Sharma D. Lewis elected 1st black female UMC bishop in Southeast
The Rev. Sharma D. Lewis, who has steadily risen the ranks ties in Georgia's United Methodist Church circles, has been elected as a bishop during the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference meeting being held in North Carolina this week.
Lewis, who currently serves as the district superintendent of the Atlanta-Decatur-Oxford District in the North Georgia Conference, becomes the first African-American woman elected bishop in the jurisdiction. She was elected during a meeting of Methodist leaders from the 12 United Methodist conferences in the Southeast.
The jurisdiction covers Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia.
Lewis, a native of Statesboro, is a 1985 graduate of Mercer University, with a bachelor of science of degree in biology, and a 1988 graduate of the University of West Georgia, with a master’s of science degree in biology.
She was biologist in the academic and corporate sectors, before answering the call to ministry.
Lewis has served Ben Hill UMC in Atlanta, Powers Ferry UMC in Marietta and Wesley Chapel UMC in McDonough, according to her biography.
Lewis was one of five new bishops chosen. A consecration service will be 10 a.m. Friday (July 15) at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center and will be streamed on the web, according to North Georgia Conference UMC web site, ngumc.org.
About the Author
Shelia has worked at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for more than 30 years. Previously, she worked at The Lexington Herald-Leader and The Louisville Defender. Her beat is a bit of a mixed bag that includes religion and spirituality, culture and trends, race and aging. She earned degrees from Spelman College and Northwestern University.
