USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Minutes of the session of the Ohio Miami Conference, successor to Miami Conference, of the United Methodist Church, 1970 > Part 17
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The Committee reported in 1903 that 83 percent of the members received into the church came through the Sunday School. Presiding Elder P. M. Camp said in 1905 that the Sabbath School was the great Christianizer and generator of life in the com- munity of any church.
The next step was the inclusion of adults in the Sunday School program. Super- intendent C. W. Kurtz reported in 1908 that many schools had organized classes and were emphasizing the adult movement, and quite a number had men's classes.
The emphasis on more effective teachers and teacher training came to the fore again in a standard set in 1910. One point was a worker's library of at least six volumes.
During the next decade, Sunday Schools went on as usual, increasing schools, scholars and teachers. The reports still indicated that too few of the teachers were re- ceiving training and that improvement was needed in efficiency and effectiveness. An Increase Campaign was initiated in 1914. In 1917 the Committee called for family worship, religious instruction in the home and memorizing of more Scripture passages.
When the Conference began to function with a Board of Christian Education in the early 30's the Sunday School received a little less attention, though much emphasis
14 Miami Conference Minutes, 1879, 33.
13 Miami Conference Minutes, 1879, 33.
16 Miami Conference Minutes, 1903, 54.
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CONFERENCE HISTORY
was laid on leadership training, good curriculum materials, efficiency of operation, effective organization and some broadening of the time schedule.
A major objective in 1942 was the United Brethren Sunday School Advance which was a part of a larger interdenominational program. The Conference held a Christian Education Institute on September 26, 1942 to plan for this Advance. Little was reported as to the results of this effort. The Sunday School statistics did not reflect any results of an effective campaign.
When Vacation Bible Schools and Week Day Schools of Religion appeared on the Christian Education scene, the Conference began to promote these as adjuncts to the traditional Sunday School. After a slow start, catechetical and doctrinal instruction classes became quite common in preparing children, youth and adults for church mem- bership. In some cases these were placed in the Sunday School time schedule.
It is quite apparent that with the broadening of the total Religious Education program in the local church and the Conference, the Sunday School received less em- phasis. The trend toward an activist emphasis in the total Church program led some people to discount the adult Sunday School because so little of mission issued from the weekly sessions. The result was more than a decade of Sunday School decline, as shown in the following table.
SUNDAY SCHOOLS
Year
Schools
Scholars
Teachers
1864
68
4,689
645
1874
77
5,375
803
1884
87
8,071
1,115
1894
94
11,142
1,515
1904
107
14.269
1,768
1914
111
23,177
2,025
1924
*108
26,132
2,307
1934
113
26,116
2,279
1944
108
22,536
2,149
(1953
119
27,664
2,057)
1954
122
26,306
2,154
1964
115
23,740
1,806
1968
114
20,822
1,790
* Churches
With some exceptions these figures are for the last year of ten-year periods. Some changes, not seen here, may have occurred within these decades. The Sunday School was a growing movement in the Conference until 1924 when it declined until 1944. The peak year was 1953 after which the trend was downward to a low of 20,822 in 1968.
Conference Organization and Program
This action was taken at a Sabbath School meeting in Lewisburg in the spring of 1862.
That we request every United Brethren Sabbath School in the Miami Annual Conference to appoint three or more delegates to assemble in Con- vention in Lewisburg the first Wednesday in August 1862 for the purpose of considering the best means and methods of promoting the interests of
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CONFERENCE HISTORY
Sabbath Schools, and securing unity of action in this important work.
As a result of this action and proper promotion, the first Conference Sabbath School Convention was held at Lewisburg on August 6, 7, 1862. In reviewing the situation the convention leaders said that 25 or 30 years ago little attention was paid to the organization of Sabbath Schools, partly because ministers travelled large circuits and had no time to give to organization. Furthermore, few church buildings were avail- able. Now, however, the movement had grown so that Sunday Schools were accepted as the nursery of the church. 17
This Lewisburg Convention was a decided success, discussing the theme, "How we can become more efficient as teachers." A constitution was adopted forming the Miami Conference Sunday School Association, the purpose of which was to promote the interests of Sunday Schools, encouraging those already formed, consulting to find the best ways of advancing the cause of Sunday Schools, and to collect statistics. Daniel Berger was elected the first president.
