- Jonathan D. Keaton
Jonathan D. Keaton (born
30 March 1946 ) is an AmericanBishop of theUnited Methodist Church , elected in 1996.Birth and Family
He is married to Beverly L. Keaton. They have three grown children: Jonathan D. Keaton, II, Tandreka J. Keaton, and Anaya T. Keaton; and one grandchild.
Education
Jonathan earned the
B.S. degree inBiology atPhilander Smith College ,Little Rock, AR (1968), theM.Div. degree atGarrett Theological Seminary ,Evanston, IL (1971), and theS.T.D. inHomiletics and theSociology of Religion atGarrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (G-ETS, 1979). He also served Graduate Teaching Assistantships in Communications, Ethics and Society, and Church and the Black Experience while at G-ETS. He was awarded the U.M. Crusade Scholarship in academics, 1976-78.Ministry
Prior to his election to the
Episcopacy , Jonathan served in the NorthernIllinois Annual Conference (NIC) of theU.M. Church . He was thePastor ofSt. Luke U.M.C. ,Chicago (1970-79) and of Broadway U.M.C.,Rockford, IL (1979 - September 1982). He served as Associate Council Director of the NIC (October 1982 to 30 June 1990), where his responsibilities included Church and Society, Ethnic Minority Local Churches (Native American, Asian,Hispanic , andBlack ), andSpiritual Formation . He was appointed Superintendent of the Aurora District of the NIC (1 July 1990 to 31 August 1996). Upon his election, Bishop Keaton was assigned to theOhio East Episcopal Area (1 September 1996 to 31 August 2004), and presently serves theMichigan Area.Denominational Responsibilities
Bishop Keaton has served as a member of the U.M. General Board of Global Ministries, as the President of the U.M. Development Fund, and as the Chairperson of Strengthening the Black Church in the 21st Century. Prior to his election as a Bishop, he served on the U.M. General Council on Ministryes (1988-96), the Advance Committee for Christ and His Church (1988-92), and the Division on Conferences and Connectional Issues of National Black Methodists for Church Renewal. He was elected to Jurisdictional and General Conferences 1988-96. He has traveled extensively in support of the U.M. Church, including
Mexico ,Africa , thePhilippines ,Europe , andIsrael . He is much in demand as aPreacher at national leadership events, for Annual Conferences, asCommencement Speaker at colleges and seminaries, and in other settings.References
*The Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church [http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=5855 ]
*InfoServ, the official information service of The United Methodist Church. [http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=1244]ee also
*
List of Bishops of the United Methodist Church External links
* [http://archives.umc.org/umns/bios_bishops.asp?ptid=2&bio={FAAD7A61-A9AA-4C73-B758-863838EE4AC0}&episcopal={26D5579E-3A0E-421E-9AF9-FC0120B01682}&mid=903 Bishop Keaton's Official Biography]
* [http://www2.umc.org/umns/photos_headshots.asp?ptid=2&mid=2060&photo=hsk118 Photo of Bishop Keaton]
* [http://www.umc-detconf.org/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=36 Detroit Annual Conference, U.M. Church]
* [http://www.westmichiganconference.org/page.asp?PKValue=588 West Michigan Annual Conference, U.M. Church]
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