Marshall Gilmore, the 41st
bishop of the
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
The Christian Methodist Episcopal (C.M.E.) Church is a historically black denomination within the broader context of Wesleyan Methodism founded and organized by John Wesley in England in 1744 and established in America as the Methodist Episcopal ...
, was born in
Hoffman, North Carolina
Hoffman is a town in Richmond County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 588 at the 2010 census. It was named for a family of settlers.
Geography
Hoffman is located at .
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a ...
, January 4, 1931. From infancy, his early
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
nurture was within the bosom of the Pleasant Hill CME Church family. Upon his hearing and answering the call to preach, his home
church granted license on January 2, 1954 – two days short of his 23rd birthday. The
North Carolina Annual Conference admitted him on trial in 1955, and in the same year, Bishop
William Yancy Bell ordained him deacon. The following year Bishop Bell ordained him
elder
An elder is someone with a degree of seniority or authority.
Elder or elders may refer to:
Positions Administrative
* Elder (administrative title), a position of authority
Cultural
* North American Indigenous elder, a person who has and tr ...
.
Gilmore graduated from the West Southern Pines High School in North Carolina in 1949, following which he entered military service, serving honorably in the
U.S. Air Force from 1950 to 1954. He matriculated at
Paine College in
Augusta, Georgia, in 1954 and was graduated with a BA degree in 1957. He studied
theology at
Drew University, being awarded the M.Div. degree in 1960. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from the
United Theological Seminary in 1974. Gilmore was awarded the
Doctor of Divinity
A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity.
In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ran ...
degree from Texas College and the Interdenominational Theological Center, and his alma mater, Paine College, bestowed upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws and Letters.
It was from distinguished and effective service in the
pastoral ministry that Gilmore was elected to the episcopacy in 1982 – the senior in the largest episcopal class elected in the history of the church. That service carried him to pastoral appointments in
Georgia,
Illinois,
Michigan, and
Ohio. His last pastoral service was at the Phillips Temple CME Church of
Dayton, Ohio, where he led the congregation in building a new edifice for which the mortgage was also liquidated.
As a bishop, Marshall Gilmore served as chair of the Department of
Evangelism
In Christianity, evangelism (or witnessing) is the act of preaching the gospel with the intention of sharing the message and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Christians who specialize in evangelism are often known as evangelists, whether they are i ...
, and presently serves as chair of the Department of Personnel Services. He is also vice-chair of the General Connectional Board and is the representative of the CME Church on the Consultation on Church Union. He is also the chair of the board of trustees of Texas College and a member of the board of trustees at Paine College.
Married to the former Yvonne Dukes, a native of
Fitzgerald, Georgia, he is the father of two adult children.
At the 1994 General Conference, Gilmore was assigned the presiding bishop of the 8th Episcopal District. His office and residence are in
Dallas, Texas.
External links
CME page
1931 births
Living people
American Methodist bishops
Drew University alumni
Paine College alumni
Interdenominational Theological Center alumni
Texas College alumni
United Theological Seminary alumni
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