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H. C. R. No. 11 *HR26/R256* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Creekmore IV
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 11
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE OF 1
BISHOP WILLIAM THOMAS (BILL) MCALILLY TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI 2
AND THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. 3
WHEREAS, Bishop William T.(Bill) McAlilly, a former and 4
renowned bishop of the United Methodist Church who retired on 5
September 1, 2024, has provided outstanding pastoral leadership, 6
denominational service and visionary ministry that has positively 7
impacted the United Methodist Church; and 8
WHEREAS, Bishop McAlilly, a native of Mississippi, earned his 9
bachelor of arts in religion, in 1978, from Millsaps College, 10
where he is a member of the Millsaps Athletic Hall of Fame, and in 11
1981, he earned a Masters of Divinity from the Candler School of 12
Theology, Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and due to his 13
outstanding leadership, he also received an honorary Doctor of 14
Divinity from Rust College in 2017; and 15
WHEREAS, having been ordained a deacon in the United 16
Methodist Church in 1979 and ordained an elder in 1982, Bishop 17
McAlilly was elected to the episcopacy at the Southeastern 18
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Jurisdictional Conference in 2012, and after becoming a bishop, he 19
was given the task of merging two conferences to form the 20
Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist 21
Church, and he was successful due to the merge being adopted 22
overwhelmingly on December 4, 2021; and 23
WHEREAS, furthermore, under Bishop McAlilly's leadership, the 24
Nashville Episcopal Area helped establish in the Democratic 25
Republic of Congo, The Mama Lynn Center, which is named after his 26
wife, Lynn, of 47 years and serves as a sanctuary for women 27
seeking healing and restoration, and this center fittingly 28
reflects the wonderful couple's shared commitment to compassion 29
and justice; and 30
WHEREAS, Bishop McAlilly's belief of compassion for the least 31
and last has also been exhibited in Mexico, Nicaragua as well as 32
locally in the communities he has served and continues to serve; 33
and 34
WHEREAS, in addition to his global leadership, Bishop 35
McAlilly has served in various ministry settings in Georgia and 36
the Magnolia State, some of which include: a small membership 37
church, a new congregation, a county seat church, a newly 38
organized congregation and a large membership church, and he has 39
served in a variety of roles such as youth minister, associate 40
minister and lead pastor, which is a testament of his ability to 41
effectively serve in any role; and 42
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WHEREAS, in 2006, due to his strong leadership skills, Bishop 43
McAlilly was appointed to serve as the District Superintendent of 44
the Seashore District of the Mississippi Conference in the 45
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and he worked closely with 46
Disaster Response and United Methodist Committee on Relief 47
(UMCOR); and 48
WHEREAS, furthermore, Bishop McAlilly has served in various 49
capacities in the Mississippi Annual Conference, including: the 50
Board of Directors of United Methodist Senior Services, Millsaps 51
College, Mississippi Methodist Foundation, Board of Ordained 52
Ministry, Design Team for the Residency in Ministry Program and 53
the Development of the Transitions Seminar for Moving Pastors, and 54
he has served as a delegate to four jurisdictional conferences and 55
three general conferences; and 56
WHEREAS, for the 2016-2020 quadrennium, Bishop McAlilly 57
served on the Connectional Table as president of the Board of 58
Directors for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, 59
and he has also served as co-chair of the Endorsing Committee and 60
served on the Council of Bishops' Leadership Teams on Leadership 61
Development and on Leadership Discernment, and he served on the 62
Just Peace Board of Directors and as a chair of the Quadrennial 63
Orientation for New Bishops Committee; and 64
WHEREAS, notably, during 2016-2017, Bishop McAlilly served as 65
president of the Southeastern Jurisdiction College of Bishops, and 66
served on the Southeastern Jurisdiction Committee on Coordination 67
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and Accountability and has served on the Board of Trustees of 68
Emory University, and he is currently serving as vice president of 69
the Board of Trustees of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, the 70
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Board in Memphis, Tennessee, and 71
the Board of Trustees of Martin College in Pulaski, Tennessee; and 72
WHEREAS, in retirement, Bishop McAlilly was appointed as 73
Bishop in Residence of The Vanderbilt Divinity School, and in 74
September of 2025, he was welcomed back to his beloved alma mater, 75
Millsaps College, to serve as the college's Bishop in Residence 76
due to his pastoral leadership and service and invaluable 77
experience - all of which help provide vital resources to clergy 78
navigating today's challenges in ministry; and 79
WHEREAS, Bishop McAlilly has been lovingly supported 80
throughout his endeavors by his lovely wife of 47 years, Lynn, 81
their children, Chris McAlilly and Laura McAlilly Paulk, and five 82
wonderful grandchildren; and 83
WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize a 84
remarkable religious leader such as Bishop McAlilly whose 85
compassion for the least and last, as well as his leadership and 86
legacy, which continues to serve as an inspiration for others as 87
he remains committed to justice, compassion and service not only 88
in the great State of Mississippi but globally: 89
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 90
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING 91
THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Bishop William 92
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ST: Bishop William Thomas (Bill) McAllilly;
commend on service to the state and visionary
ministry.
T.(Bill) McAlilly upon his pastoral leadership, denominational 93
service and visionary ministry, and wish him continued success in 94
all his future endeavors. 95
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 96
furnished to Bishop William Thomas (Bill) McAlilly and to the 97
members of the Capitol Press Corps. 98