James Samuel Thomas

James Samuel Thomas (April 8, 1919 – October 10, 2010[1]) was an American bishop in The Methodist Church (now The United Methodist Church). When elected in 1964, he was one of the youngest Methodist bishops. Gerald Kennedy was age 40 when he was elected in the mid-1940s.

For other people with the same name, see James Thomas (disambiguation).
James Samuel Thomas
Resident Bishop
ChurchUnited Methodist Church
SeeOhio East Episcopal Area
In office1976–88
PredecessorFrancis Enmer Kearns
SuccessorEdwin Charles Boulton
Personal details
BornApril 8, 1919
Orangeburg, South Carolina
DiedOctober 10, 2010(2010-10-10) (aged 91)
Previous postResident Bishop, Iowa Area,
Bishop

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 East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church from 1976 until 1988, retiring in 1988.

James S. Thomas wrote the book "Methodism's Racial Dilemma. The Story of the Central Jurisdiction."[2]

In 2002, the Iowa Senate 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 rights in Iowa and in the nation."

The resolution was presented to Bishop Thomas on his birthday in the same year.[3]

See also
  • List of Bishops of the United Methodist Church

Notes
  1. The Times and Democrat, 2010-10-15. "A Pioneer, a Visionary": United Methodist Bishop Thomas leaves extraordinary legacy. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
  2. OCLC 24501571 (complete list of all editions)
  3. Iowa Senate Resolution S.R. 136 of 2002
Religious titles
Preceded by
Francis Enmer Kearns		 Resident Bishop, Ohio East Area, United Methodist Church
1976–1988		 Succeeded by
Edwin Charles Boulton


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