Mississippi Area Bishop James E. Swanson, Sr.,president of the General Commission on UM Men, will preach at the Wednesday, May 18 worship service at the 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore.
Bishop Swanson was born in Houston, Texas, went to seminary in Atlanta, Georgia, was ordained in the South Georgia Conference, served the Holston Area for eight years, and now lives in Jackson, Miss.
During the 14 years, Swanson served as pastor of St. Mary’s Road UMC in Columbus, Ga., the congregation grew from 16 active members to 950 and an average worship attendance of 525.
Bishop Swanson and his wife, Delphine, have six children and 10 grandchildren.