Leroy Charles Hodapp
Encyclopedia
Leroy Charles Hodapp distinguished himself as a Methodist Pastor
, District Superintendent
, Annual Conference
Official
, and Bishop
of the United Methodist Church
(U.M.C.) who was elected in 1976.
to Linden Charles and Mary Marguerite Miller Hodapp. Leroy Hodapp married Polly Anne Martin in June 1947; they have two daughters.
degree from the University of Evansville
(1944), and his Bachelor of Divinity
degree from Drew Theological Seminary (1947). Bishop Hodapp also received several honorary doctorates.
, joining the Indiana
Annual Conference
of The Methodist Church. Bishop Lowe ordained him Elder the summer of 1947.
Rev. Hodapp served pastoral appointments at the Orleans, Indiana
Methodist Church; the Heath Memorial and Meridian Street
Methodist Churches in Indianapolis, Indiana
, and the First Methodist Church in Bloomington, Indiana
. Between 1965 and 1970, Rev. Hodapp served as the Superintendent of the Bloomington District (1965-67), the Indianapolis West District (1967-68), and the Indianapolis Northeast District (1968-70). He then became Director of the Conference Council of Ministries of the South Indiana Annual Conference of the U.M. Church.
Rev. Hodapp was a delegate to the North Central Jurisdictional Conference of The Methodist/United Methodist Church (1964-76), and to the General Conference of the same (1968-76). He held responsible positions in conference agencies, including Chairperson of the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. He was also a member of the Commission to Study the Superintendency during the 1972-76 quadrennium
.
Episcopal Area
(Central and South Illinois Annual Conferences), where he served 1976-1984. He then became Bishop of the Indiana Episcopal Area (North and South Indiana Annual Conferences), where he served until his retirement in 1992.
During his tenure as an active Bishop, Hodapp served as President
of the General Board of Church and Society of the U.M.C. (based in Washington, D.C.
), and later as the President of the General Board of Global Ministries (based in New York City
). The Hodapps retired to Evansville, Indiana
where they lived for several years, before moving to the Franklin United Methodist Community Home in Franklin, Indiana
.
Hodapp served as the trial officer (i.e. judge) in church trials involving sexual misconduct. He presided over a famous trial involving then-pastor Jimmy Creech
, who was eventually stripped of his clergy credentials for performing a same-gender union service
(a violation of U.M. Church law).
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"....
, District Superintendent
District Superintendent (United Methodist Church)
A District Superintendent, often abbreviated D.S., in the United Methodist Church is a clergyperson who serves in a supervisory position over a geographic District of churches providing spiritual and administrative leadership to those churches and their pastors...
, 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...
Official
Official
An official is someone who holds an office in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority .A government official or functionary is an official who is involved in public...
, and 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...
(U.M.C.) who was elected in 1976.
Birth and family
Bishop Hodapp was born in Seymour, IndianaSeymour, Indiana
Seymour was the site of the World's First Train Robbery, committed by the local Reno Gang, on October 6, 1866 just east of town. The gang was put into prison for the robbery, and later hanged at Hangman's Crossing outside of town....
to Linden Charles and Mary Marguerite Miller Hodapp. Leroy Hodapp married Polly Anne Martin in June 1947; they have two daughters.
Education
Leroy earned his B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Evansville
University of Evansville
The University of Evansville is a small, private university with approximately 3,050 students located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
(1944), and his Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
degree from Drew Theological Seminary (1947). Bishop Hodapp also received several honorary doctorates.
Ordained ministry
Leroy was ordained Deacon in 1945 by Bishop Titus LoweTitus Lowe
Titus Lowe was an English-American Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church and The Methodist Church, elected in 1924.-Birth and family:...
, joining the Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
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...
of The Methodist Church. Bishop Lowe ordained him Elder the summer of 1947.
Rev. Hodapp served pastoral appointments at the Orleans, Indiana
Orleans, Indiana
Orleans is a town in Orleans Township, Orange County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,273 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Orleans is located at ....
Methodist Church; the Heath Memorial and Meridian Street
Meridian Street (Indianapolis)
Meridian Street is the primary north-south street in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States.Meridian Street was formerly aligned with US 31 for much of its length in the city of Indianapolis, before being re-routed to a segment of Interstate 465. The street delineates east addresses from west...
