Ernest A. Fitzgerald
Encyclopedia
Ernest A. Fitzgerald was a retired American
Bishop
of the United Methodist Church
, elected in 1984.
24 August 1945. The Fitzgeralds have two children: son Jimmy and wife Phyllis; and daughter Patty and husband Charles Poole. The Fitzgeralds also have three grandchildren. Bishop Fitzgerald died on September 27, 2001, in Winston-Salem, N.C. from pulmonary fibrosis.
degree from Western Carolina University
(1947). He earned the Bachelor of Divinity
degree from Duke Divinity School
(1951). He has honorary doctorates from High Point College (1969), Pfeiffer College
(1986), Greensboro College
(1993) and Union College
(1994). In addition, he received Distinguished Alumni Awards from Western Carolina (1981) and Duke Divinity School (1983).
Circuit of the Western North Carolina
Annual Conference
of the Methodist Church, of which he became a Member in Full Connection and was ordained Elder in 1949. He subsequently served the following pastorates in this conference: Liberty
Circuit (1947-50); Calvary
Church in Asheboro (1950-55); Abernathy Church in Asheville (1955-59); Purcell Church in Charlotte
(1959-64); Grace Church in Greensboro (1964-66); Centenary Church in Winston-Salem (1966-82); and the West Market Street Church in Greensboro.
Rev. Fitzgerald was elected a delegate to the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church, 1968-84, and to the General Conference, 1980-84. He also attended the World Methodist Conferences of 1966 and 1971.
The author of numerous books, Rev. Fitzgerald also was a regular contributor to the Piedmont Airlines
inflight magazine, the Jaycees publication, and AMTRAK
. He has also written for U.M.
publications. In 1983 he was the Preacher
for the Methodist series of the radio program "The Protestant Hour."
, elected Rev. Fitzgerald a Bishop of the Church. He was assigned to the Atlanta Episcopal Area (the North and South Georgia
Annual Conferences). Bishop Fitzgerald also served on the U.M. General Council on Ministries, the Task Force on the Korean Church, the Older Adult Task Force, and as President of the United Methodist Development Fund.
He retired in 1992.
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 1984.
Birth and family
He was born in Crouse, North Carolina. He married Sarah Frances Perry of Wingate, North CarolinaWingate, North Carolina
Wingate is a town in Union County, North Carolina and a suburb of the city of Charlotte. The population was 2,406 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wingate is located at ....
24 August 1945. The Fitzgeralds have two children: son Jimmy and wife Phyllis; and daughter Patty and husband Charles Poole. The Fitzgeralds also have three grandchildren. Bishop Fitzgerald died on September 27, 2001, in Winston-Salem, N.C. from pulmonary fibrosis.
Education
Fitzgerald earned the A.B.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 Western Carolina University
Western Carolina University
Western Carolina University is a coeducational public university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, United States. The university is a constituent campus of the University of North Carolina system....
(1947). He earned the Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
degree from Duke Divinity School
Duke Divinity School
The Divinity School at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina is one of thirteen seminaries founded and supported by the United Methodist Church. It has 39 full time and 18 part time faculty and over 500 full time students. The current dean of The Divinity School is Richard B. Hays, who replaced...
(1951). He has honorary doctorates from High Point College (1969), Pfeiffer College
Pfeiffer University
Pfeiffer University is a private university located in the village of Misenheimer near Richfield, North Carolina.- History :Pfeiffer originated from a home school operated by Miss Emily Prudden in the late 19th century...
(1986), Greensboro College
Greensboro College
Greensboro College is a four-year, independent, coeducational liberal-arts college, also offering four master's degrees, located in Greensboro, North Carolina, and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It was founded in 1838...
(1993) and Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
(1994). In addition, he received Distinguished Alumni Awards from Western Carolina (1981) and Duke Divinity School (1983).
Ordained ministry
During his college years, Ernest pastored the WebsterWebster, North Carolina
Webster is a town in Jackson County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 363.Webster was the first county seat of Jackson county, until Sylva took over in 1913.-Geography:Webster is located at ....
Circuit of the Western North Carolina
Western North Carolina
Western North Carolina is the region of North Carolina which includes the Appalachian Mountains, thus it is often known geographically as the state's Mountain Region. It is sometimes included with upstate South Carolina as the "Western Carolinas", which is also counted as a single media market...
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, of which he became a Member in Full Connection and was ordained Elder in 1949. He subsequently served the following pastorates in this conference: Liberty
Liberty
Liberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions...
Circuit (1947-50); Calvary
Calvary
Calvary or Golgotha was the site, outside of ancient Jerusalem’s early first century walls, at which the crucifixion of Jesus is said to have occurred. Calvary and Golgotha are the English names for the site used in Western Christianity...
Church in Asheboro (1950-55); Abernathy Church in Asheville (1955-59); Purcell Church in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
(1959-64); Grace Church in Greensboro (1964-66); Centenary Church in Winston-Salem (1966-82); and the West Market Street Church in Greensboro.
Rev. Fitzgerald was elected a delegate to the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church, 1968-84, and to the General Conference, 1980-84. He also attended the World Methodist Conferences of 1966 and 1971.
The author of numerous books, Rev. Fitzgerald also was a regular contributor to the Piedmont Airlines
Piedmont Airlines (1948-1989)
Piedmont Airlines was a major airline in the United States which operated from 1948 until its operations were merged into USAir in 1989. Its headquarters were located at One Piedmont Plaza in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a building which is now part of Wake Forest University.As of April 1989,...
inflight magazine, the Jaycees publication, and AMTRAK
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
. He has also written for 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...
publications. In 1983 he was the Preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
for the Methodist series of the radio program "The Protestant Hour."
Episcopal ministry
The 1984 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, meeting at Lake Junaluska, North CarolinaLake 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...
, elected Rev. Fitzgerald a Bishop of the Church. He was assigned to the Atlanta Episcopal Area (the North and South Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
Annual Conferences). Bishop Fitzgerald also served on the U.M. General Council on Ministries, the Task Force on the Korean Church, the Older Adult Task Force, and as President of the United Methodist Development Fund.
He retired in 1992.