Marjorie Matthews Papers

Marjorie Swank Matthews (1916-1986), first female bishop consecrated in The United Methodist Church, was born circa July 11, 1916 to Jess A. and Mae (Chapman) Swank. Before entering the ministry, Matthews was secretary and assistant treasurer for an automotive parts corporation. Matthews began her ministry in 1959 at Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church in Michigan. She was ordained as a local elder in 1965. Matthews also served Pleasant Valley-Leaton, Vermontville-Gresham, Sunfield-Sebewa Center, Evart, Ashley-Bannister, and Napoleon Methodist charges, all in Michigan. While at seminary, Matthews served LeRoy and Barre Center Presbyterian Churches in New York. Matthews was received as a Full Member into the West Michigan Conference in June of 1969. In 1976, she was appointed District Superintendent of the Grand Traverse District. On July 17, 1980, Matthews was elected United Methodism's first female bishop by the North Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church, she was appointed to the Wisconsin Conference, where Matthews served until her retirement in 1984. Matthews was a champion of women’s issues in the church and led many workshop for clergywomen and pastors’ wives. Matthews had a considerable academic career. She was awarded a Bachelor of Arts from Central Michigan University in 1967 and a Bachelor of Divinity from Colgate Rochester Divinity School in 1970. Matthews received a Master of Arts in 1971 and Doctorate in Philosophy in Humanities in 1976, both from Florida State University. Her doctoral dissertation was entitled “Issues and Answers in the Book of Job and Joban Issues and Answers in Three Twentieth Century Writers: Carl Jung, Robert Frost, and Archibald Macleish." Matthews had one son, William, and three grandchildren, Robbie, Lori, and Greg. She died after a prolonged bout with cancer on June 30, 1986. Matthews is interred in the Alma Cemetery, Alma, Michigan.