Hope Morgan Ward (born September 18, 1951) is a bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected and consecrated to the episcopacy in 2004. She has served as the Bishop of North Carolina since 2012. Biography Hope Morgan Ward was raised on the Morgan family farm in Corapeake, North Carolina. She graduated from Duke University in 1973 with an A.B. degree in English and Religion. She entered seminary at Duke Divinity School and completed the M.Div. degree in 1978. Bishop Ward married career educator Michael E. Ward in 1977. Mike served as the North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1997 - 2004. The Wards have two children, Jason and Brooke. Ordained ministry Director of Christian Education and Mission, Fairmont UMC, 1973-1978 Teaching parent, chaplain, Methodist Home for Children, 1977-1979 Minister of Education, White Plains UMC, 1979-1983 Pastor, Broadway UMC, 1983-1986 Pastor, Soapstone UMC, 1986-1997 Director of Connectional Ministries, 1997-2002 Raleigh District Superintendent, 2002-2004 Bishop of Mississippi Conference 2004-2012 Bishop of North Carolina Conference 2012–present See also List of bishops of the United Methodist Church References The Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church InfoServ, the official information service of The United Methodist Church , Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church Notes 1951 births Living people United Methodist bishops of the Southeastern Jurisdiction Spouses of North Carolina politicians Duke University Trinity College of Arts and Sciences alumni Duke Divinity School alumni 21st-century Methodist ministers 20th-century Methodist ministers People from Gates County, North Carolina 20th-century American clergy 21st-century American clergy