James Samuel Thomas
Encyclopedia
James Samuel Thomas was an American
bishop
in The Methodist Church (now The United Methodist Church
). When elected in 1964, he was the youngest Methodist Bishop to date.
His first appointment as Bishop was in Iowa
, where he served from 1964 to 1976, 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
The resolution was presented to Bishop Thomas on his birthday in the same year.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bishop
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...
in The Methodist Church (now 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...
). When elected in 1964, he was the youngest Methodist Bishop to date.
His first appointment as Bishop was in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, where he served from 1964 to 1976, 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
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...
from 1976 until 1988, retiring in 1988.
In 2002, the Iowa Senate
Iowa General Assembly
The Iowa General Assembly is the legislative branch of the state government of Iowa. Like the federal United States Congress, the General Assembly is a bicameral body, composed of the upper house Iowa Senate and the lower Iowa House of Representatives respectively...
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 rightsCivil rightsCivil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
in Iowa and in the nation."
The resolution was presented to Bishop Thomas on his birthday in the same year.