Robert Eugene Fannin
Encyclopedia
Robert Eugene Fannin is a retired American
Bishop
of the United Methodist Church
, elected in 1992.
, but spent his childhood in Brooksville, Florida
. In March 1956 he married Faye Thomas of Wauchula, Florida
. They met while students at Florida Southern College
. They have three children: Stephanie, Allison and Robb; and seven grandchildren.
from Candler School of Theology
, Emory University
, Atlanta, Georgia
. His doctoral project dealt with the local minister’s professional relationship to other helping professions.
Before entering the ministry, Robert was part of the J.C. Penney
management training program, served in the U.S. Army
, and became a representative for Burroughs Corporation. He is also a member of Pi Kappa Alpha
fraternity.
Annual Conference
of the U.M. Church, pastoring in Lake Alfred
, Gainesville
and Stuart
. In June 1986, he was appointed Superintendent of the Miami
District. Then in June 1991, he was appointed to First U.M.C. of Lakeland, Florida
.
He served the Florida Annual Conference as the Chairperson of the Board of Ordained Ministry, as President of the Credit Union, and as Chairperson of the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry. He served the larger Church as a member of the U.M.
General Council on Ministries and as President of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Court of Appeals. He also participated on the faculties of Schools of Christian Mission around the Southeastern United States
for many years.
Episcopal Area (the North Alabama
Annual Conference).
Bishop Fannin’s hobbies include camping, racquetball and walking.
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...
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 1992.
Family
Fannin was born in Ashland, KentuckyAshland, Kentucky
Ashland, formerly known as Poage Settlement, is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States, nestled along the banks of the Ohio River. The population was 21,981 at the 2000 census. Ashland is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the...
, but spent his childhood in Brooksville, Florida
Brooksville, Florida
Brooksville is an incorporated city in Hernando County, Florida, in the United States. It is the county seat of Hernando County. It is a suburban city included in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. In March 1956 he married Faye Thomas of Wauchula, Florida
Wauchula, Florida
Wauchula is a city located in Hardee County, Florida, United States, and had a population of 4,368 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city had a population of 4,441.It is the county seat of Hardee County...
. They met while students at Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College is a private college located in Lakeland, Florida, United States. It was selected by U.S...
. They have three children: Stephanie, Allison and Robb; and seven grandchildren.
Education and Business Career
Robert earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Florida Southern. He earned his M.Div. degree and a Doctorate of Sacred TheologyDoctor of Sacred Theology
The Doctor of Sacred Theology is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church....
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...
, 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...
. His doctoral project dealt with the local minister’s professional relationship to other helping professions.
Before entering the ministry, Robert was part of the J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is a chain of American mid-range department stores based in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas. The company operates 1,107 department stores in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. JCPenney also operates catalog sales merchant offices nationwide in many...
management training program, served in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, and became a representative for Burroughs Corporation. He is also a member of Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha is a Greek social fraternity with over 230 chapters and colonies and over 250,000 lifetime initiates in the United States and Canada.-History:...
fraternity.
Ordained Ministry
Following completion of his doctoral studies, the Rev. Dr. Fannin served churches in the FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
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 U.M. Church, pastoring in Lake Alfred
Lake Alfred, Florida
Lake Alfred is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,890 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 3,944 . It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Gainesville
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
and Stuart
Stuart, Florida
Stuart is the only incorporated city of Martin County, Florida, on Florida's Treasure Coast. The population was 14,633 at the 2000 census. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 15,964....
. In June 1986, he was appointed Superintendent of the Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
District. Then in June 1991, he was appointed to First U.M.C. of Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
.
He served the Florida Annual Conference as the Chairperson of the Board of Ordained Ministry, as President of the Credit Union, and as Chairperson of the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry. He served the larger Church as a member of the U.M.
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...
General Council on Ministries and as President of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Court of Appeals. He also participated on the faculties of Schools of Christian Mission around the Southeastern United States
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
for many years.
Episcopal Ministry
Bishop Fannin was elected by the 1992 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church. He was assigned to the BirminghamBirmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
Episcopal Area (the North Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
Annual Conference).
Bishop Fannin’s hobbies include camping, racquetball and walking.