Monday Morning in North Georgia
July 21, 2008
www.ngumc.org            SHARING WEEKLY NEWS WITH NORTH GEORGIA UNITED METHODISTS

Welcome the Watsons

     Bishop B. Michael Watson has been appointed to serve as the next episcopal leader of North Georgia Conference. His assignment becomes effective on September 1. The appointment was announced during the Friday evening session of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference at Lake Junaluska last week.
     Bishop Watson, 59, has served the South Georgia Conference for the past eight years. He and his wife Margaret won't have far to move. They currently reside in Macon. The Watsons have two children, Ben Watson and Elizabeth Watson Riddle, and two grandchildren, Alex and Andrew.
     Bishop Watson was elected to the episcopacy from the Alabama-West Florida Conference in 2000. Before his election, he was the pastor of Dauphin Way UMC in Mobile, Ala., for ten years. He was the founding pastor of Covenant UMC in Dothan which he served from 1979-1990. Prior to these appointments, Bishop Watson served Florida churches in Milton and Milino.
     He has a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Real Estate from the University of Alabama, a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Vanderbilt University.
     The other bishops of the Southeastern Jurisdiction also now know where they will serve for the next four years.
     After 12 years of service in North Georgia, Bishop Lindsey Davis and Jennifer Davis will return to their home. They were appointed to the Louisville Area where he will serve the Kentucky and Red Bird Missionary Conferences.
     In addition to Davis and Watson, bishops moving to new assignment include Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster who will serve the Western North Carolina Conference and Bishop James R. King Jr. who will serve the South Georgia Conference. Newly elected Bishop Paul Leeland was given his first assignment and will serve the Alabama-West Florida Conference.
     Delegates voted to extend the assignment of Bishop Timothy Whitaker to the Florida Conference for a third term. Seven bishops—Alfred Gwinn, Charlene Kammerer, James Swanson Mary Virginia Taylor, Hope Morgan Ward, William H. Willimon and Richard J. Wills Jr.—will continue in their current assignments for a second term.
     After the reading of the episcopal assignments, North Georgia's delegation held a reception for Bishop and Mrs. Watson. Each district superintendent and district lay leader presented the Watsons with gifts that reflected their district. Jane Finley, conference lay leader, greeted the Watsons on behalf of the North Georgia laity.
     All North Georgia United Methodists are invited to welcome Bishop Watson and his family to North Georgia at a Service of Welcome and Reception on September 7, from 3 to 6 p.m., at Dunwoody UMC.

Sunday School and Beyond

     The North Georgia Conference's annual Christian education event, Sunday School and Beyond, presents "Journey Into the Bible" August 16 at LaGrange College. Visit www.ngumc.org/ss&b for workshop descriptions, speaker information, brochure downloads and registration information. Early registration deadline is August 1.
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