The Rev. Jonathan Holston, senior pastor of St. James United Methodist Church in Atlanta, has been elected bishop in the United Methodist Church.
Holston, 53, is among five bishops elected by the Southeastern Jurisdiction, which met at Lake Junaluska, N.C. He was elected on the first ballot, which demonstrates his widespread support, said Glenn Hannigan, editor of the North Georgia Advocate, the official newspaper of the conference.
"It's a tremendous honor, it's humbling and yet it's an opportunity to give service to the church," Holston said. He said his goals include growing the church and helping people "practice the faith."
The Southeastern Jurisdiction includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Holston, whose assignment takes effect in September, will serve in the South Carolina Conference. Holston was elected from the North Georgia Conference, which is one of the largest in the nation with 360,000 members and 930 churches.
Holston, who was raised in Athens, earned a bachelor's degree in religion from the University of Georgia and a master's degree from Gammon Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center.
Prior to being appointed to St. James in 2005, Holston served as district superintendent of the Atlanta-Decatur-Oxford district.
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