Dick Wills' Bio
Bishop Richard J. Wills, Jr.
PERSONAL: Born: August 3, 1942
Married: Eileen Willis Wills on June 12, 1965
Children: Richard J. Wills III, Lakeland, FL; Suzanne Wills Hart, West Palm Beach, FL; Johanna Wills Clark, Orlando, FL; Rebekah Wills Stephens, Sebring, FL
EDUCATION:
B.S. in Psychology, Florida Southern University, 1964
HONORS M.Div., Candler School of Theology, Emory University, 1967
Honorary Doctorates-Bethune-Cookman College and Florida Southern College
MINISTRY:
Ordained deacon,1965; ordained elder, 1969 in the Florida Annual Conference; elected Bishop 2004 and appointed to Nashville Area (Tennessee and Memphis Conferences)
Crystal Lake United Methodist, Lakeland, FL, 1967-1971
Madarin United Methodist, Jacksonville, FL, 1971-1975
Associate Council Director, 1975-1978
Englewood United Methodist, Englewood, FL, 1978-1986
Senior Pastor-Christ Church United Methodist, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 1986-2004
Bishop, Nashville Area, 2004-present
SERVICE:
Florida Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, 1980-1988, 2002-2004
(Chairperson, 1984-1988)
Large Church Initiative Steering Committee, Board of Discipleship, 14 years
Conf. Committee on Episcopacy, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 (Chairperson 1988)
Member SEJ Committee on Episcopacy, 1996, 2000, 2004
Delegate to General Conference, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004
Delegate to Jurisdictional Conference 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004
Chair of Order of Elders, 2000-2004
Chair of Conference Camps Task Force, 2002-2004
Member, Board of Trustees Bethune-Cookman College, 1995-2000
Clergy Head of Florida's General Conference Delegation, 2000, 2004
Head of the Florida's General Conference Delegation, 2004
PUBLICATIONS: Waking to God’s Dream 2000
Author of many articles on spiritual leadership
OFFICE: 520 Commerce Street, Suite 201
Nashville, TN 37203-3714
Phone: (615) 742-8834
Fax: (615) 742-3726
Email: bishop@nasharea.org