Thomas Bickerton
Encyclopedia
Thomas J. Bickerton is a US Methodist
bishop.
Born July 2, 1958, Bishop Tom Bickerton was reared in West Virginia
and graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College
in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Sociology
/Psychology
. Subsequently, he entered seminary at Duke University
Divinity School and completed the Master of Divinity
degree in 1983. While attending seminary he served as student pastor following his 1982 ordination
as Deacon
. His first appointment out of seminary was to Perry Memorial United Methodist Church, in Shady Spring
, West Virginia
, in June 1983; he served in that location for six years. The year nineteen eighty-five saw his ordination as an Elder
by Bishop
William Boyd Grove. In 1989, he was appointed to serve Forrest Burdette Memorial United Methodist Church in Hurricane, West Virginia
, where he gave servant leadership for the ensuing nine years. While in ministry there he also earned his Doctor of Ministry
degree at United Theological Seminary
, Dayton, Ohio
, completing it in 1994.
In July 2004, at the Northeast Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church
held in Syracuse, New York
, he was elected and consecrated a Bishop
of the Church
. Assigned to the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference, headquartered at Pittsburgh
, he relocated to serve his first quadrennium as a United Methodist Bishop. Bishop Bickerton and his family now live in Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania
.
From 2005-2008, Bishop Bickerton also served as President of The United Methodist General Commission on Communication. He continues to serve as a member of the Commission's Executive Committee.
Bishop Bickerton is married to Sally Bickerton. They have four children: Elizabeth, T.J., Ian, and Nicholas.
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
bishop.
Born July 2, 1958, Bishop Tom Bickerton was reared in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College
West Virginia Wesleyan College
West Virginia Wesleyan College is a regionally accredited private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Buckhannon, West Virginia, United States. It has an enrollment of about 1,400 students from 35 U.S. states and 26 countries. The school was founded in 1890 by the West Virginia Conference of...
in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
/Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
. Subsequently, he entered seminary at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
Divinity School and completed the Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
degree in 1983. While attending seminary he served as student pastor following his 1982 ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
as Deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
. His first appointment out of seminary was to Perry Memorial United Methodist Church, in Shady Spring
Shady Spring, West Virginia
Shady Spring is a census-designated place in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,998 at the 2010 census. It is a family oriented community, with a low crime rate....
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, in June 1983; he served in that location for six years. The year nineteen eighty-five saw his ordination as an Elder
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
by 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...
William Boyd Grove. In 1989, he was appointed to serve Forrest Burdette Memorial United Methodist Church in Hurricane, West Virginia
Hurricane, West Virginia
Hurricane is a city in Putnam County, West Virginia, in the United States. The population was 6,284 at the 2010 census.-History:Hurricane was named after Hurricane Creek, which was, in turn, named after a group of trees at the mouth of the river bent in one direction...
, where he gave servant leadership for the ensuing nine years. While in ministry there he also earned his Doctor of Ministry
Doctor of Ministry
The Doctor of Ministry degree is, according to The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada , a doctoral level degree oriented toward ministerial leadership often in an area of applied theology, such as missions, evangelism, church leadership, pastoral psychology or the...
degree at United Theological Seminary
United Theological Seminary
United Theological Seminary is a United Methodist seminary in Trotwood, Ohio, United States, in the Dayton metropolitan area. Founded in 1869 by Milton Wright, it was originally sponsored by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ...
, Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, completing it in 1994.
In July 2004, at the Northeast Jurisdictional Conference 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...
held in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, he was elected and consecrated a 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 Church
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. Assigned to the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference, headquartered at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, he relocated to serve his first quadrennium as a United Methodist Bishop. Bishop Bickerton and his family now live in Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania
Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania
Cranberry Township is a township in Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is classified as a Second Class Township and follows the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code. The population was 28,098 as of the 2010 census....
.
From 2005-2008, Bishop Bickerton also served as President of The United Methodist General Commission on Communication. He continues to serve as a member of the Commission's Executive Committee.
Bishop Bickerton is married to Sally Bickerton. They have four children: Elizabeth, T.J., Ian, and Nicholas.
External links
- Episcopal Installation sermon, Cranberry Township, PA, Sept. 15, 2004
- War on Poverty Key to Church Renewal (PDF), Pittsburgh, PA, Nov. 2004
- "Visioning for a New Day" (Microsoft Word document)
- Another Photo of Bishop Bickerton