James Samuel Thomas

James Samuel Thomas (born 1919) is a retired American Bishop in The Methodist Church (now The United Methodist Church). When elected in 1964, he was the youngest Methodist Bishop to date.

Infobox bishopbiog


name = James Samuel Thomas

religion=United Methodist Church
See = Ohio East Episcopal Area
Title = Resident Bishop
Period = 1976 — 1988
Predecessor = Francis Enmer Kearns
Successor = Edwin Charles Boulton
ordination =
bishops = Resident Bishop, Iowa Area,

post = Bishop | date of birth = 1919
place of birth = South Carolina

He first appointment as Bishop was in Iowa, where he served 1964-76, becoming the first black bishop of the North Central Jurisdiction of The Methodist Church. He last served as the Resident Bishop of the Ohio East Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church from 1976 until 1988, retiring in 1988.

In 2002, the Iowa Senate passed a resolution honoring Bishop Thomas. In its citation, the Senate extended :"its thanks and congratulations to Bishop James S. Thomas and his family for their service to The United Methodist Church and to the State of Iowa, and acknowledges the work of Bishop James S. Thomas for the advancement of civil rights in Iowa and in the nation."The resolution was presented to Bishop Thomas on his birthday in the same year. [http://www.legis.state.ia.us/GA/79GA/Legislation/SR/00100/SR00136/Current.html Iowa Senate Resolution S.R. 136 of 2002] ]

ee also

*List of Bishops of the United Methodist Church

Notes

External links

* [http://www2.umc.org/umns/photos_headshots.asp?ptid=2&mid=2060&photo=hst316 Photo of Bishop Thomas]