Marjorie Swank Matthews (July 11, 1916 – June 30, 1986) was an American

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...

. She was born 11 July 1916 in Onaway, Michigan.

Matthews married early and divorced after World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. They had one son, William Jesse Matthews.

Education

Matthews 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 Central Michigan

Central Michigan

Central Michigan, often called Mid Michigan, is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Southern Michigan can be considered as a subregion of Central Michigan. As its name implies, it is the central area of the Lower Peninsula. Lower Michigan is said to resemble a mitten, and...

 (1967) and a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Colgate Rochester Divinity School she earned an M.A.

Master of Arts (postgraduate)

A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...

 in Religion and a Doctorate in Humanities from Florida State University

Florida State University

The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...

(1976).

Ordained Ministry

Matthews was ordained an Elder in 1965 at the age of 49. She served small churches in Michigan, New York, and Florida. She was the second female District Superintendent in the United Methodist Church.

Episcopal Ministry

Although she says she never intended to be a bishop, her election was endorsed by three annual conferences. After twenty-nine ballots, two bishops were elected by acclamation on the thirtieth ballot at the North Central Jurisdictional Conference on July 17, 1980. She was the first woman bishop of the United Methodist Church. Matthews served the Wisconsin Area for four years, retiring in 1984. She died from cancer on 30 June 1986.

External links

• The Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church
• InfoServ, the official information service of The United Methodist Church. http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=1244

See also

• List of Bishops of the United Methodist Church