Methodist Churches in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, and the First Methodist Church in Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
. Between 1965 and 1970, Rev. Hodapp served as the Superintendent of the Bloomington District (1965-67), the Indianapolis West District (1967-68), and the Indianapolis Northeast District (1968-70). He then became Director of the Conference Council of Ministries of the South Indiana Annual Conference of the U.M. Church.
Rev. Hodapp was a delegate to the North Central Jurisdictional Conference of The Methodist/United Methodist Church (1964-76), and to the General Conference of the same (1968-76). He held responsible positions in conference agencies, including Chairperson of the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. He was also a member of the Commission to Study the Superintendency during the 1972-76 quadrennium
Quadrennium
A quadrennium is a period of 4 years, most commonly used in reference to the 4 year period between each Olympic Games....
.
Episcopal ministry
Leroy Hodapp was elected Bishop by the 1976 North Central Jurisdictional Conference. He was assigned to the 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,...
Episcopal Area
Episcopal Area
An Episcopal Area in the United Methodist Church is a basic unit of this denomination. It is a region presided over by a resident bishop that is similar to a diocese in other Christian denominations. Each annual conference in the UMC is within a single episcopal area; some episcopal areas...
(Central and South Illinois Annual Conferences), where he served 1976-1984. He then became Bishop of the Indiana Episcopal Area (North and South Indiana Annual Conferences), where he served until his retirement in 1992.
During his tenure as an active Bishop, Hodapp served as President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the General Board of Church and Society of the U.M.C. (based in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
), and later as the President of the General Board of Global Ministries (based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
). The Hodapps retired to Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
where they lived for several years, before moving to the Franklin United Methodist Community Home in Franklin, Indiana
Franklin, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,463 people, 6,824 households, and 4,872 families residing in the city. The population increased by more than 50% during the 1990s , with new residents attracted by jobs in the community, as well as some people commuting to Indianapolis for work. The...
.
Hodapp served as the trial officer (i.e. judge) in church trials involving sexual misconduct. He presided over a famous trial involving then-pastor Jimmy Creech
Jimmy Creech
Jimmy Creech is a lifelong pioneer in LGBT equality issues. Creech is a former United Methodist minister who was defrocked for marrying same-sex couples....
, who was eventually stripped of his clergy credentials for performing a same-gender union service
Blessing of same-sex unions in Christian churches
The blessing of same-sex unions is currently an issue about which some Christian churches are at present in disagreement with other Christian churches...
(a violation of U.M. Church law).
Death and funeral
Bishop Hodapp died at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, aged 82. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.Episcopal remembrance
Bishop Hodapp has been described as a steady, consistent and faithful leader for the U.M.Church. Then current Bishop of the Indiana Episcopal Area, Michael J. Coyner when he received word of Hodapp's death, said:- "When I think of Leroy Hodapp, the word which comes to my mind is 'faithful'. He served 50 years under appointment, starting as a student pastor, all the way through service as a pastor, campus minister, council director, district superintendent and bishop. A half-century of faithful ministerial service - that is an amazing record.
- "I was appointed onto the North [Indiana] Cabinet in 1990 by Bishop Hodapp, so I had the opportunity to serve with him during his final two years before his retirement, and I can testify that he was faithful, attentive, informed and courageous in his leadership. During his 16 years as an active bishop, both in Illinois and here in Indiana, Leroy and Polly became beloved to thousands of Unived Methodists. His casual, caring style along with his obvious love for the church endeared him to everyone inside and outside the church.
- "In the United Methodist Council of Bishops, Leroy Hodapp has been acknowledged for his wisdom, experience and level-headedness. When others might panic over the latest issues and concerns, Leroy has always been a steady, consistent, and faithful (there is that word again) leader for this denomination.
- "Here in Indiana, we will miss seeing Leroy behind the bench at IU basketball games. We will miss seeing Leroy walking with his beloved Polly. We will miss hearing his stories about camp and churches and pastors and life in general. We will miss him dearly. Please join me in keeping the Hodapp family in our prayers."
External links
- Photo of Bishop Hodapp (retrieved 3 March 2007)