LAKELAND, Fla. (August 8, 2006) — Bishop Robert E. Fannin, bishop in residence at Florida Southern College, was elected chairperson of the World Methodist Council’s Division of World Evangelism at the World Methodist Conference in Seoul, Korea July 20-24. Fannin, a 1958 FSC graduate and former senior minister of First United Methodist Church in Lakeland, Fla., will be responsible for implementing the programs and ministries of the Division of World Evangelism. As bishop in residence, Fannin maintains a strong relationship between the college and the church.

The World Methodist Council represents 76 member denominations in 132 countries, with 40 million members ministering to 75 million people. The Division of World Evangelism was created over 35 years ago to lead evangelistic efforts around the world, forming new churches, providing resources for ministry and expanding training opportunities for clergy and laity.  The Division is increasing evangelism efforts, particularly to recently oppressed nations, under the theme, “The bells are ringing, that the world may know Jesus Christ.”

“These are exciting, challenging historical times for the evangelistic ministry of the great Wesleyan movement,” said Fannin. “As John Wesley would say, we must ‘seize the moment’ and meet the spiritual and physical needs of people and communities around the world.”

Following completion of his master's and doctoral studies at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Fannin served in the Florida Annual Conference of UMC in Lake Alfred, Gainesville, Stuart, Lakeland and Miami, where he was district superintendent of the Miami district. He was involved there as a member of the Hispanic Social Services board of directors, trustee of the South Florida Center for
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 Theological Studies and the Haitian Advisory Council, and member of the coalition of Religious Leaders in Miami. To honor his work, Metropolitan Dade County declared June 9, 1991 Dr. Robert E. Fannin Day. Upon election to the Episcopacy at the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in July 1992, Fannin was assigned to the Birmingham area.

Fannin served as the vice-chair of General Council on Finance and Administration, vice-chair of the Emory University Board of Trustees and president of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Court of Appeals. He has been a member of several national boards and agencies of UMC including the General Council on Ministries and Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and previously served on the board of trustees of Birmingham-Southern College, Bethune-Cookman College and Huntingdon College. He is a past president of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Administrative Council and chair of its finance committee.

Fannin also was recently chosen to serve as dean of The Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies in Israel. He will continue to live in Lakeland, Fla.

About Florida Southern College
Founded in 1885, Florida Southern College is a private, comprehensive, United Methodist college with a liberal arts core. The college maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 38 undergraduate majors and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, and nursing. Florida Southern has a 14:1 student/faculty ratio, provides strong student/faculty mentorship programs, boasts 25 NCAA Division II national championships, and is ranked by U. S. News and World Report as one of the top ten Southern Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelors and by the Princeton Review as a “Best Southeastern College.” Located on scenic Lake Hollingsworth, Florida Southern is the home of the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.