Marshall Gilmore
Encyclopedia
Marshall Gilmore, the 41st Bishop
of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
, was born in Hoffman, NC, January 4, 1931. From infancy, his early Christian
nurture was within the bosom of the Pleasant Hill CME Church family. Upon his hearing and answering the call to preach, his home church
granted license on January 2, 1954 - two days short of his 23rd birthday. The North Carolina
Annual Conference admitted him on trial in 1955, and in the same year, Bishop William Yancy Bell
ordained him Deacon. The following year Bishop Bell ordained him Elder
.
Bishop Gilmore graduated from the West Southern Pines High School in NC in 1949, following which he entered military service, serving honorably in the U.S. Air Force from 1950 - 1954. He matriculated at Paine College
in Augusta, GA in 1954 and was graduated with a BA degree in 1957. He studied theology
at Drew University
, being awarded the M.Div. degree in 1960. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from the United Theological Seminary
in 1974. Bishop Gilmore was awarded the Doctor of Divinity
degree from Texas College and the Interdenominational Theological Center, and his Alma Mater, Paine College, bestowed upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws and Letters.
It was from distinguished and effective service in the pastor
al ministry that Marshall Gilmore was elected to the Episcopacy in 1982 - the senior in the largest Episcopal class elected in the history of the church. That service carried him to pastoral appointments in Georgia
, Illinois
, Michigan
, and Ohio
. His last pastoral service was at the Phillips Temple CME Church of Dayton, OH where he led the congregation in building a new edifice for which the mortgage was also liquidated.
As a Bishop, Marshall Gilmore served as Chair of the Department of Evangelism
; and presently serves as Chair of the Department of Personnel Services. He is also Vice-Chair of the General Connectional Board and is the representative of the CME Church on the Consultation on Church Union. He is also the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Texas College and a member of the Board of Trustees at Paine College.
Married to the former Yvonne Dukes, a native of Fitzgerald, GA he is the father of two adult children.
At the 1994 General Conference, Bishop Gilmore was assigned the Presiding Bishop of the 8th Episcopal District. His office and residence are in Dallas, TX.
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 Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is a historically black denomination within the broader context of Methodism. The group was organized in 1870 when several black ministers, with the full support of their white counterparts in the former Methodist Episcopal Church, South, met to form an...
, was born in Hoffman, NC, January 4, 1931. From infancy, his early Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
nurture was within the bosom of the Pleasant Hill CME Church family. Upon his hearing and answering the call to preach, his home church
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...
granted license on January 2, 1954 - two days short of his 23rd birthday. The North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
Annual Conference admitted him on trial in 1955, and in the same year, Bishop William Yancy Bell
William Yancy Bell
William Yancy Bell received a Ph. D. from Yale University in 1924 was a sometime follower of Marcus Garvey and became a Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in 1933-References:...
ordained him Deacon. The following year Bishop Bell ordained him Elder
Elder (Methodism)
An Elder in the Methodist Church — sometimes called a Presbyter or Minister — is someone who has been ordained by a Bishop to the ministry of Word, Sacrament, Order, and Service...
.
Bishop Gilmore graduated from the West Southern Pines High School in NC in 1949, following which he entered military service, serving honorably in the U.S. Air Force from 1950 - 1954. He matriculated at Paine College
Paine College
Paine College is a private Historically Black college located in Augusta, Georgia.-Mission:The Mission of Paine College, a church-related private institution, is to provide a liberal arts education of the highest quality that emphasizes academic excellence, ethical and spiritual values, social...
in Augusta, GA in 1954 and was graduated with a BA degree in 1957. He studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Drew University
Drew University
Drew University is a private university located in Madison, New Jersey.Originally established as the Drew Theological Seminary in 1867, the university later expanded to include an undergraduate liberal arts college in 1928 and commenced a program of graduate studies in 1955...
, being awarded the M.Div. degree in 1960. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from the United Theological Seminary
United Theological Seminary
United Theological Seminary is a United Methodist seminary in Trotwood, Ohio, United States, in the Dayton metropolitan area. Founded in 1869 by Milton Wright, it was originally sponsored by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ...
in 1974. Bishop Gilmore was awarded the Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
degree from Texas College and the Interdenominational Theological Center, and his Alma Mater, Paine College, bestowed upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws and Letters.
It was from distinguished and effective service in 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"....
al ministry that Marshall Gilmore was elected to the Episcopacy in 1982 - the senior in the largest Episcopal class elected in the history of the church. That service carried him to pastoral appointments in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, Illinois
Illinois
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,...
, 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"....
, and Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. His last pastoral service was at the Phillips Temple CME Church of Dayton, OH where he led the congregation in building a new edifice for which the mortgage was also liquidated.
As a Bishop, Marshall Gilmore served as Chair of the Department of Evangelism
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
; and presently serves as Chair of the Department of Personnel Services. He is also Vice-Chair of the General Connectional Board and is the representative of the CME Church on the Consultation on Church Union. He is also the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Texas College and a member of the Board of Trustees at Paine College.
Married to the former Yvonne Dukes, a native of Fitzgerald, GA he is the father of two adult children.
At the 1994 General Conference, Bishop Gilmore was assigned the Presiding Bishop of the 8th Episcopal District. His office and residence are in Dallas, TX.