Robert E. Hayes, Jr.

Robert E. Hayes, Jr. (born 4 August 1947) is an American Bishop of the United Methodist Church (U.M.C.), currently serving in the [http://www.okumc.org the Oklahoma Annual Conference] . Prior to being elected to the episcopacy in 2004, Hayes served as treasurer of the Texas Annual Conference. He has also served as a pastor, District Superintendent, and college chaplain. [ [http://bishops.umc.org/umns/bios_bishops.asp?ptid=2&bio={F094458D-4D4E-4437-B819-1E9CF6B01F71}&episcopal={7462AD28-E6D4-47D5-A4CD-D8AE7A3DE249}&mid=903 Bishops' Bios ] ]

Family

Hayes' were both United Methodist pastors. His father, Robert E. Hayes, Sr., served as the President of Wiley College, where Robert would later serve as chaplain. He is married to Delilah “Dee” Bernard of Lafayette, Louisiana. They have three children: Joya Hayes who lives in Austin, Texas; Robert E. Hayes, III of Houston, Texas; and Ryan Ethan Hayes of Houston, TX

Education

Hayes earned a B.A. degree in English from Huston-Tillotson University, Austin, Texas (1969). Hayes was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity while a student at Huston-Tillotson. He earned an M.Th. degree from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas (1972) and a D.Min. degree from Drew University, Madison, New Jersey (1997).

In addition, Hayes was a Methodist Fellow to Europe, Asia and Russia in 1967. He was a Crusade Scholar of the U.M.C. in 1970-72. He was in "Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities" in 1968, and "Outstanding Young Men in America" in 1969.

Ordained Ministry

Hayes was ordained in the Texas Annual Conference of the U.M. Church. Prior to his election to the Episcopacy, he served the following appointments: McCabe U.M.C., Longview, Texas, as well as Chaplain and Instructor of Religion and Philosophy at Wiley College (1972-75); Blueridge U.M.C., Houston, Texas (1975-86); Riverside U.M.C., Houston (1986-94); Superintendent of the Houston Southwest District (1994-2001); Treasurer, Texas Annual Conference (2002-04).

Hayes was active in community ministries as well. He was a member of the Houston Board of Missions of the U.M.C. (1994-2001); Secretary of the Wesley House Community Center (1990-98); on the Board of Directors of the Houston Ebony Opera Guild (1986-94) and of the Methodist Home, Waco, Texas (1994-2000). He also served on the Board of Directors of Bering-Omega Community Services (an HIV/AIDS ministry in Houston); on the Advisory Board of Covenant House of Texas (1999-2004); and as an officer and member of: the Texas Conference Board of Trustees, the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, the Division of Colleges, and the Committee on Ethnic Local Church Concerns.

At previous General Conferences, Hayes has spoken out as an opponent of the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons in the United Methodist Church.Fact|date=July 2008

Honors

Hayes served as the Lenten Evangelist at Lovers Lane U.M.C., Dallas, Texas (2003); as a Lecturer and Lenten Evangelist at the Chicago Temple U.M.C., Chicago, Illinois (1998); and Lecturer and Lenten Evangelist at St. Luke's U.M.C., Houston (1999). He was named Outstanding Alumni by the Houston Chapter, Houston-Tillotson College (1989-90). He chaired the Legislative Committee on Faith and Order at the General Conference of the U.M.C., Cleveland, Ohio, (2000).

Episcopal Ministry

Bishop Hayes was endorsed for the Episcopacy by the General and Jurisdictional Delegations of the Texas Annual Conference and by Black Methodists for Church Renewal, South Central Jurisdiction. He was the first to be elected of four new bishops by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference meeting in Corpus Christi in 2004. He was assigned to the Oklahoma Episcopal Area (the Oklahoma and Oklahoma Indian Missionary Annual Conferences). His offices are in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Under his influence and leadership, St. Paul's School of Theology (in Kansas City) and Oklahoma City University (OCU) have worked together to create a new St. Paul's Seminary on the campus at OCU, opening in the fall of 2008. [ [http://www.umc.org/site/c.gjJTJbMUIuE/b.1778799/k.B90D/University_provides_site_for_satellite_seminary_in_Oklahoma.htm News Archives - UMC.org ] ] [ [http://www.spst.edu/site/academics/degree_programs/oklahoma.php Saint Paul | School of Theology ] ]

Other Information

Bishop Hayes serves on the Board of Trustees of both Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore, KY) and St. Paul's School of Theology (Kansas City, MO).

Bishop Hayes was elected in 2008 to serve as the Secretary of the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church. He has been assigned to serve as one of the Episcopal Directors of the General Commission of Finance and Administration.

External links

* [http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=1244 InfoServ, the official information service of The United Methodist Church]
* [http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=5855 The Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church]
* [http://www.asburyseminary.edu/about/administration-and-faculty/board-trustees Asbury Theological Seminary, Board of Trustees]

References

ee also

* List of Bishops of the United Methodist Church