Bishop Coyner returns to Indiana

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- Following eight years of episcopal leadership in the Dakota Area of The United Methodist Church, Bishop Michael J. Coyner was assigned July 17 as bishop of the Indiana Area of the church effective Sept. 1.

His assignment was confirmed by the North Central Jurisdictional Conference during the consecration Service of new bishops at St. John's United Methodist Church in Davenport.

During the service the Rev. Hee-Soo Jung, Deborah Lieder Kiesey and Sally Dyck were consecrated as bishops of The United Methodist Church. Jung and Kiesey were elected bishops on Thursday, July 15. Dyck was elected July 16 at 11:45 p.m. on ballot 36. Jung of Green Bay, Wis., served as a district superintendent in the Wisconsin Conference for the past seven years. Prior to that, he was a professor of religious studies in Korea and served churches in Wisconsin, California and Texas. Kiesey of Waterloo, Iowa, has served as a district superintendent in the Iowa Conference. Prior to that, she served various churches in Iowa. Dyck, of Moreland Hills, Ohio, has served as lead pastor at Garfield Memorial United Methodist Church for the past year. Prior to that, she was Wooster District Superintendent and served several churches in the East Ohio Conference.

Bishop Woodie W. White, retiring Indiana Area bishop, preached the consecration service sermon.

For more information about other bishops and assignments of the North Central Jurisdiction, log on to www.ncjumc.org.

PERSONAL:	Bishop Michael J. Coyner Born: Sep. 7, 1949 Married: the former Marsha Lynn England Children: Laura, an engineer with General Electric in Fort Wayne, IN; Steve, a college student at Purdue University
EDUCATION & HONORS:	B.A. degree from Purdue University, 1971 Elected to Phi Beta Kappa, 1971, Purdue University M. Div. Degree from Duke Divinity School, 1974 Doctor of Ministry Degree from Drew Theological seminary, 1980
MINISTRY:	Student pastor, Duke's Chapel UMC, Durham, NC, 1972-73 Student pastor, Macedonia UMC, Raleigh, NC, 1973-74 Pastor, Peoria UMC, Peoria, IN, 1974-79 Associate Pastor, Main St. UMC, Peru, IN 1974-79 (while also serving Peoria) Senior Pastor, Evangel Heights UMC, South Bend, IN, 1979-84 Senior Pastor, Good Shepherd UMC, Fort Wayne, IN 1984-90 Superintendent, Lafayette District, N. Indiana Conference, 1990-95 Executive Assistant to the Bishop, Indiana Area, 1995-96 Bishop of the Dakotas Area, 1996-2000
MEMBER:	Ordained a Deacon in the North Indiana Conference, 1972 Ordained an Elder in the North Indiana Conference, 1975 Elected a Bishop of the United Methodist Church, 1996
OTHER:	Author of several articles and two books (both by Abingdon Press): Making a Good Move: Opening the Door to an Effective Pastorate (2000) Prairie Wisdom: Reflections on Life in the Dakotas (2000)
OFFICE:	3910 25th Street South Fargo, North Dakota 58104-6880 Phone: 701-232-2241 Fax: 701-232-2615