UMC elects denomination's first Native American bishop

HOUSTON-The Rev. David Wilson was elected as bishop in The United Methodist Church's South Central Jurisdictional Conference, becoming the denomination's first Native American bishop. Delegates elected Wilson, age 59, Nov. 2 at the jurisdiction's meeting in Houston.

Wilson has been the assistant to the bishop for the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference since 2021, following 19 years as a conference superintendent. He was lead coordinator for the North Oklahoma City Native American Ministry for eight years, following eight years as a pastor of a church in Norman, Oklahoma. He served seven yea...