William B. Oden
Encyclopedia
William Bryant Oden is a retired American
Bishop
of the United Methodist Church
, elected in 1988. He was born 3 August 1935 in McAllen, Texas
. He is married to Marilyn Brown Oden, the author of over eight books. They have four children and four grandchildren.
in Philosophy
), where he also became a Sigma Chi
. He earned the M.Div. degree from Harvard University
, and the Th.D. from Boston University
. He has received honorary doctorates from Oklahoma City University
(D.D.), and Centenary College
(Doctor of Humane Letters
). He is also the brother of Thomas Oden, professor at Drew University School of Theology.
of Aldersgate
U.M.C., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
(1963-69); St. Stephen's U.M.C., Norman, Oklahoma
(1969-76); Crown Heights U.M.C., Oklahoma City (1976-83) and First U.M.C., Enid, Oklahoma
(1983-88).
William was elected a delegate to four U.M. General Conferences and six Jurisdictional Conferences. He led the Oklahoma clergy delegation in 1984 and 1988. He chaired three Conference Boards: Ordained Ministry, Evangelism
, and Higher Education
. He was active in other conference leadership positions as well. He was appointed a member of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Government Reform in Oklahoma, co-chairing the Committee on City-State Government Relations. During his last ten years as a Pastor, he also served on the faculty of Phillips Graduate Seminary
, where he taught courses in preaching, worship, and spiritual formation.
Episcopal Area (1988-96). He then served the Dallas Area until his retirement in 2004. He was the President of the U.M.
Council of Bishops (2000-01). He served as President of the U.M. General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (1996-2000), and President of the U.M. Commission on Communications (2000-04). He has also served on the Executive Committee of the World Methodist Council
and as a Co-Chair of the United Methodist/Episcopal Church Dialogue.
As Bishop he has been much in demand as a speaker at numerous conferences and lectureships. He was the Jackson Lecturer at Perkins School of Theology, and the Visiting Preacher for the Boston University School of Theology
. He has also served as Trustee at numerous institutions, including the Methodist Hospital of Dallas, and S.M.U. (also serving as Secretary of Board of Trustees).
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 1988. He was born 3 August 1935 in McAllen, Texas
McAllen, Texas
McAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. It is located at the southern tip of Texas in an area known as the Rio Grande Valley and is part of the . Its southern boundary is located about five miles from the U.S.–Mexico border and the Mexican city of Reynosa, the Rio...
. He is married to Marilyn Brown Oden, the author of over eight books. They have four children and four grandchildren.
Education
William graduated from Oklahoma State University earning a (B.A.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...
in Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
), where he also became a Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
. He earned the M.Div. degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, and the Th.D. from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. He has received honorary doctorates from Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University, often referred to as OCU, is a coeducational, urban, private university historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
(D.D.), and Centenary College
Centenary College of Louisiana
Centenary College of Louisiana is a primarily undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college in Shreveport, Louisiana. The college is one of the founding members of the Associated Colleges of the South, a pedagogical organization consisting of sixteen Southern liberal arts colleges...
(Doctor of Humane Letters
Doctor of Humane Letters
The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters is always conferred as an honorary degree, usually to those who have distinguished themselves in areas other than science, government, literature or religion, which are awarded degrees of Doctor of Science, Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters, or Doctor of...
). He is also the brother of Thomas Oden, professor at Drew University School of Theology.
Ordained Ministry
Prior to his election to the Episcopacy, William served as PastorPastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Aldersgate
Aldersgate
Aldersgate was a gate in the London Wall in the City of London, which has given its name to a ward and Aldersgate Street, a road leading north from the site of the gate, towards Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington.-History:...
U.M.C., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
(1963-69); St. Stephen's U.M.C., Norman, Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
(1969-76); Crown Heights U.M.C., Oklahoma City (1976-83) and First U.M.C., Enid, Oklahoma
Enid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
(1983-88).
William was elected a delegate to four U.M. General Conferences and six Jurisdictional Conferences. He led the Oklahoma clergy delegation in 1984 and 1988. He chaired three Conference Boards: Ordained Ministry, Evangelism
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
, and Higher Education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
. He was active in other conference leadership positions as well. He was appointed a member of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Government Reform in Oklahoma, co-chairing the Committee on City-State Government Relations. During his last ten years as a Pastor, he also served on the faculty of Phillips Graduate Seminary
Phillips Theological Seminary
Phillips Theological Seminary, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a theological seminary associated with the Christian Church , the United Methodist Church, and the Unitarian Universalist Association.- History :...
, where he taught courses in preaching, worship, and spiritual formation.
Episcopal Ministry
Upon his election to the Episcopacy, Bishop Oden was assigned to the LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
Episcopal Area (1988-96). He then served the Dallas Area until his retirement in 2004. He was the President 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...
Council of Bishops (2000-01). He served as President of the U.M. General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (1996-2000), and President of the U.M. Commission on Communications (2000-04). He has also served on the Executive Committee of the World Methodist Council
World Methodist Council
The World Methodist Council, founded in 1881, is an association of churches in the Methodist tradition which comprises most of the world's Wesleyan denominations.- Extension and organization:...
and as a Co-Chair of the United Methodist/Episcopal Church Dialogue.
As Bishop he has been much in demand as a speaker at numerous conferences and lectureships. He was the Jackson Lecturer at Perkins School of Theology, and the Visiting Preacher for the Boston University School of Theology
Boston University School of Theology
Boston University School of Theology is the oldest theological seminary of American Methodism and the founding school of Boston University, the largest private research university in New England. It is one of thirteen theological schools maintained by the United Methodist Church...
. He has also served as Trustee at numerous institutions, including the Methodist Hospital of Dallas, and S.M.U. (also serving as Secretary of Board of Trustees).
Selected Writings
- Wordeed: Evangelism in Biblical/Wesleyan Perspective.
- Liturgy as Life Journey.
- Oklahoma Methodism in the Twentieth Century.
- a chapter in Send Me? The Itineracy in Crisis.
- has also contributed to devotional guides and theological journals, including Quarterly Review.