Robert Hitchcock Spain
Encyclopedia
Robert Hitchcock Spain is a retired American
Bishop
of the United Methodist Church
, elected in 1988.
, the son of James Thomas and Grace (Hitchcock) Spain. His parents were both public educators.
Spain married Syble Mink of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
14 May 1948. They have two children, Mrs. Philip (Mollie) Johnston, and John Philip Spain. They also have five grandchildren.
until the end of World War II
.
He then began his education in Pre-med at the University of Tennessee
. Upon changing his life's direction into ordained ministry, he entered the University of North Alabama
, from which he earned a B.A.
degree. Robert then earned the M.Div. degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School
, and an M.A.
from Scarritt College
. He also received an Honorary Doctorate from Lambuth College.
; a station church in Springhill; and was the Conference Director of Youth Work. Rev. Spain was ordained deacon
in 1953 and elder in 1954, both times by Bishop Roy H. Short. Following Divinity School
, Rev. Spain served four successive appointments: Livingston, Lebanon, Belle Meade in Nashville, and Brentwood.
Rev. Spain served as the Superintendent of the Nashville
District, 1978-83. He was always an active participant in his Annual Conference
and the General Church. He was elected a delegate to the General Conference of the U.M. Church five consecutive quadrennia, being the first elected the last four of them. He served eight years on the General Board of Church and Society, eight years on the General Board of Publications, and four years on the General Council on Ministries. He was a reserve member of the Judicial Council, as well.
Upon his election and consecration, Bishop Spain was assigned to the Louisville
Episcopal Area (1988–92), serving as Presiding Bishop of the Louisville and Kentucky
Annual Conferences, and of the Red Bird Missionary Conference.
Upon his retirement August 1992, Bishop Spain taught clergy and laity through the Focus on Ministry seminar, sponsored by the United Methodist Publishing House, Nashville. Upon the death of Bishop Joseph B. Bethea in South Carolina
, the Southeastern Jurisdictional College of Bishops assigned Bishop Spain to the South Carolina Conference until August 1996.
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 1988.
Birth and Family
He was born in Loretto, TennesseeLoretto, Tennessee
Loretto is a city in Lawrence County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,665 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Loretto is located at ....
, the son of James Thomas and Grace (Hitchcock) Spain. His parents were both public educators.
Spain married Syble Mink of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
Lawrenceburg is a city in Lawrence County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 10,796 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lawrence County...
14 May 1948. They have two children, Mrs. Philip (Mollie) Johnston, and John Philip Spain. They also have five grandchildren.
Military Service and Education
At the age of seventeen, Spain joined the U.S. Navy, serving in the South PacificPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
until the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
He then began his education in Pre-med at the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
. Upon changing his life's direction into ordained ministry, he entered the University of North Alabama
University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama is a coeducational university located in Florence, Alabama, and the state's oldest four-year public university....
, from which he earned a 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. Robert then earned the M.Div. degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School
Vanderbilt Divinity School
The Vanderbilt Divinity School and Graduate Department of Religion is an interdenominational divinity school at Vanderbilt University, a major research university located in Nashville, Tennessee...
, and an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from Scarritt College
Scarritt College
Scarritt College began as the Neosho Male and Female Seminary. In 1887 it was reconstituted as the Scarritt Collegiate Institute...
. He also received an Honorary Doctorate from Lambuth College.
Ordained Ministry
While a student, Rev. Spain pastored a circuit of five churches in Wayne County, TennesseeWayne County, Tennessee
As of the census of 2010, there were 17,021 people, 5,822 households, and 4,321 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile . There were 6,701 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile...
; a station church in Springhill; and was the Conference Director of Youth Work. Rev. Spain was ordained deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1953 and elder in 1954, both times by Bishop Roy H. Short. Following Divinity School
Divinity School
Divinity School may refer to:* The common noun, divinity school* When used as a proper noun, may be an abbreviated reference to one of the following:** Beeson Divinity School** Berkeley Divinity School** Brite Divinity School...
, Rev. Spain served four successive appointments: Livingston, Lebanon, Belle Meade in Nashville, and Brentwood.
Rev. Spain served as the Superintendent of the Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
District, 1978-83. He was always an active participant in his 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...
and the General Church. He was elected a delegate to the General Conference of the U.M. Church five consecutive quadrennia, being the first elected the last four of them. He served eight years on the General Board of Church and Society, eight years on the General Board of Publications, and four years on the General Council on Ministries. He was a reserve member of the Judicial Council, as well.
Episcopal Ministry
Rev. Spain was elected to the Episcopacy of the U.M. Church by the 1988 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. He was consecrated to this office 16 July 1988. Present at his consecration was Bishop Roy H. Short, who had ordained him 30+ years earlier.Upon his election and consecration, Bishop Spain was assigned to the Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
Episcopal Area (1988–92), serving as Presiding Bishop of the Louisville and Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
Annual Conferences, and of the Red Bird Missionary Conference.
Upon his retirement August 1992, Bishop Spain taught clergy and laity through the Focus on Ministry seminar, sponsored by the United Methodist Publishing House, Nashville. Upon the death of Bishop Joseph B. Bethea in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, the Southeastern Jurisdictional College of Bishops assigned Bishop Spain to the South Carolina Conference until August 1996.