Robert E. Hayes, Jr.

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Robert E. Hayes, Jr. (born 4 August 1947) is an American Bishop of the United Methodist Church (U.M.C.), elected in 2004. He has distinguished himself as a Pastor, District Superintendent, College Chaplain and Instructor, as well as, the Treasurer of the Texas Annual Conferenceof the UMC. He has been in strong demand as an Evangelist and Lecturer. As bishop, Hayes has been in wide demand as a preacher, conference speaker, and innovative leader.

1 Family
2 Education
3 Ordained Ministry
4 Honors
5 Episcopal Ministry
6 Other Information
7 References
8 See also

[edit] Family

Robert E. Hayes, Jr. is the son and grandson of United Methodist pastors. His father, Robert E. Hayes, Sr., served as the President of the historic Wiley College. He is married to Delilah “Dee” Bernard of Lafayette, Louisiana. They have three children: Joya Hayes who lives in Austin, Texas; Robert E. Hayes, III of Houston, Texas; and Ryan Ethan Hayes of Houston, TX

[edit] Education

Hayes earned a B.A. degree in English from Huston-Tillotson University, Austin, Texas (1969). Hayes was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity while a student at Huston-Tillotson. He earned an M.Th. degree from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas (1972). He earned a D.Min. degree from Drew University, Madison, New Jersey (1997).

In addition, Hayes was a Methodist Fellow to Europe, Asia and Russia in 1967. He was a Crusade Scholar of the U.M.C. in 1970-72. He was in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities in 1968, and Outstanding Young Men in America in 1969.

[edit] Ordained Ministry

Hayes was ordained in the Texas Annual Conference of the U.M. Church. Prior to his election to the Episcopacy, he served the following appointments: McCabe U.M.C., Longview, Texas, as well as Chaplain and Instructor of Religion and Philosophy at Wiley College (1972-75); Blueridge U.M.C., Houston, Texas (1975-86); Riverside U.M.C., Houston (1986-94); Superintendent of the Houston Southwest District (1994-2001); Treasurer, Texas Annual Conference (2002-04).

Hayes was active in community ministries, as well. He was a member of the Houston Board of Missions of the U.M.C. (1994-2001); Secretary of the Wesley House Community Center (1990-98); on the Board of Directors of the Houston Ebony Opera Guild (1986-94) and of the Methodist Home, Waco, Texas (1994-2000). He also served on the Board of Directors of Bering-Omega Community Services (an HIV/AIDS ministry in Houston); on the Advisory Board of Covenant House of Texas (1999-2004); and as an officer and member of: the Texas Conference Board of Trustees, the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, the Division of Colleges, and the Committee on Ethnic Local Church Concerns.

[edit] Honors

Hayes served as the Lenten Evangelist at Lovers Lane U.M.C., Dallas, Texas (2003); as a Lecturer and Lenten Evangelist at the Chicago Temple U.M.C., Chicago, Illinois (1998); and Lecturer and Lenten Evangelist at St. Luke's U.M.C., Houston (1999). He was named Outstanding Alumni by the Houston Chapter, Houston-Tillotson College (1989-90). He chaired the Legislative Committee on Faith and Order at the General Conference of the U.M.C., Cleveland, Ohio, (2000).

[edit] Episcopal Ministry

Bishop Hayes was endorsed for the Episcopacy by the General and Jurisdictional Delegations of the Texas Annual Conference and by Black Methodists for Church Renewal, South Central Jurisdiction. He was the first to be elected of four new bishops by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church meeting in Corpus Christi in 2004. He was assigned to the Oklahoma Episcopal Area (the Oklahoma and Oklahoma Indian Missionary Annual Conferences). His offices are in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Under his influence and leadership, St. Paul's School of Theology (in Kansas City) and Oklahoma City University (OCU) have worked together to create a new St. Paul's Seminary on the campus at OCU, opening in the fall of 2008.

[edit] Other Information

Bishop Hayes serves on the Board of Trustees of both Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore, KY) and St. Paul's School of Theology (Kansas City, MO).

Bishop Hayes was elected in 2008 to serve as the Secretary of the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church. He has been assigned to serve as one of the Episcopal Directors of the General Commission of Finance and Administration.

He is widely sought after as a preacher and conference speaker.