William Turner Watkins
Encyclopedia
William Turner Watkins was an American Bishop
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South
(MECS) and of The Methodist Church, elected in 1938. He also distinguished himself as a Methodist Pastor
, as a University
Professor
, and as an Editor
.
, a son of Howell Davis and Sarah Jane (née
Cochran) Watkins. William married Frances Edith Hancock 21 January 1914. They had children Howell Jackson, Lamar Hancock, William Turner Jr., Luther Tate, and John Scott.
. He then studied at the University of Edinburgh
in Scotland
(1926-27) and at Yale Divinity School
(1927-28).
of the MECS in 1914. He served various appointments as Pastor
between 1914 and 1930. In 1930 he became the Professor of Church History
in the School of Theology at Emory University. He served in this position until his election to the Episcopacy. The Rev. Watkins was a delegate to MECS General Conferences in 1934 and 1938. He also served as President of the Board of Church Extension of his denomination.
From 1932 until 1936, the Rev. Watkins also served as the Editor of the Wesleyan Christian Advocate, an important periodical of his denomination.
in 1938. In 1940, he was assigned the Columbia
Episcopal Area
of the (new) Methodist Church, serving until 1944. He then was assigned the Louisville
Area. His offices were at 1115 Fourth Ave., Louisville, Kentucky
. His home was at 1820 Casselberry Road, Louisville.
Among other responsibilities, Bishop Watkins served as a member of the General Board of Missions and Church Extension, the General Board of Education, and the General Board of Hospitals and Homes, all of The Methodist Church. He also was a Trustee
of Emory University.
in 1939. He also was a member of the International Society of Theta Phi.
There is a church on Westport Road in Louisville, Kentucky called Watkins United Methodist Church that is named after him.
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 Methodist Episcopal Church, South
Methodist Episcopal Church, South
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, or Methodist Episcopal Church South, was the so-called "Southern Methodist Church" resulting from the split over the issue of slavery in the Methodist Episcopal Church which had been brewing over several years until it came out into the open at a conference...
(MECS) and of The Methodist Church, elected in 1938. He also distinguished himself as a Methodist 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"....
, as a University
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
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...
, and as an Editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
.
Birth and family
William was born 26 May 1895 in Maysville, GeorgiaMaysville, Georgia
Maysville is a town in Banks and Jackson Counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 1,663 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Maysville is located at ....
, a son of Howell Davis and Sarah Jane (née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Cochran) Watkins. William married Frances Edith Hancock 21 January 1914. They had children Howell Jackson, Lamar Hancock, William Turner Jr., Luther Tate, and John Scott.
Education
William earned the Ph.B. degree in 1926 from Emory UniversityEmory 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...
. He then studied at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
(1926-27) and at Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School is a professional school at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. preparing students for ordained or lay ministry, or for the academy...
(1927-28).
Ordained, academic and editorial ministries
The Rev. William Turner Watkins entered the ordained ministry of the North Georgia 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...
of the MECS in 1914. He served various appointments 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"....
between 1914 and 1930. In 1930 he became the Professor of Church History
Ecclesiastical History
Ecclesiastical History or ecclesiastical history may refer to:*Ecclesiastical history *Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum by Bede*Church History , pioneer work on the Christian Church by Eusebius of Caesarea...
in the School of Theology at Emory University. He served in this position until his election to the Episcopacy. The Rev. Watkins was a delegate to MECS General Conferences in 1934 and 1938. He also served as President of the Board of Church Extension of his denomination.
From 1932 until 1936, the Rev. Watkins also served as the Editor of the Wesleyan Christian Advocate, an important periodical of his denomination.
Episcopal ministry
The Rev. William Turner Watkins was elected and consecrated a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South by the final General Conference of this denominationChristian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
in 1938. In 1940, he was assigned the Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
Episcopal Area
Episcopal Area
An Episcopal Area in the United Methodist Church is a basic unit of this denomination. It is a region presided over by a resident bishop that is similar to a diocese in other Christian denominations. Each annual conference in the UMC is within a single episcopal area; some episcopal areas...
of the (new) Methodist Church, serving until 1944. He then was assigned the Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
Area. His offices were at 1115 Fourth Ave., Louisville, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. His home was at 1820 Casselberry Road, Louisville.
Among other responsibilities, Bishop Watkins served as a member of the General Board of Missions and Church Extension, the General Board of Education, and the General Board of Hospitals and Homes, all of The Methodist Church. He also was a Trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
of Emory University.
Honors
Bishop Watkins was honored by Emory University with the degree Doctor of DivinityDoctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
in 1939. He also was a member of the International Society of Theta Phi.
There is a church on Westport Road in Louisville, Kentucky called Watkins United Methodist Church that is named after him.