The following set of resolutions was adopted: that Sunday Schools should be separated into Departments to suit the ages of the children; that each school be taxed 25 cents to defray the necessary expenses of the Association; that the penny collections be adopted by all schools to educate the rising generation in systematic and continued acts of benevolence and to further the great good cause of missions.
The status of the Sunday School movement in the Conference at that time is in- dicated by the statistics which were presented to the Convention. 18
When the Association met the following year at Seven Mile, the statistical report showed 71 schools; 5,838 pupils enrolled, with an average attendance of 4,256.
The General Conference of 1865 established the Sabbath School Association of the United Brethren Church. The first meeting was held in the home of W. J. Shuey in Dayton, Ohio, on June 15, 1865, and the second in November of the following year in the United Brethren Printing establishment in Dayton.
The eighth annual Miami Conference Sunday School Convention filled the new Eldorado Church in September 1869. D. L. Rike presided. A resolution was adopted proposing the organization of temperance societies in all schools. The schools were urged to cooperate with the General Sunday School Association and to take a special collection for its support.
Not every year was a good one for this Conference organization. The Convention held in October 1875 reported that the president and secretaries were absent and that most of the officers had not performed their duties during the year. Many of the min- isters and laymen who should have attended were absent.
These resolutions were adopted in 1882.
1. That the organization of our Sunday Schools should be controlled by the church from which its authority is derived and for whose work the church is held responsible.
2. That the teachers should put forth special effort to secure the conversion of the children and bring them into visible connection with the church.
3. That we affirm a previous opinion of this Conference that "a minister is
17 Religious Telescope, XII, August 13, 1862, 198.
18 See page 71.
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CONFERENCE HISTORY
seriously lacking in preparation for his work who is not an efficient and intelligent worker in the Sunday School." 1º
In 1886 the Sunday School Association and the Ministerial Association, which had been organized in the early 1850's and meeting regularly since that time, were con- solidated. The merged Associations continued annual meetings.
The changing emphases in these Conventions is indicated by the topics in the 1890 session, in the first list below, compared with those presented in 1903, in the second list.
Christ's Methods of Teaching
The Superintendent
The Teacher The Primary Department
The Preacher's Theme
Present Prospects of Our Church
How to Get the Sunday School to Attend the Preaching Services The Test of the Efficiency of the Preacher
The Test of the Efficiency of the Sunday School
How to Promote Revivals
What does the Pew Expect from the Pulpit
What does the Pulpit Expect from the Pew Child Conversion
The theme of the 1907 Convention was Missions.
In 1910 the Sunday School Association met in a joint meeting with the Branch Christian Endeavor Union. This pattern, with a few exceptions, was followed for many years. In a joint session in Eaton in 1925 the two organizations merged into one called the Miami Conference Sunday School and Christian Endeavor Union. This un- wieldly name was later changed to Christian Education Union.
The General Conference of 1929 united the Boards in the field of Christian Edu- cation into a Board of Christian Education on the general church, the conference, and the local church levels. Nearly all the educational phases of the Conference program continued under the supervision of this Board of Christian Education from 1929 to 1969. Beginning in 1930 the division of program planning and personnel training was made on the age-group level with Directors for children, youth and adults.
This action had been anticipated by Miami Conference, which in 1923 urged local churches to elect Directors of Religious Education. This was followed the next year by the appointment of Rev. J. Gordon Howard, on a part-time basis, to work with Sunday Schools and Christian Endeavor Societies.
A transition was also made in the early 1930's from a Convention to a school type of annual Christian Education meeting. These were first held in the old seminary property which had been purchased for the Xenia Church. Sixty-two young people were given credit in the 1933 school.
To help the Conference make this change, a Summer School of Methods was es- tablished on the Otterbein College campus. Fred L. Dennis, president of the Conference Sunday School Association, reported in 1924 that the Association gave hearty endorse- ment to the Westerville school and urged local churches to help finance their students
10 Miami Conference Minutes, 1882, 26.
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CONFERENCE £ HISTORY
who attended. Miami Conference sent trainees to this school as long as it existed.
