John Lowden Knight
Encyclopedia
John Lowden Knight was a professor, university administrator, and a Methodist theolgian. He was President of Nebraska Wesleyan University
, Lincoln, Nebraska
; the fourth president of Baldwin-Wallace College
, Berea, Ohio
; and the eighth president of the Wesley Theological Seminary
, in Washington, D.C..
. He graduated the public schools of Beverly and Burlington City
in 1933. He received full tuition to Drew University
, where he majored in Biblical Literature, graduating cum laude in 1939. He then attended Boston University
, where he earned his A.M in 1941 and his S.T.B. (M.Div) in 1942. World War II prevented Knight from studying overseas, so he began graduate studies at Vanderbilt University
Divinity School, earning his M.A. He was prepared to enter the University of Chicago
School of Divinity for his PhD, but opted for his first academic appointment at Willamette University
.
at a young age. He moved up quickly at Willamette, as he was named Assistant to the President following successes in planning the Annual Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
. He also served as a professor, teaching courses in Bible History, and in 1946, summer courses at the Iliff School of Theology
in Denver.
in Lincoln
. Knight's time at Nebraska showed marked growth and development of the institution. He quickly moved onto the vacant presidency at Baldwin-Wallace College
in Berea, Ohio
in 1949. In his memoirs, he does not reflect on his five years at BW. His years at BW saw the campus move farther and farther away from their traditional religious affiliation with the Methodist Church to a more secularized liberal arts college. The expectation of him to focus on fundraising for the university left him longing for his passion for the ministry. Such an opportunity availed itself in 1954.
. Following his seven years at Trinity, he moved to assume the responsibilities of senior pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Syracuse, New York
.
in Washington, D.C. in 1967. He served the seminary for fifteen years as president. It was here that Knight was able to live both his passions of ministry and administration. He presided over the doubling of the seminary's endowment, an increase in student enrollment, and numerous gifts to the seminary.
, serving as head of three affiliated universities, two honorary doctorates, listings in Who's Who
in America from 1948 until his death, two separate nominations to the Methodist episcopacy (which he declined) and President Emeritus of Wesley Seminary.
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private, coeducational university located in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was founded in 1887 by Nebraska Methodists. As of 2007, it has 1,600 full-time students and 300 faculty and staff. The school teaches in the tradition of a liberal arts college education....
, Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
; the fourth president of Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin–Wallace College is a liberal arts college in Berea, Ohio, founded in 1845. It is home to the Riemenschneider-Bach Institute and the Baldwin–Wallace Conservatory of Music, an internationally renowned music school. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Students receive a...
, Berea, Ohio
Berea, Ohio
- History :The first European settlers were originally from Connecticut. Berea fell within Connecticut's Western Reserve and was surveyed and divided into townships and ranges by one Gideon Granger, a gentleman who served as Postmaster General under President Thomas Jefferson...
; and the eighth president of the Wesley Theological Seminary
Wesley Theological Seminary
Wesley Theological Seminary is a United Methodist–affiliated seminary located in Washington, D.C., United States. The school was founded in 1882...
, in Washington, D.C..
Education
Knight was born in Beverly, New JerseyBeverly, New Jersey
Beverly is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 2,577.Beverly was originally incorporated as a borough on March 5, 1850, within Willingboro Township...
. He graduated the public schools of Beverly and Burlington City
Burlington, New Jersey
Burlington is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 9,920....
in 1933. He received full tuition to Drew University
Drew University
Drew University is a private university located in Madison, New Jersey.Originally established as the Drew Theological Seminary in 1867, the university later expanded to include an undergraduate liberal arts college in 1928 and commenced a program of graduate studies in 1955...
, where he majored in Biblical Literature, graduating cum laude in 1939. He then attended Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, where he earned his A.M in 1941 and his S.T.B. (M.Div) in 1942. World War II prevented Knight from studying overseas, so he began graduate studies at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
Divinity School, earning his M.A. He was prepared to enter the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
School of Divinity for his PhD, but opted for his first academic appointment at Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
.
Early career
Facuty shortages at Willamette offered Knight the chance to become a college chaplainChaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
at a young age. He moved up quickly at Willamette, as he was named Assistant to the President following successes in planning the 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...
. He also served as a professor, teaching courses in Bible History, and in 1946, summer courses at the Iliff School of Theology
Iliff School of Theology
Iliff School of Theology is a graduate theological school adjoining the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado.An average of 300-350 students attend the school each year in the following degree programs:* Master of Divinity...
in Denver.
College administrator
Knight's reputation in Methodist circles as a prodigious administrator landed him his first executive appointment at the age of 31. Knight served three years as President of the Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityNebraska Wesleyan University
Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private, coeducational university located in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was founded in 1887 by Nebraska Methodists. As of 2007, it has 1,600 full-time students and 300 faculty and staff. The school teaches in the tradition of a liberal arts college education....
in Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
. Knight's time at Nebraska showed marked growth and development of the institution. He quickly moved onto the vacant presidency at Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin–Wallace College is a liberal arts college in Berea, Ohio, founded in 1845. It is home to the Riemenschneider-Bach Institute and the Baldwin–Wallace Conservatory of Music, an internationally renowned music school. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Students receive a...
in Berea, Ohio
Berea, Ohio
- History :The first European settlers were originally from Connecticut. Berea fell within Connecticut's Western Reserve and was surveyed and divided into townships and ranges by one Gideon Granger, a gentleman who served as Postmaster General under President Thomas Jefferson...
in 1949. In his memoirs, he does not reflect on his five years at BW. His years at BW saw the campus move farther and farther away from their traditional religious affiliation with the Methodist Church to a more secularized liberal arts college. The expectation of him to focus on fundraising for the university left him longing for his passion for the ministry. Such an opportunity availed itself in 1954.
Ministry
In 1954, Knight became the senior pastor of the Trinity Methodist Church of Columbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. Following his seven years at Trinity, he moved to assume the responsibilities of senior pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
Return to academia
Knight was offered the presidency of the Wesley Theological SeminaryWesley Theological Seminary
Wesley Theological Seminary is a United Methodist–affiliated seminary located in Washington, D.C., United States. The school was founded in 1882...
in Washington, D.C. in 1967. He served the seminary for fifteen years as president. It was here that Knight was able to live both his passions of ministry and administration. He presided over the doubling of the seminary's endowment, an increase in student enrollment, and numerous gifts to the seminary.
Conclusions
Knight was a well-respected leader in the United Methodist ChurchUnited 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...
, serving as head of three affiliated universities, two honorary doctorates, listings in Who's Who
Who's Who
Who's Who is the title of a number of reference publications, generally containing concise biographical information on a particular group of people...
in America from 1948 until his death, two separate nominations to the Methodist episcopacy (which he declined) and President Emeritus of Wesley Seminary.