Christianity • Protestantism Mary Ann Swenson is an American bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1992.
Swenson served as the Youth Director for the St. Luke and Capitol Street United Methodist churches in Jackson, Mississippi from 1966 to 1969.
Swenson was ordained to the ministry of the Pacific Northwest annual conference of the United Methodist Church by Bishop Wilbur Choy (deacon in 1973 and elder in 1976).
General Board of Global Ministries, as well as on its Mission Personnel Committee and the National Town and Country Network.
She also returned to the General Board of Discipleship, chairing a long-range planning strategy committee and serving as President (1996–2000).
In her official biography, Bishop Swenson considers herself "an outspoken leader on issues of inclusiveness and violence.
She continues to pursue her dream of leading the church in becoming a more inclusive community, justice seeking, and more perfect in love of God and neighbor.
Bishop Swenson was awarded the degree Doctor of Divinity by her alma mater, Millsaps College, in 1994.
She has served on the Boards of Trustees for both Iliff, and the Saint Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, Missouri.