S. Clifton Ives
Encyclopedia
Samuel Clifton Ives is a retired American bishop
of the United Methodist Church
, elected in 1992.
, he lived in seven different Maine
communities while growing up. He is married to Jane Petherbridge Ives. They have three grown children (Bonnie Marden, Stephen and Jonathan), and five grandchildren. Ives enjoys running, gardening, swimming, sailing, skiing, carpentry, and mountain climbing.
in 1960. He earned both an M.Div. degree (1963), and a D.Min. degree in Church and Society (1983) from Boston University School of Theology
.
, including pastorates at Cape Elizabeth, Bangor
, Waterville
and Westbrook
. In addition to his service as a pastor, Ives served as the Director of the Conference Council on Ministries (1973-76) and as Superintendent of the Southern District (1986-92).
Ives was elected a delegate from his Annual Conference to United Methodist Church Jurisdictional and General Conferences (1972-92). He also served on the Board of Directors
of the U.M. General Board of Discipleship (1984-88), and for ten years was a member of the World Methodist Council
. With his wife he has also been involved in marriage enrichment leadership since 1976.
in 1992 by the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was assigned to the West Virginia
Episcopal Area (the West Virginia Annual Conference). As a bishop, he also served as vice-president of the U.M. General Commission on Religion and Race (1992-96). He also maintained a special interest in World
Missions
, which led him twice to Haiti
with United Methodist Volunteers in Mission
, as well as to Russia
and Africa
.
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 1992.
Birth and family
Ives was born in Farmington, Maine. The son of a Methodist pastorPastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
, he lived in seven different Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
communities while growing up. He is married to Jane Petherbridge Ives. They have three grown children (Bonnie Marden, Stephen and Jonathan), and five grandchildren. Ives enjoys running, gardening, swimming, sailing, skiing, carpentry, and mountain climbing.
Education
Ives graduated from the University of MaineUniversity of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
in 1960. He earned both an M.Div. degree (1963), and a D.Min. degree in Church and Society (1983) from Boston University School of Theology
Boston University School of Theology
Boston University School of Theology is the oldest theological seminary of American Methodism and the founding school of Boston University, the largest private research university in New England. It is one of thirteen theological schools maintained by the United Methodist Church...
.
Ordained ministry
Ives was ordained deacon (1961) and elder (1963) by bishop James K. Mathews. Rev. Ives served for thirty years in the Maine 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...
, including pastorates at Cape Elizabeth, Bangor
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
, Waterville
Waterville, Maine
Waterville is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States, on the west bank of the Kennebec River. The population was 15,722 at the 2010 census. Home to Colby College and Thomas College, Waterville is the regional commercial, medical and cultural center....
and Westbrook
Westbrook, Maine
Westbrook is a city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States and a suburb of Portland. The population was 17,494 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area.-History:...
. In addition to his service as a pastor, Ives served as the Director of the Conference Council on Ministries (1973-76) and as Superintendent of the Southern District (1986-92).
Ives was elected a delegate from his Annual Conference to United Methodist Church Jurisdictional and General Conferences (1972-92). He also served on the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the U.M. General Board of Discipleship (1984-88), and for ten years was a member of the World Methodist Council
World Methodist Council
The 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:...
. With his wife he has also been involved in marriage enrichment leadership since 1976.
Episcopal ministry
Ives was elected to the episcopacyEpiscopal polity
Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...
in 1992 by the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was assigned to the West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
Episcopal Area (the West Virginia Annual Conference). As a bishop, he also served as vice-president of the U.M. General Commission on Religion and Race (1992-96). He also maintained a special interest in World
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
Missions
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
, which led him twice to Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
with United Methodist Volunteers in Mission
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission is the short-term mission arm of the United Methodist Church. As a connectional body, the United Methodist Church uses related agencies to perform church functions...
, as well as to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.