David Jerald Lawson (March 26, 1930 – May 31, 2007) was an American who gained notability as a pastor and university campus minister in the Methodist and United Methodist churches, as a district superintendent, annual conference official, and as a bishop of the United Methodist Church (UMC), elected in 1984. He also played a key role establishing and developing Africa University, which is the only UMC university on the continent.
Birth and family
David was born in Princeton, Indiana and married Martha Ellen Pegram, also of Princeton. The Lawsons had two children: a son, John Mark, married to Louann (who have one son, Matthew); and a daughter, Karen Sue, married to Ray Eynon (who have two children, Rachel and Jacob). David also had a brother, John; married to Lilia; with son Vlad.
Education
Lawson earned degrees from the University of Evansville (A.B., 1955) and Garrett Biblical Institute (B.D., 1959). Additional studies included graduate work in psychology and counseling at Garrett and special studies in organizational development. Areas of independent studies included the Theology of Ordination, and the Ministry of Jesus in Galilee. He served as a trainer in leadership development, an instructor at the University of Evansville, a keynote speaker at several conferences on science and Christianity, and leader of laity and clergy retreats. He and his wife also served as certified trainers for Marriage Enrichment. He was a member of Pi Gamma Mu Social Science Honorary Fraternity.
Ordained ministry
David was admitted to Probationary Membership in the Indiana Annual Conference and was ordained a Deacon in The Methodist Church in 1956. He became a Member in Full Connection and was ordained an Elder in 1959. Both ordinations were officiated by Bishop Richard C. Raines.
David's pastoral ministry included the Epworth Church (student pastor) in the Indiana Conference and the Wolcott Church (also student) in the Northwest Indiana Conference. Following seminary graduation, he was appointed to Carrollton and Tell City, then to the Wesley Foundation at Indiana University, then the Beech Grove Church in Indianapolis. He was the Superintendent of the Evansville District and the Director of the South Indiana Conference Council on Ministries. He then was the Pastor of the Carmel Church (Indianapolis) when elected to the Episcopacy.
Prior to his election, David served as a delegate to the U.M. North Central Jurisdictional Conference (1972–84) and General Conference (1976–84). In South Indiana, he served as Registrar and Chairperson of the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and as Chairperson of the Conference Camping Commission.
Episcopal ministry
Elected to the episcopacy by the North Central Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M.C. in 1984, Bishop Lawson was assigned the Wisconsin episcopal area (1984–92) and the Springfield Area (1992–96). As a Bishop he served as Vice President of the U.M. General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (President of Division on Chaplains and Related Ministry), and as vice president and President of the General Board of Discipleship (Chairperson of Long Range Planning Committee). He served as a member of the Steering Committee for Africa University (Chairperson of its Curriculum and Design Committee, and Chairperson of the Selection Committee for the first Dean of its School of Tehology).
Bishop Lawson also served as President of the Wisconsin Conference of Churches. He was the President of the U.M. North Central College of Bishops, and on various committees of the Council of Bishops (including chairing the committee to Study the Ministry). He was also a member of the executive committee of the World Methodist Council and President of its Committee on International Theological Education. Bishop Lawson also held many other responsibilities throughout the Church.
He served as a Trustee of many colleges and universities, including University of Evansville, North Central College, Illinois Wesleyan University, McKendree University, and MacMurray College. He also served as a Trustee of hospitals, including Methodist Hospital of Indiana, Meriter Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, Methodist Medical Center of Peoria, Illinois, and several retirement homes in Wisconsin and Illinois.
Following retirement in 1996, Bishop Lawson served as Bishop-in-Residence and a faculty member of the Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.