About Tim Bias
Dr. Timothy L. Bias is pastor of Peoria First UMC, having transferred to the Illinois Great Rivers Conference March 1, 1999 from the West Virginia Conference.
Born in Ashland, Ky., Bias received an undergraduate degree from Marshall University, a master’s of divinity degree from Candler School of Theology, Emory University, and his Doctor of Ministry degree in evangelism from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.
Bias and his wife, the former Kimberly Raynes, are the parents of two children.
Bias began his parish ministry in West Virginia, serving two rural churches. While at Candler, Bias was a student associate pastor at Jones Memorial UMC in the North Georgia Conference where Jones Memorial was recognized as the conference’s “Church of the Year in Evangelism.”
From 1980 to 1995, Bias served West Virginia churches including Otterbein-Phillips Chapel UMC in Elkins, W. Va., and Duff Street UMC in Clarksburg, where he developed relational evangelism ministries that resulted in growth of church membership and worship attendance in both settings.
A Denman Award winner in 1992, Bias served as Director of Proclamation Evangelism with the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, Tenn. It was during his tenure at GBOD that he formed a friendship with Liberian bishop John Innis which led Bias to invite the Illinois Great Rivers Conference into a partnership with Liberia at the 2005 annual conference.
During Bias’ tenure in Peoria, the congregation has been transformed from a church that is downtown to a downtown church that see itself lifting up the love of Christ in the heart of the city.
“People have a choice in regard to where they are going to live out their Christian faith,” Bias says. “We seek to make a significant difference in the Peoria tri-county area and we invite persons to join us in living out their Christian faith in tangible ways. We are committed to being a ‘kingdon-oriented’ congregation in an urban setting.”
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"Over the 20 years of our friendship, the Tim Bias commitment to the varied ministry situations continues to expand. His work at First Peoria continues and exemplifies a creative, honor based commitment to urban ministry in a downtown setting. First Church engages the street, not merely offering drive by, downtown ministry. He and the people connect deeply with the lives at the center of the city, bringing hope to the city and to the church.
His is a ministerial career that sees merit and advantage in rural, urban, downtown and suburban contexts. As a West Virginia native, former GBOD staff and present large downtown church pastor, Tim Bias brings a well rounded and serious appreciation to a wide array of ministry venues. This kind of appreciation is crucial to 21st century church leadership."
Dr. Vance Ross is the Associate General Secretary, General Board of Discipleship