Francis Enmer Kearns
Encyclopedia
Francis Enmer Kearns
distinguished himself as a Methodist pastor
, a professor of English, a member of denominational boards and agencies, a bluegrass
musician, a Bishop
of The Methodist Church and the United Methodist Church
(elected in 1964), and a Visiting Professor of a United Methodist Theological Seminary
. Bishop Kearns also holds the distinction of being the first Resident Bishop of the Ohio East Episcopal Area of The Methodist/United Methodist Church.
, the son of George V. and Jennie May (McCleary) Kearns. He married Alice Thompson 1 September 1933, and they had three children.
. He earned a bachelor's degree
from Ohio Wesleyan University
and a B.D.
degree from Boston University School of Theology
. In 1930 he was awarded a Jacob Sleeper Fellowship
for post-graduate studies in theology in Berlin
, Germany
and Edinburgh
, Scotland
. He completed his doctorate
at the University of Pittsburgh
in 1939.
Kearns also received honorary degree
s from several Ohio
schools, including Mount Union College
.
Annual Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
in 1931. He served the following appointments in Pennsylvania: Dravosburgh; Christ Church in Pittsburgh, Ben Avon, Uniontown, and Asbury.
In 1945 Kearns was appointed Senior Minister of the Wauwatosa Avenue Methodist Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, where he served until elected a Bishop.
Kearns served on various denominational boards, was a delegate to World Methodist Conferences in Europe
and the United States, was a member of the Rotary
Club of Sebring and a 33rd degree Mason
.
Kearns retired from the active episcopacy in 1976, becoming a visiting professor
at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio
. In 1988 he and his wife moved to Copeland Oaks, a retirement complex in Sebring, Ohio
related to the United Methodist Church.
and heart complications 29 January 1992 at Alliance, Ohio
. His memorial service was held 4 February 1992 at Church of the Savior U.M. Church in Canton, Ohio
. Bishop Edwin C. Boulton
presided at the service, assisted by Bishop Judith Craig
and Van Bogard Dunn, former Dean of M.T.S.O.
Interment was in Oak Grove Cemetery
, Delaware, Ohio
. He was survived by his wife, his sons, Rollin T. and Francis E., Jr., and his daughter, Mrs. Margaret Baldwin.
Bishop Boulton then remarked, "Francis said he would, with the help of God. And they did." Bishop Boulton concluded by saying:
distinguished himself as a Methodist pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
, a professor of English, a member of denominational boards and agencies, a bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
musician, a Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of The Methodist Church and the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
(elected in 1964), and a Visiting Professor of a United Methodist Theological Seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
. Bishop Kearns also holds the distinction of being the first Resident Bishop of the Ohio East Episcopal Area of The Methodist/United Methodist Church.
Early years
Kearns was born in Bentleyville, PennsylvaniaBentleyville, Pennsylvania
Bentleyville is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,502 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bentleyville is located at . U.S...
, the son of George V. and Jennie May (McCleary) Kearns. He married Alice Thompson 1 September 1933, and they had three children.
Education
Kearns graduated from Bentleyville High SchoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
. He earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five — a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges...
and a B.D.
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
degree from Boston University School of Theology
Boston University School of Theology
Boston University School of Theology is the oldest theological seminary of American Methodism and the founding school of Boston University, the largest private research university in New England. It is one of thirteen theological schools maintained by the United Methodist Church...
. In 1930 he was awarded a Jacob Sleeper Fellowship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
for post-graduate studies in theology in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. He completed his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
in 1939.
Kearns also received honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
s from several Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
schools, including Mount Union College
Mount Union College
The University of Mount Union is a 4-year private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Alliance, Ohio.Mount Union enrolls 2200 undergraduates. Approximately 50 percent are women and 50 percent are men, representing more than 22 states and 13 countries. Mount Union has an active alumni base of...
.
Ordained ministry
The Rev. Kearns began his ministry in the Western PennsylvaniaWestern Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
Annual Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
in 1931. He served the following appointments in Pennsylvania: Dravosburgh; Christ Church in Pittsburgh, Ben Avon, Uniontown, and Asbury.
