Elected to the episcopacy by the North Central Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M.C. in 1984, Bishop Lawson was assigned the Wisconsin episcopal area (1984–92) and the Springfield Area (1992–96). As a Bishop he served as Vice President of the U.M. General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (President of Division on Chaplains and Related Ministry), and as Vice President and President of the General Board of Discipleship (Chairperson of Long Range Planning Committee). He served as a member of the Steering Committee for Africa University (Chairperson of its Curriculum and Design Committee, and Chairperson of the Selection Committee for the first Dean of its School of Tehology).