Edsel Albert Ammons (February 17, 1924 – December 24, 2010) was anAmerican bishop of theUnited Methodist Church, elected in 1976.
Ammons was born on February 17, 1924, inChicago, Illinois.[1] He was the son ofboogie woogie legendAlbert Ammons.[2] Bishop Ammons was married to Helen Ammons, the former Director of Student Life atGarrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary,Evanston, Illinois.
He was a graduate ofRoosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois (B.A., 1948). He earned hisBachelor of Divinity degree fromGarrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois (1956), and hisD.Min. fromChicago Theological Seminary (1975).
Ammons wasordained, both deacon and elder, in theAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church (1947 and 1949),pastoring churches of thatdenomination in Chicago and inHighland Falls, New York. Edsel was a social case worker for the Department of Welfare of Cook County, Illinois (1951–56).[2]
In 1957, under the influence of BishopCharles Wesley Brashares, Ammons transferred into theRock RiverAnnual Conference of theUnited Methodist Church, and was appointed to the Whitfield Methodist Church in Chicago (which became the Ingleside-Whitfield Methodist Parish). He served this church until 1963, when he became director of urban ministry for theRockford District. In 1966, he was appointed to the program staff of the Annual Conference.[1]
Ammons joined thefaculty of Garrett Theological Seminary in 1968, remaining in this position until elected to theepiscopacy in 1976.[1]
Ammons was elected by the North Central Jurisdictional Conference and assigned to theMichigan Episcopal Area (the Detroit and West Michigan Annual Conferences). After eight years in Michigan, he was assigned to theOhio West Area (the West Ohio Conference). He also served as the president of the U.M. General Board of Discipleship (1980–84), the chairperson of the Health and Welfare Program Department (1984–88), and chairperson of theMissionary Personnel and Resources Program Department (1988–92) of the General Board of Global Ministries.[1][2]
Ammons receivedhonorary degrees fromWestmar College (1975),Albion College (1979),Adrian College (1980),Mount Union College (1992) and Chicago Theological Seminary (1992).[1] In retirement Bishop Ammons served as bishop-in-residence at Garrett-Evangelical.
Ammons died on December 24, 2010, inEvanston, Illinois, at age 86.[1][2]
in 1951 Ammons married June Billingsley and they had six children: Marilyn, Edsel, Jr., Carol, Kenneth, Carlton, and jazz singer Lila.[2]
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