William Bryant Oden (1935–2018) was an Americanbishop of theUnited Methodist Church, elected in 1988. He was born 3 August 1935 inMcAllen, Texas. He was married toMarilyn Brown Oden, the author of over eight books. They have four children and four grandchildren.[1]
William graduated fromOklahoma State University earning aB.A. inPhilosophy. He earned theM.Div. degree fromHarvard University, and theTh.D. fromBoston University.
Prior to his election to theepiscopacy, William served aspastor ofAldersgateU.M.C.,Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (1963–69);St. Stephen's U.M.C.,Norman, Oklahoma (1969–76); Crown Heights U.M.C., Oklahoma City (1976–83) and First U.M.C.,Enid, Oklahoma (1983–88).
William was elected a delegate to four U.M. General Conferences and six Jurisdictional Conferences. He led the Oklahoma clergy delegation in 1984 and 1988. He chaired three Conference Boards: Ordained Ministry,Evangelism, andHigher Education. He was active in other conference leadership positions as well. He was appointed a member of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Government Reform in Oklahoma, co-chairing the Committee on City-State Government Relations. During his last ten years as a pastor, he also served on the faculty ofPhillips Graduate Seminary, where he taught courses in preaching, worship, and spiritual formation.
Upon his election to the episcopacy, Bishop Oden was assigned to theLouisiana Episcopal Area (1988–96). He then served the Dallas Area until his retirement in 2004. He was the president of theU.M. Council of Bishops (2000–01). He served as president of the U.M. General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (1996-2000), and president of the U.M. Commission on Communications (2000–04). He has also served on the executive committee of theWorld Methodist Council and as a co-chair of the United Methodist/Episcopal Church Dialogue.
As bishop he was much in demand as a speaker at numerous conferences and lectureships. He was the Jackson Lecturer at Perkins School of Theology, and the visiting preacher for theBoston University School of Theology. He has also served as trustee at numerous institutions, including the Methodist Hospital ofDallas, and S.M.U. (also serving as secretary of board of trustees).