Kenneth L. Carder currently serves as the bishop of the Mississippi Area of The United Methodist Church. Prior to his assignment to the Mississippi Area in July 2000, he served as the bishop of the Nashville Area for eight years. Bishop Carder was elected to the episcopacy in 1992 while he was serving as the pastor of Church Street United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

In addition to Church Street, Reverend Carder served pastorates in Oak Ridge, Concord, and Bristol, Tennessee; Abingdon, Virginia; and Rockville, Maryland. Bishop Carder received his Bachelor of Science Degree from East Tennessee State University, his Master of Divinity Degree from Wesley Theological Seminar, and a Doctor of Ministry from Vanderbilt Divinity School.

He is the author of three books, Sermons on United Methodist Beliefs (Abingdon), A Bishop's Reflections (Providence House), and Living Our Beliefs (Discipleship Resources). In addition, he authored the study guide for Who Are We? The Doctrine, Mission, and Ministry of The United Methodist Church. He has contributed to several journals, including Christian Century, Circuit Rider, and Christian Social Action. During this quadrennium, Bishop Carder serves as president of the General Board of Discipleship and chair of the Council of Bishops' Committee on Theological Education. Bishop Carder and his wife, Linda, have two daughters and three granddaughters.

For more information about the Baccalaureate ceremony, contact the Office of Church Relations at 974-1483 or barkskb@millsaps.edu .

Calendar of events