Bishop's Office

Bishop D. Max Whitfield serves the New Mexico Episcopal Area which includes New Mexico and Northwest Texas. He was elected to a third quadrennium in 2008.

He is married to Valerie Vaughn and has five grown children.

Bishop Whitfield’s education and service background:

B.S.A Arkansas State University 1966

M. Div. Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University 1969

D. Min. Princeton Theological Seminary 1983

Ordained deacon 1967 and elder in 1970 in the North Arkansas Conference

Director of Youth Ministries, FUMC, Plano, TX 1967-69

Senior Pastor, Eureka Springs UMC, Eureka Springs, AR 1969-72

Senior Pastor, St. Paul Parish, Harrison, AR 1972-75

Senior Pastor, Cherry Valley/Vanndale Charge 1975-77

Senior Pastor, First UMC, Bella Vista AR 1977-81

Senior Pastor, First UMC, Russellville, AR, 1981-87

Senior Pastor, First UMC, Springdale, AR 1987-94

Batesville District Superintendent, 1994-96

Fayetteville District Superintendent, 1996-Present

Board of Trustee, Hendrix College, 1984-90

Conference Board of Ordained Ministry 16 years

Chairperson, Conference Nominating Committee, 1978-1981

Chairperson, Council on Ministries, 1984-88

Member of National Shalom Zone Committee, 1992-96

Board of Directors, General Board of Global Ministries, 1992-96

Board of Directors, General Commission on Religion and Race, 1996-Present

Board of Trustees, Mt. Sequoyah Conference and Retreat Center, 1996-Present

South Central Jurisdicational Delegate, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000

General Conference Delegate, 1992, 1996, 2000