing on the faculties of Emory, Dillard, Louisiana State University
, and Loyola University
in New Orleans. She earned the Ph.D.
degree from Emory in May 1996.
Alfred and Mackie have one son, Alfred II and daughter-in-law Lisa; and one daughter, Angela Renee and son-in-law Tyrone; and four grandchildren; Alfred III (Trey), Justin Douglass Norris, Mark David Johnson and Faith Rachelle Johnson.
from the Southern University
Laboratory School, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
. He earned a B.A.
degree from Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana
in 1960. He earned an M.Div. degree from Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Georgia
.
Annual Conference
of The Methodist Church in 1961. He was ordained an Elder in the same in 1963. He served as Pastor of the following churches in Louisiana: Haven (1963-66), Peck (1966-68), First Street (1972-74) and Mount Zion (1980-85).
Rev. Norris was the Director of Recruitment for Gammon Theological Seminary from 1968 until 1972. He was the Superintendent of the New Orleans/Houma
District of the Louisiana Conference from 1974 until 1980. He served as President
of Gammon Seminary of the Interdenominational Theological Center
in Atlanta from 1985 until his election to the Episcopacy.
Rev. Norris served as Chairperson of the Louisiana Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (1980-88), as a member of the General Board of Publication of the U.M. Church (1980-92), and as a member of the Association of U.M. Theological Schools (1985-92). In 1985 Alfred served as the first President of the Louisiana Council for the Adoption of Minority Youth.
Episcopal Area, with headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico
.
in the South and Southwest. He is also a 33rd degree Prince Hall
Mason. Moreover, he holds honorary doctorates from several institutions of higher education
, including the D.D. degree from Gammon Theological Seminary.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the 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...
, elected in 1992. He also distinguished himself as a Methodist/United Methodist Pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
, as a District Superintendent, as the President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of a U.M.
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the 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...
Seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
, and as a Mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
.
Birth and Family
Norris was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana. He is a child of the church, the first son of the Rev. L.H.P. and Adele (Washington) Norris. Alfred married Mackie Lyvonne Harper in September 1961. Mackie earned a Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
from Dillard University
Dillard University
Dillard University is a private, historically black liberal arts college in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1930 incorporating earlier institutions that went back to 1869, it is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church....
and a Master of nursing degree from Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
and taught Community Health Nursing on the faculties of Emory, Dillard, Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
, and Loyola University
Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...
in New Orleans. She earned the Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degree from Emory in May 1996.
Alfred and Mackie have one son, Alfred II and daughter-in-law Lisa; and one daughter, Angela Renee and son-in-law Tyrone; and four grandchildren; Alfred III (Trey), Justin Douglass Norris, Mark David Johnson and Faith Rachelle Johnson.
Education
Alfred received his high school diplomaHigh school diploma
A high school diploma is a diploma awarded for the completion of high school. In the United States and Canada, it is considered the minimum education required for government jobs and higher education. An equivalent is the GED.-Past diploma styles:...
from the Southern University
Southern University
Southern University and A&M College is a historically black college located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Baton Rouge campus is located on Scott’s Bluff overlooking the Mississippi River in the northern section...
Laboratory School, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
. He earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
in 1960. He earned an M.Div. degree from Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
Ordained Ministry
Rev. Norris was ordained a Deacon in the LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
Annual Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
of The Methodist Church in 1961. He was ordained an Elder in the same in 1963. He served as Pastor of the following churches in Louisiana: Haven (1963-66), Peck (1966-68), First Street (1972-74) and Mount Zion (1980-85).
Rev. Norris was the Director of Recruitment for Gammon Theological Seminary from 1968 until 1972. He was the Superintendent of the New Orleans/Houma
Houma, Louisiana
Houma is a city in and the parish seat of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, and the largest principal city of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's powers of government have been absorbed by the parish, which is now run by the Terrebonne Parish...
District of the Louisiana Conference from 1974 until 1980. He served as President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Gammon Seminary of the Interdenominational Theological Center
Interdenominational Theological Center
The Interdenominational Theological Center is a consortium of denominational seminaries located in Atlanta, Georgia. Today ITC educates and nurtures women and men who commit to and practice a liberating and transforming spirituality; academic discipline; religious, gender, and cultural diversity;...
in Atlanta from 1985 until his election to the Episcopacy.
Service to the Greater Church
Rev. Norris was elected a delegate from Louisiana to the quadrennial General Conference of the U.M.Church in 1976 and 1984-92, elected to lead the delegation in 1992. He was a Jurisdictional Conference delegate, 1976-92. He was a delegate to the World Methodist Conference each quinquennium, 1976-92.Rev. Norris served as Chairperson of the Louisiana Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (1980-88), as a member of the General Board of Publication of the U.M. Church (1980-92), and as a member of the Association of U.M. Theological Schools (1985-92). In 1985 Alfred served as the first President of the Louisiana Council for the Adoption of Minority Youth.
Episcopal Ministry
The Rev. Alfred Lloyd Norris was elected a Bishop by the 1992 South Central Jurisdicational Conference of the U.M. Church. He was assigned to the Northwest Texas-New MexicoNew Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
Episcopal Area, with headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
.
Honors
Bishop Norris' biography appears in the 1991-92 Marquis Edition of Who's WhoMarquis Who's Who
Marquis Who's Who, a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc., is the American publisher of a number of directories containing short biographies...
in the South and Southwest. He is also a 33rd degree Prince Hall
Prince Hall Freemasonry
Prince Hall Freemasonry derives from historical events which led to a tradition of separate predominantly African-American Freemasonry in North America...
Mason. Moreover, he holds honorary doctorates from several institutions of higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
, including the D.D. degree from Gammon Theological Seminary.