Bishop Michael Watson

Denomination: United Methodist Church (UMC)
Organization: North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church

Bishop Mike Watson was born into an active Methodist family in Dothan, Alabama. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and real estate from the University of Alabama, received a master of divinity degree from Emory University's Candler School of Theology and a doctor of ministry degree from Vanderbilt University.

In 1972 he was ordained deacon by Bishop W. Kenneth Goodson, and in 1976 he was ordained elder by Bishop Carl J. Sanders in the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference.

Bishop Watson served as pastor in Florida, as well as a founding pastor of Covenant United Methodist Church in his hometown of Dothan, Alabama. From 1990-2000 he served as the pastor of Dauphin Way United Methodist Church in Mobile, Alabama. He was elected to the episcopacy by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 2000 and served as Bishop in the South Georgia Area from 2000-2008

Bishop Watson is currently serving as the Episcopal leader of the North Georgia Area of the United Methodist Church. He is married to Margaret Lee Watson and has two children, Benjamin (Ben) Lee Watson and Elizabeth Watson Riddle. He is also a proud grandfather to Alex and Andrew Watson and Camilla Riddle.