Welcome Bishop Harvey!
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ROGERS, ARK.— Cynthia Fierro Harvey was assigned to the Rio Texas Annual Conference during the 15th Session of the South Central Jurisdictional Conference held in Rogers, Arkansas on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.
Harvey will also continue to serve as episcopal leader of the Texas Annual Conference—where she has served for the past two years. She previously served the Louisiana Annual Conference for ten years beginning in 2012. She was consecrated as bishop after leading UMCOR as Deputy General Secretary from 2010-2012.
She previously served as the President of the Council of Bishops 2020-2022, President-designate 2018-2020 and as the Secretary of the Council of Bishops 2014-2018. She serves on the board of directors at various organizations, including the Board of Trustees for Southwestern University and the Lydia Patterson Institute. She currently serves as President of The General Commission of Archives and History of The United Methodist Church.
As bishop, Harvey challenged congregations to look beyond themselves and to keep an eye focused on the edge where God is at work. She also has a passion for young people as they lead the church into a future filled with possibilities.
“Bishop Harvey has many gifts and strengths to share with Rio Texas. Among them, a strong commitment to building a church for future generations,” said Rachel Wright, member of the Rio Texas Episcopacy Committee. “I look forward to the ways that our daughters and granddaughters will newly see their present and future selves reflected in Bishop Harvey’s leadership.”
After the announcement, Bishop Harvey shared: “I am looking forward to getting to know the people of the Rio Texas Conference. It is a time to build a church for the future.”
Prior to her 2012 consecration as bishop, Harvey was the Director of Missional Excellence for the Texas Annual Conference. She served as executive pastor for Houston Memorial Drive UMC (1996-2008) and an associate pastor of Houston The Foundry United Methodist Church (1992-1996). She previously spent 12 years in the corporate world as a regional director of marketing for The Rouse Company before her ordination in 1992.
Harvey is a graduate of Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology, and University of Texas at Austin. She was born in Big Spring, Texas in a “typical Hispanic neighborhood surrounded by family.” She married her husband Dean Alan in 1981. They have one adult daughter.
Bishop Robert Schnase, who recently announced his retirement from episcopacy effective September 1, said: “I am grateful to God for the leadership and service of Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey. Bishop Harvey is an experienced bishop with a careful and fruitful eye toward the future. Rio Texas is blessed to have her as our episcopal leader.”
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SCJ Press Release - New Episcopal Coverage Areas Announced at South Central Jurisdictional Conference
