Peter Weaver
Encyclopedia
Peter D. Weaver is a Bishop of the United Methodist Church
in the Boston Area where he presides over the New England Annual Conference
of the UMC. He has three children.
where he earned a B.A.
in 1966. He then earned a M.Div. at Drew University
in 1969 and became a Doctor of Theology
in 1975 after concluding studies at Boston University
. Weaver also holds honorary doctorates from Lebanon Valley College
(1999), Albright College
(2000), and West Virginia Wesleyan College
(2007).
Weaver served his colleagues as President of the UMC Council of Bishops (2003-04). He was the first president bishop since the council increased the office's term to two years. The council comprises 50 active bishops in the United States; 18 bishops in Europe, Asia and Africa; plus 96 retired bishops worldwide. They are the top clergy leaders in the nearly 11 million-member church. http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=5856
Weaver is also a trustee of Boston University
.
In 2005, he paid a tribute to Pope John Paul II on the occasion of the later pontiff's death.
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...
in the Boston Area where he presides over the New England Annual Conference
New England Annual Conference
The New England Annual Conference is an Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. This conference serves the congregations in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and eastern Connecticut, plus one congregation in Vermont...
of the UMC. He has three children.
Education
Weaver was educated at West Virginia Wesleyan CollegeWest Virginia Wesleyan College
West Virginia Wesleyan College is a regionally accredited private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Buckhannon, West Virginia, United States. It has an enrollment of about 1,400 students from 35 U.S. states and 26 countries. The school was founded in 1890 by the West Virginia Conference of...
where 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...
in 1966. He then earned a M.Div. at Drew University
Drew University
Drew University is a private university located in Madison, New Jersey.Originally established as the Drew Theological Seminary in 1867, the university later expanded to include an undergraduate liberal arts college in 1928 and commenced a program of graduate studies in 1955...
in 1969 and became a Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
in 1975 after concluding studies at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. Weaver also holds honorary doctorates from Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College is a small, liberal arts higher education institution situated in the heart of Annville in Lebanon County, east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
(1999), Albright College
Albright College
Albright College is a private, co-ed, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It was founded in 1856 and is located in Reading, Pennsylvania, United States.-Overview:...
(2000), and West Virginia Wesleyan College
West Virginia Wesleyan College
West Virginia Wesleyan College is a regionally accredited private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Buckhannon, West Virginia, United States. It has an enrollment of about 1,400 students from 35 U.S. states and 26 countries. The school was founded in 1890 by the West Virginia Conference of...
(2007).
Ordained ministry
Before election to the episcopacy, Weaver served the Western Pennsylvania Conference as a pastor. He entered the ministry in 1967 as a deacon and was ordained an elder in 1969. He held appointments as:- Pastor, Whitaker United Methodist Church, 1971-77
- Senior Pastor, Smithfield United Church (UCC and UMC), Pittsburgh, PA, 1977-88
- Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Pittsburgh, PA, 1988-96
- Adjunct Faculty, Drew Theological School, 1980
- Faculty, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 1990
Episcopal ministry
He was elected a bishop of the United Methodist Church by the North East Jurisdictional Conference in 1996. He was then appointed to the Philadelphia Episcopal Area where he presided over the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and the Peninsula-Delaware Conference until 2004. Weaver was then assigned the Boston Episcopal Area where he continues to serve the New England Conference.Weaver served his colleagues as President of the UMC Council of Bishops (2003-04). He was the first president bishop since the council increased the office's term to two years. The council comprises 50 active bishops in the United States; 18 bishops in Europe, Asia and Africa; plus 96 retired bishops worldwide. They are the top clergy leaders in the nearly 11 million-member church. http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=5856
Weaver is also a trustee of Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
.
In 2005, he paid a tribute to Pope John Paul II on the occasion of the later pontiff's death.