Timothy W. Whitaker
Encyclopedia
Timothy Wayne Whitaker is a Bishop
of the United Methodist Church
, elected in 2001. Timothy distinguished himself as a U.M. Pastor
, a College
Lecturer
, a member of Annual Conference
and U.M. General Agencies and Community
Organizations, a District Superintendent
, an author
, and as a Bishop.
, graduating from Warren Central High School, Warren County, Mississippi
, in 1966. He is married to Melba J. Jarvis of Brandon, Mississippi
. They have two sons: Scott, married to Michele Wrobleski of Buffalo, New York
living on the Eastern Shore of VA.], and Eric married to Thao T. Nguyen (of Vietnam) living in Tucson, Az.
Scott is a poet and English/Drama Teacher at a local High School, and Eric manages a pawn shop. They have two grandchildren and one on the way. Thor Leo Whitaker, Ivan Aquila Whitaker, and Eric and Thao are expecting their baby in May of 2012.
from Millsaps College
in Jackson, Mississippi
(summa cum laude, 1970). He earned a M.Div. degree from Candler School of Theology
, Emory University
(summa cum laude, 1973). He has been awarded numerous academic honors
, including admission to Phi Alpha Theta
(history honorary society) and Theta Phi (theology society). He also received the Award for Academic Excellence from Candler in 1973.
Annual Conference
of the United Methodist Church
in 1968. He was ordained a Deacon in 1971 and Elder in 1974. He served as Pastor
of the following U.M. churches: Carlisle-Rocky Springs (Student Pastor, 1967-70), Fayette Circuit (Student, July-August, 1970); Minister to Youth at Druid Hills U.M.C., Atlanta, Georgia
(1971-72); Forsyth Circuit, North Georgia Conference (Student, 1972-73); Spring Ridge U.M.C., Mississippi (1973-75). During the Fall Semester, 1974, Timothy also served as a Lecturer
on "American Religious Thought" at Millsaps College.
Timothy transferred to the Virginia
Conference in 1975, where he served these appointments: St. Peter's U.M.C. (1975-78); Franktown-Johnsons (1978-83); Farmville
(1983-87), also serving as a lecturer on "History of Philosophy" at Eastern Shore Community College
during 1983. He was the Pastor of the Mt. Pisgah U.M.C.(1987-93) and the Centenary U.M.C. (1993-97), both in the Richmond
District. He was appointed Superintendent of the Norfolk
District of the Virginia Conference (1997-2001), from which he was elected to the Episcopacy.
In the Virginia Conference, Rev. Whitaker served on many Conference agencies: President of the Board of Discipleship, Vice President of the Board of Global Ministries, and Chair of the Division of Elders of the Board of Ordained Ministry. He was also involved in a number of community service agencies, including hospice, sheltered workshops, a soup kitchen
, and tutoring of inner city children.
. Whitaker had been nominated on the first ballot on 26 February. However, he withdrew from the election in a 10-minute presentation to the delegates.
He had not accepted nomination nor endorsement from his Annual Conference delegation prior to this special session because he did not want to go through the election process again. He said nomination would have been a distraction to his life and ministry during a time when he was becoming refocused. He had been a nominee and a strong contender during elections at the Jurisdictional Conference July 2000. When competition for the third episcopal position narrowed to him and one other candidate that time, he withdrew, paving the way for the election of Bishop James R. King Jr.
Nevertheless, his name re-emerged on the 13th ballot, taking a significant lead over the two leading nominees on the 15th ballot. Bishop Whitaker was elected on the 17th ballot, with 395 out of 497 valid votes. He needed only 299 votes to be elected. Bishop-elect Whitaker said in an interview following the announcement, "I am stunned by my election. I had decided I did not want to be a candidate."
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 2001. Timothy distinguished himself as a U.M. Pastor
Pastor
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"....
, a College
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
Lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
, a member of 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...
and U.M. General Agencies and Community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
Organizations, a District Superintendent
District Superintendent (United Methodist Church)
A District Superintendent, often abbreviated D.S., in the United Methodist Church is a clergyperson who serves in a supervisory position over a geographic District of churches providing spiritual and administrative leadership to those churches and their pastors...
, an author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, and as a Bishop.
Birth and family
Timothy was born 5 October 1948 in Vicksburg, MississippiVicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
, graduating from Warren Central High School, Warren County, Mississippi
Warren County, Mississippi
-National protected areas:* Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge * Vicksburg National Military Park -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 49,644 people, 18,756 households, and 13,222 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile...
, in 1966. He is married to Melba J. Jarvis of Brandon, Mississippi
Brandon, Mississippi
Brandon is a city in Rankin County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 16,436 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rankin CountyBrandon is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. They have two sons: Scott, married to Michele Wrobleski of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
living on the Eastern Shore of VA.], and Eric married to Thao T. Nguyen (of Vietnam) living in Tucson, Az.
Scott is a poet and English/Drama Teacher at a local High School, and Eric manages a pawn shop. They have two grandchildren and one on the way. Thor Leo Whitaker, Ivan Aquila Whitaker, and Eric and Thao are expecting their baby in May of 2012.
