B. Michael Watson
Encyclopedia
B. Michael Watson is a Bishop
of The United Methodist Church
, elected in 2000. He is currently 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.
, a master of divinity degree from Candler School of Theology
and a doctor of ministry degree from Vanderbilt University
.
. He served Decatur First United Methodist Church in Decatur, Georgia
, from 1973 to 1974, while he was a student at Candler School of Theology
. In his home conference, he served Aldersgate UMC in Molino, Florida
, from 1975 to 1977 and Christ UMC in Milton, Florida
, from 1977 to 1979. He was founding pastor of Covenant UMC in Dothan, Alabama
, where he served from 1979 to 1990. He was appointed to Dauphin Way UMC in Mobile, Alabama
, in 1990 where he served until he was elected Bishop in the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church in 2000.
He was consecrated a Bishop at a Service of Consecration held at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina
July 15, 2000. Watson served two quadrennium as Resident Bishop of the South Georgia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. In 2008 he was appointed Resident Bishop of the North Georgia Annual Conference
of The United Methodist Church. His office is at The United Methodist Center on the grounds of Simpsonwood Conference and Retreat Center in Norcross, Georgia
.
Watson serves on the Board of Trustees for: Gammon Theological School, Clark Atlanta University
, Emory University
, LaGrange College
, Oxford College of Emory University
, Paine College
, Reinhardt University, Wesleyan College
, Young Harris College
, United Methodist Children’s Home, Georgia United Methodist Foundation, Camp Glisson, Simpsonwood Conference and Retreat Center, Wesley Woods Senior Living, and the Methodist Foundation for Retired Ministers.
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 2000. He is currently Resident Bishop of the North Georgia Annual Conference
North Georgia Annual Conference
The North Georgia Conference is an Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. This conference serves the northern half of the state of Georgia, with its administrative offices and the office of the bishop located in Norcross, GA. It is part of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. The...
, which comprises 1,000 churches, more than 1,500 clergy members, and more than 320,000 lay members.
Education
Watson received a bachelor of science degree in finance and real estate from the University of AlabamaUniversity of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, a master of divinity degree from Candler School of Theology
Candler School of Theology
Candler School of Theology, Emory University, is one of 13 seminaries of the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1914, the school was named after Warren Akin Candler, a former President and Chancellor of Emory University and a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South...
and a doctor of ministry degree from Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
.
Ordained ministry
Prior to his election to the Episcopacy, Watson served as a pastor in the Alabama-West Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church. He was ordained Deacon in 1972 and Elder in 1976 in the Alabama-West Florida Annual ConferenceAnnual 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...
. He served Decatur First United Methodist Church in Decatur, Georgia
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
, from 1973 to 1974, while he was a student at Candler School of Theology
Candler School of Theology
Candler School of Theology, Emory University, is one of 13 seminaries of the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1914, the school was named after Warren Akin Candler, a former President and Chancellor of Emory University and a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South...
. In his home conference, he served Aldersgate UMC in Molino, Florida
Molino, Florida
Molino is a census-designated place in Escambia County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,312 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Pensacola–Ferry Pass–Brent Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, from 1975 to 1977 and Christ UMC in Milton, Florida
Milton, Florida
Milton , or Milltown, because Milton had the largest mill around) is a city in Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States. The city was incorporated in 1844 and is home to Naval Air Station Whiting Field. The population was 7,045 at the 2000 census. In 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
, from 1977 to 1979. He was founding pastor of Covenant UMC in Dothan, Alabama
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
, where he served from 1979 to 1990. He was appointed to Dauphin Way UMC in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, in 1990 where he served until he was elected Bishop in the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church in 2000.
He was consecrated a Bishop at a Service of Consecration held at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina
Lake Junaluska, North Carolina
Lake Junaluska is a census-designated place in Haywood County, North Carolina, USA. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,675 at the 2000 census...
July 15, 2000. Watson served two quadrennium as Resident Bishop of the South Georgia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. In 2008 he was appointed Resident Bishop of the North Georgia Annual Conference
North Georgia Annual Conference
The North Georgia Conference is an Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. This conference serves the northern half of the state of Georgia, with its administrative offices and the office of the bishop located in Norcross, GA. It is part of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. The...
of The United Methodist Church. His office is at The United Methodist Center on the grounds of Simpsonwood Conference and Retreat Center in Norcross, Georgia
Norcross, Georgia
As of 2010 Norcross had a population of 9,116. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 40.8% white , 19.8% black or African American , 0.7% Native American, 2.1% Asian Indian, 10.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 21.5% from some other race and 4.3% reporting two or more races...
.
Boards and committees
- Chair, World Methodist CouncilWorld Methodist CouncilThe World Methodist Council, founded in 1881, is an association of churches in the Methodist tradition which comprises most of the world's Wesleyan denominations.- Extension and organization:...
Personnel Committee - Delegate, World Methodist Conference: Singapore, 1991; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1996; Brighton, England, 2001; Seoul, Korea, 2006
- Chair, Central Conference Pension Initiative of The United Methodist Church, $25M goal
- Steering Committee Chair, Campaign Emory - Candler School of Theology, $60M goal
- Chair, Board of Directors of the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits 2008-2012
Watson serves on the Board of Trustees for: Gammon Theological School, Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University is a private, historically black university in Atlanta, Georgia. It was formed in 1988 with the consolidation of Clark College and Atlanta University...
, 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...
, LaGrange College
LaGrange College
LaGrange College is the oldest private college in the U.S. state of Georgia. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, it is located in LaGrange, Georgia, with an enrollment of about 1,000 students. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1...
, Oxford College of Emory University
Oxford College of Emory University
Oxford College is a two-year residential college specializing in the foundations of liberal arts education, and is one of nine divisions of Emory University. The college is located on Emory University's original 1836 campus in Oxford, Georgia, 38 miles east of the main Atlanta campus...
, Paine College
Paine College
Paine College is a private Historically Black college located in Augusta, Georgia.-Mission:The Mission of Paine College, a church-related private institution, is to provide a liberal arts education of the highest quality that emphasizes academic excellence, ethical and spiritual values, social...
, Reinhardt University, Wesleyan College
Wesleyan College
Wesleyan College is a private, liberal arts women's college located in Macon, Georgia, United States.-History:The school was chartered on December 23, 1836 as the Georgia Female College, and opened its doors to students on January 7, 1839. The school was renamed Wesleyan Female College in 1843...
, Young Harris College
Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private, Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college located in the mountains of northeast Georgia. The current president is Cathy Cox, former Georgia Secretary of State.-Origins:...
, United Methodist Children’s Home, Georgia United Methodist Foundation, Camp Glisson, Simpsonwood Conference and Retreat Center, Wesley Woods Senior Living, and the Methodist Foundation for Retired Ministers.
Publications
- The Upper Room, daily devotional, November - December, 1987: United Methodist Publishing House
- The Living Pulpit, April - June, 1998, New York Theological Seminary
- Adult Bible Studies, Fall 2008 Lessons, Nashville, Tennessee: United Methodist Publishing House
Personal
Watson is married to Margaret Lee Watson. They have two adult children, Ben Watson and Elizabeth Watson Riddle, and three grandchildren.See also
- List of Bishops of the United Methodist Church
- Biography of Bishop B. Michael Watson http://www.ngumc.org/bishop