September 26, 2006

Bishop Alfred Lloyd Norris Sr.
Named to SMU Board of Trustees

DALLAS (SMU) — Bishop Alfred Lloyd Norris Sr. has been appointed to the Southern Methodist University Board of Trustees by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church, effective Dec. 8, completing the term of the late Bishop Rhymes H. Moncure Jr.

“We look forward to the leadership experience Bishop Norris brings to the board,” said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. “His service to the United Methodist Church as a pastor and bishop on various church boards and committees, his extensive travels, and his continuing work with the global church will bring an important perspective to our deliberations.”

Bishop Norris was elected to the episcopacy of the United Methodist Church in 1992. He served eight years as bishop of the New Mexico and Northwest Texas Conferences and four years as bishop of the Texas Conference (Houston Area). He most recently served as bishop-in-residence of Gammon Theological Seminary. He also served on the SMU Board of Trustees from 1996 to 2004.

Born in Bogalusa, Louisiana, Bishop Norris is a graduate of Dillard University and Gammon Theological Seminary. He was New Orleans district superintendent of the United Methodist Church before becoming Gammon’s director of recruitment and later its president.

Bishop Norris was elected to five United Methodist General and Jurisdictional Conferences, beginning in 1976. He also was appointed a delegate to six World Methodist Conferences. He served three United Methodist Church general agencies, including the General Board of Publication (1980-92), General Board of Discipleship (1992-96), and the General Council on Finance and Administration (1996-2004). He was a member of the University Senate of the United Methodist Church in 2000.

Under Church practice, the Dallas-area bishop of the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church is an ex officio member of the SMU Board of Trustees. The late Bishop Moncure died Aug. 19.

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