Jonathan D. Keaton
Encyclopedia
Jonathan D. Keaton is an American
Bishop
of the United Methodist Church
, elected in 1996.
at Philander Smith College
, Little Rock, AR (1968), the M.Div. degree at Garrett Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL (1971), and the S.T.D. in Homiletics
and the Sociology of Religion
at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
(G-ETS, 1979). He also served Graduate Teaching Assistantships in Communications, Ethics and Society, and Church and the Black Experience while at G-ETS. He was awarded the U.M. Crusade Scholarship in academics, 1976-78.
Annual Conference
(NIC) of the U.M. Church. He was the Pastor
of St. Luke U.M.C., Chicago
(1970–79) and of Broadway U.M.C., Rockford, IL (1979 - September 1982). He served as Associate Council Director of the NIC (October 1982 to 30 June 1990), where his responsibilities included Church and Society, Ethnic Minority Local Churches (Native American
, Asian
, Hispanic
, and Black
), and Spiritual formation
. He was appointed Superintendent of the Aurora District of the NIC (1 July 1990 to 31 August 1996). Upon his election, Bishop Keaton was assigned to the Ohio East Episcopal Area (1 September 1996 to 31 August 2004), and presently serves the Michigan
Area.
, Africa
, the Philippines
, Europe
, and Israel
. He is much in demand as a Preacher
at national leadership events, for Annual Conferences, as Commencement Speaker
at colleges and seminaries, and in other settings.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
, elected in 1996.
Birth and Family
He is married to Beverly L. Keaton. They have three grown children: Jonathan D. Keaton, II, Tandreka J. Keaton, and Anaya T. Keaton; and one grandchild.Education
Jonathan earned the B.S. degree in BiologyBiology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
at Philander Smith College
Philander Smith College
Philander Smith College is a private, historically black college that is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It is located in Little Rock, Arkansas. The student body averages around 850 attendees, with around 30% of that figure attending part time. Although known historically as a school...
, Little Rock, AR (1968), the M.Div. degree at Garrett Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL (1971), and the S.T.D. in Homiletics
Homiletics
Homiletics , in theology the application of the general principles of rhetoric to the specific department of public preaching. The one who practices or studies homiletics is called a homilist....
and the Sociology of Religion
Sociology of religion
The sociology of religion concerns the role of religion in society: practices, historical backgrounds, developments and universal themes. There is particular emphasis on the recurring role of religion in all societies and throughout recorded history...
at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Garrett–Evangelical Theological Seminary is a graduate school of theology of the United Methodist Church located in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1853, Garrett-Evangelical is on the campus of Northwestern University and continues many associations with the university...
(G-ETS, 1979). He also served Graduate Teaching Assistantships in Communications, Ethics and Society, and Church and the Black Experience while at G-ETS. He was awarded the U.M. Crusade Scholarship in academics, 1976-78.
Ministry
Prior to his election to the Episcopacy, Jonathan served in the Northern IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
Annual Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
(NIC) of the U.M. Church. He was the Pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. Luke U.M.C., Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
(1970–79) and of Broadway U.M.C., Rockford, IL (1979 - September 1982). He served as Associate Council Director of the NIC (October 1982 to 30 June 1990), where his responsibilities included Church and Society, Ethnic Minority Local Churches (Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
, Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
, and Black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
), and Spiritual formation
Spiritual formation
Spiritual formation is the growth and development of the whole person by an intentional focus on one’s* spiritual and interior life* interactions with others in ordinary life...
. He was appointed Superintendent of the Aurora District of the NIC (1 July 1990 to 31 August 1996). Upon his election, Bishop Keaton was assigned to the Ohio East Episcopal Area (1 September 1996 to 31 August 2004), and presently serves the Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
Area.
Denominational Responsibilities
Bishop Keaton has served as a member of the U.M. General Board of Global Ministries, as the President of the U.M. Development Fund, and as the Chairperson of Strengthening the Black Church in the 21st Century. Prior to his election as a Bishop, he served on the U.M. General Council on Ministryes (1988–96), the Advance Committee for Christ and His Church (1988–92), and the Division on Conferences and Connectional Issues of National Black Methodists for Church Renewal. He was elected to Jurisdictional and General Conferences 1988-96. He has traveled extensively in support of the U.M. Church, including MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. He is much in demand as a Preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
at national leadership events, for Annual Conferences, as Commencement Speaker
Commencement speech
A commencement speech or commencement address is a speech given to graduating students, generally at a university, although the term is also used for secondary education institutions. The "commencement" is a ceremony in which degrees or diplomas are conferred upon graduating students...
at colleges and seminaries, and in other settings.