Alma Hunt (Baptist leader)
Encyclopedia
Alma Hunt was an influential and outspoken leader for women in the American Southern Baptist Convention
. During her long tenure as executive secretary of the Woman's Missionary Union, from 1948 to 1974, she oversaw record-high membership and many new program initiatives.
A native of Roanoke, Virginia
, Hunt was the daughter of a deacon of the First Baptist Church. She died as an ordained minister of the Rosalind Hills Baptist Church, which sought to recognize not only her long service to the church but also her vocal opposition to the Southern Baptist Convention's prohibition of women in the role of church pastors or military and prison chaplains.
Hunt graduated in 1941 from State Teacher’s College (now Longwood University
) in Farmville, Virginia
. In 1947, she earned a master of arts degree at Columbia University
. William Jewell College
, where she served as dean of women in 1945-48, awarded her an honorary doctorate of humanities, and in 1999 the University of Richmond
awarded her an honorary doctorate of divinity.
One of Hunt's first initiatives after being chosen to head the WMU was to support the formation of the women's department of the Baptist World Alliance
, and also the BWA's interdenominational North American Baptist Women's Union. She served as president of the latter in 1964-67, and vice president of the former in 1970-75.
After retiring as head of the WMU, she remained active as a volunteer. From 1976 to 1985, she served as consultant on women's mission work for the Baptist Foreign Mission Board (now the International Mission Board), which in 1997 named her an honorary emeritus missionary. At the 150th anniversary of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1995, Hunt was the only woman chosen to make a historical address. In 1998, the WMU of Virginia and the Baptist General Association of Virginia named the Alma Hunt Offering for Virginia Missions in her honor.
Several facilities have been named in her honor, including: the Alma Hunt Museum at WMU headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama
, which houses her personal missions archives; the Alma Hunt Library at the John Leland Center for Theological Studies
in Northern Virginia; and the Alma Hunt Cottage at Hope Tree Family Services (formerly known as the Virginia Baptist Children’s Home) in Salem, Virginia
.
Her funeral service was Wednesday June 18 and was held at Rosalind Hills. It was presided over by former RHBC Pastor Rev. Dr. Tom Stocks and she was buried at Evergreen Burial Park in Roanoke.
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
. During her long tenure as executive secretary of the Woman's Missionary Union, from 1948 to 1974, she oversaw record-high membership and many new program initiatives.
A native of Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
, Hunt was the daughter of a deacon of the First Baptist Church. She died as an ordained minister of the Rosalind Hills Baptist Church, which sought to recognize not only her long service to the church but also her vocal opposition to the Southern Baptist Convention's prohibition of women in the role of church pastors or military and prison chaplains.
Hunt graduated in 1941 from State Teacher’s College (now Longwood University
Longwood University
Longwood University is a four-year public, liberal-arts university located in Farmville, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1839 and became a university on July 1, 2002...
) in Farmville, Virginia
Farmville, Virginia
Farmville is a town in Prince Edward and Cumberland counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,845 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Prince Edward County....
. In 1947, she earned a master of arts degree at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. William Jewell College
William Jewell College
William Jewell College is a private, four-year liberal arts college of 1,100 undergraduate students located in Liberty, Missouri, U.S. It was founded in 1849 by members of the Missouri Baptist Convention and other civic leaders, including Robert S. James, a Baptist minister and father of the...
, where she served as dean of women in 1945-48, awarded her an honorary doctorate of humanities, and in 1999 the University of Richmond
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
awarded her an honorary doctorate of divinity.
One of Hunt's first initiatives after being chosen to head the WMU was to support the formation of the women's department of the Baptist World Alliance
Baptist World Alliance
The Baptist World Alliance is a worldwide alliance of Baptist churches and organizations, formed in 1905 at Exeter Hall in London during the first Baptist World Congress.-History:...
, and also the BWA's interdenominational North American Baptist Women's Union. She served as president of the latter in 1964-67, and vice president of the former in 1970-75.
After retiring as head of the WMU, she remained active as a volunteer. From 1976 to 1985, she served as consultant on women's mission work for the Baptist Foreign Mission Board (now the International Mission Board), which in 1997 named her an honorary emeritus missionary. At the 150th anniversary of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1995, Hunt was the only woman chosen to make a historical address. In 1998, the WMU of Virginia and the Baptist General Association of Virginia named the Alma Hunt Offering for Virginia Missions in her honor.
Several facilities have been named in her honor, including: the Alma Hunt Museum at WMU headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, which houses her personal missions archives; the Alma Hunt Library at the John Leland Center for Theological Studies
John Leland Center for Theological Studies
The John Leland Center for Theological Studies is a Christian institution of higher education, comprising a seminary and a school of ministry. The center offers classes in Falls Church, Virginia, and at several satellite locations throughout Virginia...
in Northern Virginia; and the Alma Hunt Cottage at Hope Tree Family Services (formerly known as the Virginia Baptist Children’s Home) in Salem, Virginia
Salem, Virginia
Salem is an independent city in Virginia, USA, bordered by the city of Roanoke to the east but otherwise adjacent to Roanoke County. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 24,802 according to 2010 U.S. Census...
.
Her funeral service was Wednesday June 18 and was held at Rosalind Hills. It was presided over by former RHBC Pastor Rev. Dr. Tom Stocks and she was buried at Evergreen Burial Park in Roanoke.