Biography
Early Life
Bishop Teresa E. Snorton is best known for being the first female bishop in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
Teresa E. Snorton was born in 1955 in Kentucky. Her family was active in the Christian Episcopal Methodist Church. Her father and uncle were pastors. Bishop Teresa Elaine has two adult sons and two grandchildren.
Bishop Snorton has a B.A. degree from Vanderbilt University. She has a Master’s of Divinity degree from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and a Master’s of Theology in Pastoral Care from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
She also has a Post-Graduate Certificate in Patient Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.
During the early part of her career, she taught Pastoral Care and Counseling at Virginia Commonwealth University from 1987-1990, the School of Theology at Virginia Union University from 1988-1990, and the Candler School of Theology at Emory University from 1991-2010.
Religious Leadership
In June 2010, Bishop Teresa E. Snorton became the 59th ordained Bishop and the first female Bishop in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church since its founding in 1870.
She served as the presiding Bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District from 2011-2022. Her district included the states of Alabama and Florida.
Her first episcopal appointment in 2010 was to the Eleventh Episcopal District in East Africa. For the terms of 2013-2014 and 2023-2024, she served as Chair of the College of Bishops of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
Bishop Teresa E. Snorton is the Ecumenical Bishop and Development Officer for the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. She also serves as vice chairwoman for the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
An ecumenical leader, she is Chair of the Governing Board of the National Council of Churches in Christ in the United States.
She also serves as Chair of the Family Life Committee of the World Methodist Council. She is a member of the Advisory Board for Candler School of Theology at Emory University and the Board of Trustees of the Phillips School of Theology.
Religious Stewardship
Within her denomination, she is Chair of the Commission on the Concerns of Women in Ministry and Secretary of the CME College of Bishops.
Continuing her senior leadership, she has served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Interdenominational Theological Center and Miles College.
She was also past President of Churches Uniting in Christ, Committee Chair of the Pan-Methodist Council, and a member of the Board of Directors of the World Methodist Evangelism, Inc.
Bishop Snorton founded the empowerment conference series, “The Phenomenal Women’s Summit.”
She advocates for healthy communities and healthy churches through initiatives and projects, such as the Academy for Public Theology, The Church Garden Project, Faith and Fitness, Mental Health Education for Congregations, and the Rural Leadership Development Institute.
Bishop Snorton is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and a lifetime member of the NAACP.
She is also a board-certified Chaplain within the Association of Professional Chaplains. Her role included Executive Director of the National Association for Clinical Pastoral Education.
She was also Executive Director for Emory University’s Center for Pastoral Services. She has published on pastoral care, pastoral education, and gender issues.
In discussing her election as the first female Bishop in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church with the Lewiston Tribune, she stated, “I often start with the story of Resurrection morning when Jesus’ female followers were told to ‘go and proclaim’ he had risen from the dead. If Jesus had not intended for women to be bearers of good news, that would never have happened.”
Bishop Teresa E. Snorton’s advocacy has benefited society as a whole.
