Roy I. Sano
Encyclopedia
Roy Isao Sano is a retired Japanese-American
Bishop
of the United Methodist Church
, elected in 1984.
Sano was born on 18 June 1931 in Brawley, California
, of Japan
ese immigrants to the U.S.
Upon the death of their third child, Roy's parents were converted to Christianity
. When Roy was eleven, his family was sent to Poston Concentration Camp
, and then to Pennsylvania
under the sponsorship of a Quaker family, where they worked as farm workers. It was during this time that Roy felt a call to the ministry
. After World War II
the Sanos returned to California
, uniting members of their family who had served in the U.S. Armed Forces
and those who had served in the Imperial Japanese Army
. He is married to Kathleen Thomas-Sano and is the father of three children.
Roy Sano completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California at Los Angeles
, majoring in American History. During college he served student pastorates at Oxnard, California
(1950–54), and as Associate Pastor at Christ Church in Santa Maria, California
. He was ordained Deacon in 1954 by Bishop Donald H. Tippett. He earned his M. Div. at Union Theological Seminary
, New York City
, in 1957. While in seminary he served as Minister of Education for the Japanese-American congregation of the United Church of Christ
in New York City
. Upon seminary graduation he became a member in full connection of the California-Nevada Annual Conference
of the U.M. Church
and was ordained elder (again by Bishop Tippett). He was then appointed as Pastor of the Loomis, California
church where we served seven years. Roy did further graduate work at the Graduate Theological Union
in Berkeley
, earning the M.Th. degree in 1968. He completed his doctoral studies in Philosophy at Claremont Graduate School
(Ph.D.
, 1972). During these years he was Associate Pastor at Wesley Church in San Jose
, and then at the Centenary Church in Los Angeles
. In 1969 Sano became the Chaplain
and an Assistant Professor of Religion at Mills College
, positions he held until 1976.
During 1972-78 Sano was the Director of the Pacific and Asian American Center for Theology and Strategies in Berkeley. He was Visiting Associate (1975–78), Associate (1978–83), and then Professor
of Theology
and Pacific and Asian American Ministries at the Pacific School of Religion
, serving in this position when elected to the Episcopacy in 1984 by the Western Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church. Upon his election, Bishop Sano was assigned to the Denver
Episcopal Area. He also served for eight years on the U.M. General Board of Global Ministries. In 1992 he was assigned to the Los Angeles Area (1992–2000). During this time he served also on the U.M. General Board of Church and Society and the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.
Bishop Sano retired in 2000. He served as Executive Secretary of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church in Washington, DC from 2004-2008. He now makes his home in Oakland, CA.
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
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.
Sano was born on 18 June 1931 in Brawley, California
Brawley, California
Brawley is a city in Imperial County, California, United States. Brawley is located north of El Centro. The population was 24,953 at the 2010 census, up from 22,052 at the 2000 census. The town has a significant cattle and feed industry, and hosts the annual Cattle Call Rodeo. Year-round...
, of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese immigrants to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Upon the death of their third child, Roy's parents were converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. When Roy was eleven, his family was sent to Poston Concentration Camp
Poston War Relocation Center
The Poston War Relocation Center, located in Yuma County of southwestern Arizona, was the largest of the ten American internment camps operated by the War Relocation Authority during World War II....
, and then to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
under the sponsorship of a Quaker family, where they worked as farm workers. It was during this time that Roy felt a call to the ministry
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...
. 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...
the Sanos returned to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, uniting members of their family who had served in the U.S. Armed Forces
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
and those who had served in the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
. He is married to Kathleen Thomas-Sano and is the father of three children.
Roy Sano completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California at Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, majoring in American History. During college he served student pastorates at Oxnard, California
Oxnard, California
Oxnard is the 113th largest city in the United States, 19th largest city in California and largest city in Ventura County, California, by way of population. It is located at the western edge of the fertile Oxnard Plain, and is an important agricultural center, with its distinction as the...
(1950–54), and as Associate Pastor at Christ Church in Santa Maria, California
Santa Maria, California
Santa Maria is a city in Santa Barbara County, on the Central Coast of California. The 2010 census population was 100,062, putting it ahead of Santa Barbara for the first time and making it the largest city in the county...
. He was ordained Deacon in 1954 by Bishop Donald H. Tippett. He earned his M. Div. at Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, in 1957. While in seminary he served as Minister of Education for the Japanese-American congregation of the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Upon seminary graduation he became a member in full connection of the California-Nevada 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 U.M. 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...
and was ordained elder (again by Bishop Tippett). He was then appointed as Pastor of the Loomis, California
Loomis, California
Loomis is an incorporated town in Placer County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area...
church where we served seven years. Roy did further graduate work at the Graduate Theological Union
Graduate Theological Union
The Graduate Theological Union ' is a consortium of nine independent theological schools, and eleven centers and affiliates. Eight of the theological schools are located in Berkeley, California. The GTU was founded in 1962. It maintains the Graduate Theological Union Library, one of the most...
in Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, earning the M.Th. degree in 1968. He completed his doctoral studies in Philosophy at Claremont Graduate School
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont Graduate University is a private, all-graduate research university located in Claremont, California, a city east of downtown Los Angeles...
(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...
, 1972). During these years he was Associate Pastor at Wesley Church in San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, and then at the Centenary Church in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. In 1969 Sano became the Chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
and an Assistant Professor of Religion at Mills College
Mills College
Mills College is an independent liberal arts women's college founded in 1852 that offers bachelor's degrees to women and graduate degrees and certificates to women and men. Located in Oakland, California, Mills was the first women's college west of the Rockies. The institution was initially founded...
, positions he held until 1976.
During 1972-78 Sano was the Director of the Pacific and Asian American Center for Theology and Strategies in Berkeley. He was Visiting Associate (1975–78), Associate (1978–83), and then Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and Pacific and Asian American Ministries at the Pacific School of Religion
Pacific School of Religion
Pacific School of Religion is an ecumenical seminary located in Berkeley, California. It maintains covenantal relationships with the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church and the Disciples of Christ, providing all necessary expectations for candidates to their ordained ministries....
, serving in this position when elected to the Episcopacy in 1984 by the Western Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church. Upon his election, Bishop Sano was assigned to the Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
Episcopal Area. He also served for eight years on the U.M. General Board of Global Ministries. In 1992 he was assigned to the Los Angeles Area (1992–2000). During this time he served also on the U.M. General Board of Church and Society and the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.
Bishop Sano retired in 2000. He served as Executive Secretary of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church in Washington, DC from 2004-2008. He now makes his home in Oakland, CA.