The Conference leadership education school moved from Xenia to the Bonebrake Seminary campus in 1934, to the Methodist Camp at Sabina in 1942, and finally to Camp Miami in 1946.
The program sponsored by the Board of Education in the Conference became more extensive, calling for more specialized training of leaders. To illustrate this without giving details for each year, the Conference activities as listed by the Board of Educa- tion included,
Conference Brotherhood Annual Meeting
Conference Brotherhood Retreat
One Day Children Worker's Institute
Adult Convention
Young Adult Institutes
Seminar on Christian Higher Education Youth Rallies
Church School Superintendent's Conference
Conferences on Audio-Visuals, Dramatics and Music
Laboratory Schools
Youth Kampference
Curriculum Conferences Eighteen Camps serving over 2,000 persons
This extensive program led the Board to recommend to the Conference the em- ployment of a full-time Director of Christian Education. Charles Messmer was elected as Program Director in 1955.
Higher Education
The United Brethren Church was somewhat slow in moving into the field of college and seminary education. Miami Conference gave early leadership as the church moved to develop such schools. A rather lengthy resolution was presented in the 1844 session. Though uniquely written, it expresses a sincere concern.
Whereas, there is not an institution for the education of our youth or children, and those of any others who may wish to be under our tuition; under the superintendence of the United Brethren in Christ, for the higher branches of learning, and our youth and children, if they wish to pursue such, or even the minor branches have to be taught by others, and some- times of a rather loose character, embibing error, or the peculiar ideas of others, therefore
Resolved, that we the members of the Miami Annual Conference do recommend to the General Conference, the propriety of taking into considera- tion the building and establishment of such an institution, among us as a church; to be located where that body may think most suitable.
Resolved also, that General Conference recommend some regular course of theological and literary reading during the probation of the licentiates, in the conference of which they are members, before their ordination to the office of elder, in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. 20
20 Miami Conference Minutes, 1844, 130.
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CONFERENCE HISTORY
This resolution was signed by B. P. Wheat, William Collins and Francis Whitcom. A continuing interest was indicated by a resolution presented in 1846 by William Davis and Asa Coho.
Resolved that the Conference propose and agree to a union of itself with the North Indiana or White River and St. Joseph Conferences, for the purpose of building a house for Literary Purposes under the supervision of the church in accordance with such measures as shall hereafter be adopted. 21
A second resolution was also presented, "Resolved that Bluffton, Wells County, Indiana be proposed by this Conference as a place of location for a church seminary." 22
Earlier in this 1846 session a motion was offered that the Conference appoint one of its members "to deliver a lecture on that culture of the mind, called education at some time previous to our final adjournment." William Davis was appointed to deliver such a lecture on Saturday evening. 23
For some reason not given the Conference voted in 1848 "that the Conference decline cooperation with the Otterbein University, for the time being." 24
A resolution was adopted in 1850 that the Conference should have an institution of learning and that a committee of nine be appointed to receive donations and pro- posals for location. 23
This action was reaffirmed the following year with the definite decision to erect an institution of learning. A vote was taken on location and Seven-Mile in Butler County was chosen. A Board of nine trustees was chosen to superintend the building and other affairs pertaining to the institution. The trustees chosen were Jacob Flick- inger, A. W. Hess, Jacob Emrick, Henry Kumler, Jr., E. W. Hoffner, William Davis, W. Longstreet, Daniel C. Kumler, and John Kemp, Jr.
Two travelling agents were appointed to collect funds, but the building was not to be started until $20.000 was collected in cash and pledges. Jacob Emrick was chosen agent and Evergreen was chosen as the name for the college. 26
Otterbein University continued to send a representative to the Conference sessions. Considerable thought and discussion were given to the merits of supporting Otterbein or undertaking the full support of a college within the Conference. This crystallized in the 1853 session when by vote of 25 yeas and 19 nays the Conference agreed to "co- operate with Otterbein University and discontinue the efforts on behalf of Evergreen College." In this same session the case for Hartsville University was also presented, but it was not mentioned in the Conference action. The support of Otterbein had three phases; financial, enlistment of students, and electing trustees. It was agreed that the liabilities toward Evergreen were to be paid from the first contributions from the Con- ference for Otterbein. W. Longstreet, Henry Kumler, Jr., and D. C. Kumler were elected trustees. 27
The attitude toward Otterbein after 1853 was indicated in a resolution adopted by the Conference in 1856, "That we will present the interests of Otterbein University
