Hyfler/Rosner
2005-03-11 14:25:22 UTC
Bishop D. Ward Nichols, Oldest Methodist Bishop, Dies At 104
Jet Mag
Bishop Decatur Ward Nichols, the 59th Bishop of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church, died quietly at his home in
Huntington Station, Long Island, NY. He was 104.
When Bishop Nichols died, he was the oldest living bishop in
Methodism.
Bishop Nichols earned a Master of Arts in Missions and a
Bachelor of Divinity degree from Drew University in Madison,
NJ. He followed in his father's footsteps and was ordained
an A.M.E. minister in 1926.
Elected a bishop in 1940, Nichols emerged as one of the most
influential A.M.E. Bishops of all time over the course of
his 60-plus-year career.
In 1948, he attended the historic first meeting of the World
Council of Churches, an organization that brought together
churches of all denominations. He served on the executive
committee and as the group's first African-American vice
president. In 1952, Bishop Nichols traveled to Oxford,
England, to participate in the establishment of the World
Methodist Organization, where he also served as one of the
vice presidents.
Bishop Nichols was laid to rest alongside his late wife,
Kay, who died in 1993. He is survived by two daughters,
Wardean Nichols Henry and Sioux Nichols Taylor, and a host
of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Jet Mag
Bishop Decatur Ward Nichols, the 59th Bishop of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church, died quietly at his home in
Huntington Station, Long Island, NY. He was 104.
When Bishop Nichols died, he was the oldest living bishop in
Methodism.
Bishop Nichols earned a Master of Arts in Missions and a
Bachelor of Divinity degree from Drew University in Madison,
NJ. He followed in his father's footsteps and was ordained
an A.M.E. minister in 1926.
Elected a bishop in 1940, Nichols emerged as one of the most
influential A.M.E. Bishops of all time over the course of
his 60-plus-year career.
In 1948, he attended the historic first meeting of the World
Council of Churches, an organization that brought together
churches of all denominations. He served on the executive
committee and as the group's first African-American vice
president. In 1952, Bishop Nichols traveled to Oxford,
England, to participate in the establishment of the World
Methodist Organization, where he also served as one of the
vice presidents.
Bishop Nichols was laid to rest alongside his late wife,
Kay, who died in 1993. He is survived by two daughters,
Wardean Nichols Henry and Sioux Nichols Taylor, and a host
of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.