Bishop William Scott

Bishop William Scott was called to the ministry in 1963 and served under the leadership of Pastor Ted Lovelace, as a Minister and Elder, until the Pastor’s demise. He was ordained as an Elder in 1965. In the year of 1967, he was appointed by the late Bishop M. H. Norman to serve as Pastor of the Lebanon Temple Church of God in Christ, in Lebanon Illinois. He was the Pastor of Lebanon Temple Church of God in Christ for seven years. In 1974, under the direction of the Holy Ghost, Pastor William Scott founded the Mt. Calvary Church of God in Christ. Pastor William Scott established the historic “Hour of Evangelism Broadcast” each Sunday night from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Many souls were brought to Christ through this broadcast. In 1983, unable to accommodate the rapid growth of the Church, Pastor Scott’s vision was to move the Church to its’ present location, 1420 N. 49th Street, Washington Park, Illinois. This beautiful and spacious temple served as the Jurisdictional Headquarters, for the Illinois Southeast Jurisdiction. Bishop Scott has always been a progressive leader. Bishop Scott was married to the late Jurisdictional Supervisor, Mother Thelma Jean Scott, for thirty-two years. She was a very integral part of the founding of the Mt. Calvary Church of God in Christ. They were blessed with two children, Kimberly Ann Scott, and William Scott Jr., William Scott Jr. preceded her in death.

In the history of the Illinois Southeast Jurisdiction, Bishop William Scott is the fourth in succession to serve as the Jurisdictional Prelate. He follows in the path of his processors Bishop C. W. Gillespie, Bishop Lemuel Moore, and Bishop Claude Ratliff. On March 13, 1998 through the Apostolic Edict of Presiding Bishop C. D. Owens,

with the consent of the General Board, 1st Administrative Assistant William Scott was elevated to the Episcopal Office of Jurisdictional Prelate of the Illinois Southeast Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, Church of God in Christ, Inc.

Bishop Scott’s educational pursuits include:

Undergraduate studies at Brook’s Bible Institute, St. Louis University School of Theology, and Lael Bible College.
Continuing Education for Black Clergymen, Concordia Seminary.
Certificate of Management Training, C. H. Mason Theological Seminary Interdenominational Theological Center Atlanta Georgia.
Certificate of Completion, Metropolitan College’s Correspondence, Bible Study Course, Hospital Chaplain Certification.

Bishop Scott was conferred an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from the Glad Tidings Bible College for his work in the kingdom of God and his service to mankind.

Bishop Scott was promoted through the Ecclesiastical ranks of the Church. Among various awards and appointments, he served in the following capacities:

Jurisdictional Secretary, Eastern Missouri # 1, Church of God in Christ
Executive Secretary, Youth Department, Eastern Missouri #1
District Superintendent, Illinois Southeast Jurisdiction
First Administrative Assistant to the late Bishop Claude Ratliff, Jurisdictional Prelate, Illinois Southeast
Past member of the National Credentials’ Committee, Church of God in Christ
Member of Executive Committee for the General Assembly, representing the Board of Bishops
Regional Bishop for the States of Kansas and Nebraska.
Lifetime Member NAACP
Served as Member of Mayor’s Advisory Council, East St. Louis Illinois

During his tenure as Jurisdictional Prelate, many productive initiatives were instituted for the benefit of the Jurisdiction. The glory belongs to God. They include the following:

Instituted the Jurisdictional Rally
Purchased a church in Centralia Illinois; for a displaced congregation
Founded the Jurisdictional, “Christian Education Institute”
Implemented the Illinois Southeast Web- Site
Created two Additional Districts
Instituted the Pastors and Elders Council
Initiated “Focus on the Family Night” during the Jurisdictional Convocation

In 1999, Bishop Scott married Dr. Dannette Fishburne. Dr. Dannette Fishburne Scott is a renowned woman of God in her own right. She is an educator with an earned PhD. Dr. Scott served as President of the Women’s Department and the Episcopal Assistant, in the ISE Jurisdictional Headquarters’ Office.

On November 2017 Bishop William Scott retired, and was granted Jurisdictional, “Bishop Emeritus” status by the Church of God in Christ Inc, after 19 years of service as a Jurisdictional Prelate. Bishop and Dr. Dannette Fishburne Scott currently reside in Jacksonville, Florida enjoying the favor of God. They are members of the West Jacksonville Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Bishop Gary Hall, Sr.

In April 2019, Bishop Scott was appointed to the Senior Advisory Board of General Assembly of the Church of God in Christ by the Chairman, Bishop Lemuel Thuston.