Marjorie Matthews

Marjorie Swank Matthews (July 11, 1916 – June 30, 1986) was an American bishop of the United Methodist Church and the first woman to serve as a Methodist bishop.

Early life She was born July 11, 1916, in Onaway, Michigan, to Jesse Alonzo and Charlotte Mae (Chapman) Swank. She married young and divorced after World War II. She then went on to receive a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Colgate Rochester Divinity School in 1970. Completing her schooling at Florida State University, she received both a master's in religion and a doctorate in humanities in 1976.

Ordained ministry During July 1980, the North Central Jurisdiction of United Methodist Church met for an annual conference. There were only 23 female clergy in attendance out of 460 delegates.