Hope Morgan Ward

Hope Morgan Ward (born September 18, 1951) is a bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected and consecrated to the episcopacy in 2004. She has served as the Bishop of North Carolina since 2012.

Biography
Hope Morgan Ward was raised on the Morgan family farm in Corapeake, North Carolina. She graduated from Duke University in 1973 with an A.B. degree in English and Religion. She entered seminary at Duke Divinity School and completed the M.Div. degree in 1978.

Bishop Ward married career educator Michael E. Ward in 1977. Mike served as the North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1997 - 2004. The Wards have two children, Jason and Brooke.

Ordained ministry

 * Director of Christian Education and Mission, Fairmont UMC, 1973-1978
 * Teaching parent, chaplain, Methodist Home for Children, 1977-1979
 * Minister of Education, White Plains UMC, 1979-1983
 * Pastor, Broadway UMC, 1983-1986
 * Pastor, Soapstone UMC, 1986-1997
 * Director of Connectional Ministries, 1997-2002
 * Raleigh District Superintendent, 2002-2004
 * Bishop of Mississippi Conference 2004-2012
 * Bishop of North Carolina Conference 2012–present