General Superintendent Emerita of The Wesleyan Church
Jo Anne serves as the General Superintendent Emerita of The Wesleyan Church having served as General Superintendent for eight years and four additional years as Ambassador of The Wesleyan Church. Prior to her service as the General Superintendent, she was the founder of World Hope International, a faith-based nongovernmental agency serving in over 20 countries in the areas of community development, health, education and market-based solutions.
As an ordained minister she serves on the board of directors of many organizations including vice-chair of the board of the National Association of Evangelicals, Bread for the World, National Religious Partnership for the Environment, Council on Faith of the World Economic Forum and previously President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
Dr. Lyon holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology with continued graduate studies in historical theology and has been granted five honorary doctorates. She is the recipient of many awards including the 2016 World Methodist Peace Award and National Immigration Forum 2017 Keeper of the American Dream Award. She has participated in various multifaith dialogues over the past years including the Abrahamic Dialogue with Religious Leaders of Iran.
Dr. Lyon and her husband, Rev. Wayne Lyon, live in the Indianapolis area. They have four children and 10 grandchildren.