21 Miami Conference Minutes, 1846, 184.
22 Miami Conference Minutes, 1846, 184.
23 Miami Conference Minutes, 1846, 172.
24 Miami Conference Minutes, January 1848, 256.
25 Miami Conference Minutes, 1850, 268.
26 Miami Conference Minutes, 1851, 298.
27 Miami Conference Minutes, 1853, not numbered.
148
CONFERENCE HISTORY
before our several congregations, and in every way in our power, endeavor to promote among our people, a sanctified education." 28
The Conference maintained a standing committee on education which kept the delegates informed about affairs at the college. A continuing emphasis in this commit- tee was on the need for physical, mental and moral training. A resolution in 1858 called on the trustees, "To vote for a by-law at the next meeting of the Board requiring all the students and teachers to perform a daily portion of labor for the benefit of their health." 29
The college had problems. The Conference Committee on Education, referring to these in 1859 blamed the manual labor dpartment and errors in the management of the finances. Nevertheless, a resolution of support was adopted requesting that the school be made a thoroughly manual labor institution.
This pledge of support was renewed each year. In 1860 the Conference voted to accept a quota of $10,000 instead of the proposed $5,000. A total of $1,725 was pledged during the Conference session.
A report on the U. B. Church in the Miami Valley in the Religious Telescope in 1864 said, "Miami has done as much, if not more, than any other patronizing Confer- ence for the success of Otterbein University." 30
A movement was begun in 1884 to have Otterbein moved to Dayton. A long resolution presented to the Conference emphasized the advantages of Dayton over Westerville: the proximity of Ohio Wesleyan and Ohio State to Westerville, the possi- bility of cooperation with Union Biblical Semnary, the public libraries and the Pub- lishing House, the prominence of Dayton as a city and as denominational headquarters. the large number of students from the Miami Valley. 31
No action was taken on this proposal until in 1900 when the college trustees took action looking to the possible removal of the institution. It expressed itself as ready to entertain propositions from other localities. 32 Dayton renewed its proposition and backed up the proposal with an offer of land and the payment of $20,000 of the proposed endowment goal of $100,000. 33
A conflict situation developed. Those favorable to moving to Dayton were charged with impure and unrighteous motives. Trustees from other cooperating conferences were charged with not representing the wishes of their conferences. Miami Conference adopted a resolution denouncing these charges.
When the college trustees voted on the invitation on July 23, 1901, it lacked nine votes of having the required number for approval. Dayton then withdrew its re- quest and offered full support to the school. Henry Garst, disappointed with the spirit and outcome resigned as a trustee, representing Miami Conference. “
Throughout the years of this century, Miami Conference had heard a representa- tive of the college speak at each annual session, adopted resolutions of support and sup- ported the college with money, students and the requested trustee representation.
28 Miami Conference Minutes, 1856, 14.
20 Miami Conference Minutes, 1858, not numbered.
50 Religious Telescope, XIV, March 9, 1864, 111.
31 Miami Conference Minutes, 1884, 42.
32 Miami Conference Minutes, 1900, 47.
33 Miami Conference Minutes, 1901, 43, 44.
34 Miami Conference Minutes, 1901, 53.
149
CONFERENCE HISTORY
Education of Ministers
Special education for ministers was a matter of minor importance for the first fifty years of Miami Conference history. Some pioneers, however, were agitating for an edu- cated ministry. A letter from George Bonebrake published in the Religious Telescope in 1861 contained the statement, "I am glad that our young preachers are getting educa- tion. I have read thousands of pages on my horse in going from one appointment to the other." 33
The General Conference of 1853 voted that a "committee be appointed to pre- pare a course of reading and study for the licentiate preachers and to insert the same in the Discipline."
