Bishop Laura Merrill to Deliver Saint Paul School of Theology 2025 Commencement Address

Saint Paul School of Theology is honored to announce Bishop Laura Merrill as our 2025 Commencement speaker. Bishop Merrill brings a wealth of experience in ministry, mission work, and church leadership to this momentous occasion.

Bishop Merrill began her assignment as bishop of the Arkansas Conference in January 2023 and was assigned to the Oklahoma and Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conferences beginning in September 2024. Her election to the episcopacy in November 2022 was historic, as she was elected alongside the first Black woman bishop in the South Central Jurisdiction and the first Native American bishop in the denomination.

With deep roots in Methodist ministry—both her father and grandfather were United Methodist pastors—Bishop Merrill’s journey in service began early. Her commitment to mission work led her to Chile during the final days of the Pinochet dictatorship and to border ministry work in Arizona. She has demonstrated dedication to building bridges between communities and fostering church vitality throughout her career.

Bishop Merrill’s extensive experience includes roles as local church pastor, district superintendent, Executive Director of the Mission Vitality Center, and Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Clergy Excellence for the Rio Texas Conference. Her service on numerous denominational committees, including the National Plan for Hispanic Ministry and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, reflects her commitment to the broader mission of the United Methodist Church.

We invite you to join us for Commencement on Friday, May 16 at 11:00 AM CT as we celebrate the Class of 2025 and hear Bishop Merrill’s address. Guests may attend in person at either our Kansas or Oklahoma campus or participate virtually via our Facebook livestream at facebook.com/spst1958.

For those planning to attend in person, please RSVP by April 30 at spst.edu/commencement. We also welcome guests to participate in other Commencement Week activities—full details for all events can be found at spst.edu/commencement.

Join us for this momentous occasion as we celebrate our graduates and welcome Bishop Merrill to Saint Paul School of Theology.