Bishop Violet L. Fisher
Resident Bishop, New York West Area

Since 2000, Violet L. Fisher has served as Resident Bishop of the New York West Area of The United Methodist Church, the first African-American woman from the Northeastern Jurisdiction to be elected to the episcopacy. Bishop Fisher has received several awards, including The United Methodist Church Denman Evangelism Award. In 1993, she was named Black United Methodist Preacher of the Year for the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the UMC.

Within The UMC, Bishop Fisher serves as President of the Northeastern Jurisdiction College of Bishops and is a member of the Commission on Pan-Methodist Cooperation and Union and of Black Methodists for Church Renewal. Currently Vice President of the General Board of Global Ministries, Bishop Fisher sits on the Board's Audit Committee and Hope for the Children of Africa Committee. In addition, she continues her work with the General Board of Discipleship Committee on Older Adult Ministries. Bishop Fisher was the keynote speaker for the International Prayer Conference for Wesleyans in Renewal held in Singapore in June 2004.

In addition, Bishop Fisher served as a short-term missionary to Kenya, Uganda, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. She has a large extended family in the Maryland and Delaware area, including her son, Marcus, and her mother, sisters and brothers.

Detailed Bio

Bishop Fisher receives honorary Doctorate

Bishop Fisher received an honorary Doctorate of Letters on Saturday, May 20, 2006 from Centenary College . 

Working with Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar , formerly of the North Central New York Conference, Centenary College bestowed this degree in tribute to and in honor of the 50^th Anniversary of Full Clergy Rights for Women in The United Methodist Church. 

Located in Hacketts town , New Jersey , Centenary College has a long standing relationship with The United Methodist Church. As the primary educational and cultural resource for northwest New Jersey , Centenary offers a range of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs as well as non-degree courses for professional and personal development.

Bishop Fisher is most appreciative to have received this distinguished honor.

Appointment Process - If you would like more information about how we work together to appoint clergy in The United Methodist Church, please see the booklet, Appointment Making for the Sake of God's Mission in the World.