In 1866 a Miami Conference committee was appointed to promote collegiate edu- cation for ministers. The committee proposed a reference to General Conference that a theological course be devised and Biblical classes organized in our colleges as soon as possible. It also urged men going into the ministry to avail themselves of such courses. It further recommended financial aid to these students, the appointment of a committee to have general oversight of ministerial education and an annual offering for this purpose.
In 1869 the Conference report on education expressed deep regret that the church was still without a theological school. This pressure was having some effect. The Confer- ence report in 1870 said, "We look with pleasure that the General Board of Education decided to begin the work of founding a theological seminary and that they took the initiatory steps." The Conference commended the enterprise to the favor and generous liberality of the people and requested each church to give Rev. J. Kemp, agent, a hearty reception. 36
The Seminary was established in 1871, holding its first session in the Summit Street Church. The Conference promised support and welcomed Dr. Davis and Pro- fessor Funkhouser to this new venture within the bounds of Miami Conference.
During the 1871 Conference a considerable sum was raised for the support of the professors. Help was promised in raising funds for a building, a library and the secur- ing of endowment funds.
The following year the Conference promised by vote, "That we will use our own influence to have those who contemplate entering the ministry to take a course in Union Biblical Seminary." 37
The Conference kept encouraging the Seminary to provide its own building and praying that someone would help to make this possible. As an answer to these prayers Rev. John Kemp, Jr. provided the land at the corner of First Street and Euclid Avenue, where a new building was erected and used for the first time in 1879.
This left the school with a heavy debt and the increase in student body put it under obligation to provide more faculty and a larger library. In 1885 Miami Confer- ence voted to give to the Seminary its portion of the profits of the publishing house and agreed that this be paid directly to the general manger of the school.
Miami Conference was close enough to the Seminary that it could make bold, in- telligent suggestions concerning curriculum, faculty personnel and other matters. In 1881 it said, "We suggest as worthy of consideration that a course on missions be in-
55 Religious Telescope, XI, April 10, 1861, 127.
86 Miami Conference Minutes, 1870, 14.
37 Miami Conference Minutes, 1872, 14.
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CONFERENCE
HISTORY
cluded in the theological seminary." At another time it proposed a chair in Sunday School pedagogy.
The value of the Seminary course in preparing a young man for the ministry was indicated in the 1883 action, "That now and henceforth licentiates who are graduates of Union Biblical Seminary be excused from examination on books required in the course of reading but not from the Biblical doctrine." 38
This attitude was supported by an 1888 statement, "We rejoice in the increasing prosperity of our School of Theology. Its able corps of professors and faithful general manager have our heartiest sympathy and cooperation. We shall, as hitherto, expect all our licentiates to take a course at Union Biblical Seminary." 39
The Conference rejoiced with the Seminary in its receiving the Bonebrake gift in 1908. In 1911 the report on education contained the statement, "We commend the management for its foresight for securing ample and beautiful grounds in Dayton View for the relocation of the institution." 40
Dr. G. A. Funkhouser of the Seminary faculty spoke before the Conference in 1914 on behalf of the proposed Seminary Extension study plan. The Seminary Bulletin defined this as, "An effort to extend stimulus and help in affiliation with the Seminary to the ministers in the active work in the matter of systematic study of the Bible." The program had the full support of the bishops, the General Conference and the Seminary faculty and Board of Trustees. Dr. Funkhouser was the guiding spirit in its operation.
A committee, composed of J. G. Huber, J. H. Dutton, W. M. Van Sickle and C. W. Kurtz, was appointed to promote this program in the Conference.
In 1914 topics were assigned to twenty Conference ministers for study and re- port. " A similar assignment was made each year to those who enrolled. A special com- mittee was appointed in 1916 to examine and grade the papers during Conference. After four years of creditable participation a certificate was awarded.
After nine years of successful operation this Extension program was dropped in 1923. The Conference continued its full cooperation with the Seminary, providing funds and encouraging all young ministers to take a full seminary course. The school moved to its new Dayton View campus in the fall of 1923.
Miami Conference had a deep concern for the education of those ministers who sought some training before the Seminary came into being or who found it impossible to attend college or seminary. A Conference reading course committee reported for the first time in 1854. A few years later separate committees were formed for each of the three years of the Course of Reading. Still later a fourth year committee was added.
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