Book covers life of bishop
elected from Southwest Texas

A just-released biography chronicles the life of a Southwest Texas Conference pastor who was elected a bishop in 1960.
Bishop With a Pastor’s Heart by Thomas S. Mc-Anally tells the life story of Kenneth W. Copeland. He had been senior pastor of Travis Park UMC, San Antonio, for 12 years when he was elected to the episcopacy.
As bishop, Copeland served from 1960 to 1968 in the Nebraska Episcopal Area and from 1968 until his death in 1973 in the Houston Episcopal Area. He was 61 when he died.
His widow, Catherine, and daughter Sue Dial, live in San Antonio. Another daughter, Pattie Ard, lives in Georgetown.
An Arkansas native, Copeland grew up and began his ministry in the Methodist Protestant Church. Following its union with the Methodist Episcopal Church and Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in 1939, he served congregations in Wichita Falls and Haskell, Texas; Stillwater, Okla.; and San Antonio.
McAnally served with Copeland in Nebraska as director of communications in the late 1960s. He then joined the United Methodist News Service staff in Nashville, Tenn. He retired in December 2001 as director.
Copeland’s years in the Southwest Texas Conference were pivotal in his career, McAnally said.
“When he was consecrated a bishop at the altar of the church he loved and served for 12 years, he knew he would never be the shepherd of a local congregation again, but in all that he did as a bishop, he was a pastor at heart,” the author said.
Copeland’s career came during challenging times for the church and larger society.
“This dynamic and compassionate man of God successfully guided his followers through war, racial tensions, church unions and changing social norms,” McAnally said. “He led with wisdom and skill but also with warmth, wit and humor.”
The book, published by Providence House Publishers, Franklin, Tenn., is available for $24.95, including shipping and handling, at www. providencehouse.com. It may also be ordered through Amazon. com or local bookstores.