Bishop Jonathan Keaton

Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton was named resident bishop of the Michigan Area of the United Methodist Church effective September 1, 2004. He served the last eight years as resident bishop of the Ohio East Area.

Believing divisions among Christians serious diminish the impact of the church on the world, Keaton will also work for Christian unity. “Like Christ, I wish that we ‘may all be one’ as Christ is one with God,” he said.

Keaton was elected to the episcopacy in 1996. Prior to that, he served as a District Superintendent in the Northern Illinois Conference. He was a member of the conference staff responsible for monitoring the church’s stand on social issues, providing support and encouragement for ethnic local churches and promoting spiritual formation. Keaton also has served churches in Chicago and Rockford, Illinois. He was a teaching assistant at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master’s of Divinity and Doctorate in Sacred Theology. Keaton teaches in numerous conference Schools of Christian Mission. Currently, Bishop Keaton chairs the denomination’s Strengthening the Black Church for the 21 st Century Committee.

He has traveled extensively in support of world missions.

In 1967 he received the Outstanding Service Award from Philander Smith College, Little Rock Arkansas, where he did his undergraduate work. Also, Garrett Evangelical presented Bishop Keaton with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2001.

Keaton and his wife, Beverly, have three children: Jonathan II, Tandreka and Anaya. They have one grandchild, Maliah Hope Keaton.

Michigan Area
Episcopal Office
2164 University Park, Suite 250
Okemos, Michigan 48863
517-347-4030
FAX 517-347-4003
bishopsoffice@miareaumc.org

Dr. William Dobbs
Clergy Assistant to the Bishop

Diane Allarding
Executive Administrative Assistant to the Bishop

Vicki Gibbs
Executive Administrative Assistant to Clergy Assistant to the Bishop

Stuart Hallgren
Accounting Manager

Staff members are willing to assist you in any way they can.