Bishop Delores J. Williamston, a Kansas Army National Guard veteran, serves as bishop of the Louisiana Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. She was assigned to the Louisiana Conference at the South Central Jurisdictional meeting in Houston on November 3, 2022.
Early Life
Bishop Williamston was a 22-year veteran of the Kansas Army National Guard, where she served as a technician and eventually became chief supervisor of the account and finance operations at the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office in Topeka. Her rank upon retirement from the National Guard was sergeant first class.
Education
Bishop Williamston left high school before graduation, only to return for her GED. Her education continued, and she later received a bachelor’s degree in management, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2023.
Previous Ministry
Bishop Williamston was ordained as an elder in 2010 and previously served in the Great Plains Conference as the superintendent for the Hays, Hutchinson, and Salina Districts. She also served as Director of Clergy Excellence and Assistant to the Bishop.
Prior to beginning her service with the Great Plains Conference, Williamston served churches in Independence, Salina, Mentor, and Topeka in Kansas.
Ordination
Bishop Williamston earned her Master’s of Divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, with a specialty in Black Church ministries and evangelism. In 2023, she obtained her Doctorate of Ministry from Philips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Fun Facts
Bishop Williamston, a breast cancer survivor, has one son, seven grandchildren, and one pet, Shih Tzu, named Oden Oldie Buster Inky-Do Slick-Rick Houdini Fluffy-Pants Mister Williamston. She loves to watch birds fly and nest but has no idea what kinds of birds she’s watching. For relaxation, Bishop Williamston likes to bike ride and complete paint-by-numbers panels.