Missouri Receives A New Bishop
COLUMBIA, Mo., Sept. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in 12 years, the 800 United Methodist Churches in Missouri have a new bishop. For the first time in their history, it will be one of their own.
Robert Farr was elected to serve as a Bishop in the United Methodist Church at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference in Wichita, Kansas in July and started serving as the Bishop of Missouri on September 1. The South Central Jurisdiction covers an area from Nebraska to New Mexico. When a pastor is elected Bishop, he or she is assigned to serve an area by a committee. This is the first time in the jurisdiction that a bishop was assigned back to his home area.
"I could not be more excited to serve the people of Missouri through the United Methodist Church," said Farr. "We are going to continue to be a Church dedicated to creating disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."
Robert Farr grew up in Creighton, Missouri. He earned a bachelor's degree at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, and his Masters at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Texas. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Central Methodist University in Fayette. In Missouri he served as a pastor in Lee's Summit and St. Charles. For the past several years, Farr has worked with starting new churches and revitalizing existing ones. He has also authored books, including Renovate or Die and The Necessary Nine.
As Missouri's Bishop, Bishop Farr is ultimately responsible for the appointment of clergy to United Methodist Churches in Missouri. He is also the person who sets the vision and strategy for United Methodism in Missouri.
"In the coming year, I plan to be intentional about listening to the needs of our diverse local churches, and our pastors and lay leaders," Farr said. "That is the group of people best positioned to share what the vision of our next four years together will be."
Bishop Farr is passionate about all United Methodist Churches being places where people go to find and follow Jesus Christ. He's also a regular guy. He is a former fire fighter, serving in the local fire departments in his early days in ministry. He rides a Harley, likes to fish, loves camping with his wife Susan, and is a huge Kansas City Chiefs fan.
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SOURCE The Missouri Conference of United Methodist Church
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