Education
Timothy earned an Associate of Arts degree from Hinds Junior College, and 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...
from Millsaps College
Millsaps College
Millsaps College is a private liberal arts college located in Jackson, Mississippi. Founded in 1890, the college is recognized as one of the country's best private colleges dedicated to undergraduate teaching and educating the whole individual. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Millsaps...
in Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
(summa cum laude, 1970). He earned a M.Div. degree from Candler School of Theology
Candler School of Theology
Candler School of Theology, Emory University, is one of 13 seminaries of the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1914, the school was named after Warren Akin Candler, a former President and Chancellor of Emory University and a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South...
, Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
(summa cum laude, 1973). He has been awarded numerous academic honors
Honors student
An honors student is a person recognized for achieving high grades or high marks in their course work.Honors students may refer to# Students recognized for their academic achievement on lists published periodically throughout the school year, known as honor rolls, varying from school to school, and...
, including admission to Phi Alpha Theta
Phi Alpha Theta
Phi Alpha Theta is an American honor society for undergraduate and graduate students and professors of history.The society is a charter member of the Association of College Honor Societies and has over 350,000 members, with about 9,500 new members joining each year through 860 local chapters.-...
(history honorary society) and Theta Phi (theology society). He also received the Award for Academic Excellence from Candler in 1973.
Ordained ministry
He received a License to Preach in the MississippiMississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
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 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...
in 1968. He was ordained a Deacon in 1971 and Elder in 1974. He served as Pastor
Pastor
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"....
of the following U.M. churches: Carlisle-Rocky Springs (Student Pastor, 1967-70), Fayette Circuit (Student, July-August, 1970); Minister to Youth at Druid Hills U.M.C., Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
(1971-72); Forsyth Circuit, North Georgia Conference (Student, 1972-73); Spring Ridge U.M.C., Mississippi (1973-75). During the Fall Semester, 1974, Timothy also served as a Lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
on "American Religious Thought" at Millsaps College.
Timothy transferred to the Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
Conference in 1975, where he served these appointments: St. Peter's U.M.C. (1975-78); Franktown-Johnsons (1978-83); Farmville
Farmville, Virginia
Farmville is a town in Prince Edward and Cumberland counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,845 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Prince Edward County....
(1983-87), also serving as a lecturer on "History of Philosophy" at Eastern Shore Community College
Eastern Shore Community College
Eastern Shore Community College, located in Melfa, Virginia, is a member of the Virginia Community College System and serves the residents of Accomack County and Northampton County as a two-year institution of higher learning....
during 1983. He was the Pastor of the Mt. Pisgah U.M.C.(1987-93) and the Centenary U.M.C. (1993-97), both in the Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
District. He was appointed Superintendent of the Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
District of the Virginia Conference (1997-2001), from which he was elected to the Episcopacy.
In the Virginia Conference, Rev. Whitaker served on many Conference agencies: President of the Board of Discipleship, Vice President of the Board of Global Ministries, and Chair of the Division of Elders of the Board of Ordained Ministry. He was also involved in a number of community service agencies, including hospice, sheltered workshops, a soup kitchen
Soup kitchen
A soup kitchen, a bread line, or a meal center is a place where food is offered to the hungry for free or at a reasonably low price. Frequently located in lower-income neighborhoods, they are often staffed by volunteer organizations, such as church groups or community groups...
, and tutoring of inner city children.
Episcopal Election
Bishop Whitaker was elected by a special called session of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church, 26-27 February 2001 to fill the episcopal vacancy created by the death of Bishop Cornelius L. Henderson, who died 7 December 2000 after a two-year battle with cancer. The session took place 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...
. Whitaker had been nominated on the first ballot on 26 February. However, he withdrew from the election in a 10-minute presentation to the delegates.
He had not accepted nomination nor endorsement from his Annual Conference delegation prior to this special session because he did not want to go through the election process again. He said nomination would have been a distraction to his life and ministry during a time when he was becoming refocused. He had been a nominee and a strong contender during elections at the Jurisdictional Conference July 2000. When competition for the third episcopal position narrowed to him and one other candidate that time, he withdrew, paving the way for the election of Bishop James R. King Jr.
Nevertheless, his name re-emerged on the 13th ballot, taking a significant lead over the two leading nominees on the 15th ballot. Bishop Whitaker was elected on the 17th ballot, with 395 out of 497 valid votes. He needed only 299 votes to be elected. Bishop-elect Whitaker said in an interview following the announcement, "I am stunned by my election. I had decided I did not want to be a candidate."
Selected writings
- articlesArticle (publishing)An article is a written work published in a print or electronic medium. It may be for the purpose of propagating the news, research results, academic analysis or debate.-News articles:...
in The Christian CenturyThe Christian CenturyThe Christian Century is a Christian magazine based in Chicago, Illinois. Considered the flagship magazine of U.S. mainline Protestantism, the biweekly reports on religious news; comments on theological, moral, and cultural issues; and reviews books, movies, and music...
, Circuit Rider, LectionaryLectionaryA Lectionary is a book or listing that contains a collection of scripture readings appointed for Christian or Judaic worship on a given day or occasion.-History:...
HomileticsHomileticsHomiletics , in theology the application of the general principles of rhetoric to the specific department of public preaching. The one who practices or studies homiletics is called a homilist....
and the RichmondRichmond, VirginiaRichmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
Times-Dispatch.
External links
- Photo of Bishop Whitaker
- http://www.flumc.org/bishop_whitaker/mbtw.htm
- http://www.flumc.org/comline/revarchive/2001/031601s1.html#stuns