In 1945 Kearns was appointed Senior Minister of the Wauwatosa Avenue Methodist Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, where he served until elected a Bishop.
Episcopal ministry
Kearns was elected to the Episcopacy by the 1964 North Central Jurisdictional Conference of the Methodist Church and assigned to the newly created Ohio East Episcopal Area. During his 12 years as the resident bishop of the East Ohio Annual Conference he saw many strategic changes made, being a steady guide as those changes took place. Chief among these events was the uniting of the Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist conferences in Northeastern Ohio.Kearns served on various denominational boards, was a delegate to World Methodist Conferences in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the United States, was a member of the Rotary
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
Club of Sebring and a 33rd degree Mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
.
Kearns retired from the active episcopacy in 1976, becoming a visiting professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio
Methodist Theological School in Ohio
The Methodist Theological School in Ohio, commonly known as "Methesco", is one of the 13 official seminaries of The United Methodist Church.MTSO is a partner in the Theological Consortium of Greater Columbus, along with Trinity Lutheran Seminary and the Pontifical College Josephinum...
. In 1988 he and his wife moved to Copeland Oaks, a retirement complex in Sebring, Ohio
Sebring, Ohio
Sebring is a village in Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. The population was 4,912 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area....
related to the United Methodist Church.
Death
Bishop Kearns died of cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
and heart complications 29 January 1992 at Alliance, Ohio
Alliance, Ohio
Alliance is a city in Stark and Mahoning counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 22,322 at the 2010 census. Alliance's nickname is "The Carnation City", and the city is home to the University of Mount Union....
. His memorial service was held 4 February 1992 at Church of the Savior U.M. Church in Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. Bishop Edwin C. Boulton
Edwin Charles Boulton
Edwin Charles Boulton was an American Bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1980.-Birth and Family:...
presided at the service, assisted by Bishop Judith Craig
Judith Craig
Judith Craig is a retired American Bishop of The United Methodist Church, whose primary field of service was the U.S..Elected bishop in 1984, she was born on 5 June 1937 in Lexington, Missouri.-Education:...
and Van Bogard Dunn, former Dean of M.T.S.O.
Methodist Theological School in Ohio
The Methodist Theological School in Ohio, commonly known as "Methesco", is one of the 13 official seminaries of The United Methodist Church.MTSO is a partner in the Theological Consortium of Greater Columbus, along with Trinity Lutheran Seminary and the Pontifical College Josephinum...
Interment was in Oak Grove Cemetery
Oak Grove Cemetery
Oak Grove Cemetery may refer to:in the United States* Oak Grove Cemetery Historic Section, listed on the NRHP in Conway, Arkansas* Oak Grove Cemetery , listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Prairie County, Arkansas...
, Delaware, Ohio
Delaware, Ohio
The City of Delaware is a city in and the county seat of Delaware County in the United States state of Ohio. Delaware was founded in 1808 and was incorporated in 1816. It is located near the center of Ohio, is about north of Columbus, and is part of the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Area...
. He was survived by his wife, his sons, Rollin T. and Francis E., Jr., and his daughter, Mrs. Margaret Baldwin.
Episcopal remembrance
Bishop Boulton noted at Bishop Kearns' memorial service that at the service of consecration when Kearns was elected Bishop, he and Alice were asked,- "Will you show yourself gentle, and be merciful for Christ's sake to poor and needy people, and to all strangers destitute of help? Will you maintain and set forward, as much as lieth in you, quietness, love, and peace among all men; and faithfully exercise such discipline in the Church as shall be committed unto you?"
Bishop Boulton then remarked, "Francis said he would, with the help of God. And they did." Bishop Boulton concluded by saying:
- "The 86 years of Francis Kearns were empowered by great affirmations. But undergirding all the rest, making it the supreme affirmation of his life was this: 'For I am convinced that there is nothing in death or life,...nothing in all creation that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.' (Romans 8:38a, 39b) That's why on the night he died Francis could say to his wife and daughter in his hospital room, 'Turn off the lights now, let's go to bed.'"