Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton
Episcopal History
| 2004-present | Michigan Area |
| 1996-2004 | Ohio East Area |
Michigan Area Office Address
2164 University Park Drive, Suite 250
Okemos, MI 48864
Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton has served as the resident bishop of the Michigan Area of the United Methodist Church, which includes the Detroit and West Michigan Conferences, since September 1, 2004. Prior to his appointment to the Michigan Area, Keaton served eight years (1996-2004) as the resident bishop of the Ohio East Area. Keaton was elected to the Episcopacy in 1996.
An active servant on the general church level, Bishop Keaton is currently a member of the coordinating committee for the Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century program, and served as chairperson of that committee from 1996-2008. Keaton is also currently a member of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. His past involvement with general agencies include the General Board of Global Ministry from 1996-2004, and The United Methodist Development Fund from 1996-2004, where he served as president. Keaton has also been a member of the New District Superintendent/Council Directors Training Committee since 1996.
Keaton was elected to the Episcopacy after serving six years (1990-96) as the district superintendent of the Aurora District in the Northern Illinois Annual Conference. Prior to that, he was an Associate Council Director in Northern Illinois for eight years (1982-90) and was responsible for church and society, ethnic minority local churches and spiritual formation. Keaton also served two local churches: Broadway UMC in Rockford, Ill., from 1979-82 and St. Luke UMC in Chicago, Ill., from 1970-79. Bishop Keaton was elected to three General Conference delegations (1988, 1992, 1996) with the Northern Illinois Conference and was the head of the delegation in 1996. He also served as a member of the General Council on Ministries from 1988-96.
Keaton graduated with a Master's of Divinity Studies from Garrett -Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1971, and also received a Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the seminary in 1979. Awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from Garrett in 2001, Keaton was also a teaching assistant at Garrett in communications, ethics and society, church and the Black experience. Bishop Keaton received his Bachelor's of Science degree from Philander Smith College in 1968 and was awarded the Outstanding Service Award in 1967. Philander Smith is one of the 11 colleges and universities supported by The United Methodist Church's Black College Fund.
In 2008, Keaton co-authored "The Confessions of Three Ebony Bishops" with Bishop Edsel A. Ammons and Bishop Ernest S. Lyght. He also contributed to "God Delivers Me - A model from Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century.
Keaton has traveled the world extensively in support of missions and is a frequent presenter at The United Methodist Women Schools of Christian Mission across the United States.
Born in Fort Smith, Ark., Keaton and his wife, Beverly, have three children: Jonathan II, Tandreka, and Anaya, and two granddaughters: Maliah and Amara.