John Seybert
Encyclopedia
John Seybert was an American
bishop
of the Evangelical Association
. He was only the second Bishop of this denomination, a predecessor to the Evangelical United Brethren Church
(and the United Methodist Church
). He was elected at the General Conference of 1839.
, Pennsylvania
and died 4 January 1860 near Flat Rock
, Ohio
. His father, Henry, had been a German mercenary soldier in the British army during the American Revolutionary War
. He was captured and imprisoned at Lancaster
, Pennsylvania. After the war he became something of an indentured servant
to a Mr. Schaffner, serving for three years. In 1790 Henry was married to Susan Kreuzer. Two of their four sons survived to maturity, John and David.
faith. He received an elementary education in German and English. The family prospered, John receiving in 1806 at his father's death a farm near Manheim. One year after Henry's death, John's mother deserted her sons and entered a religious community at Harmony, Pennsylvania
, called the Rappites
. Though John maintained contact with her until his death, her actions permanently alienated David from their mother.
Though raised, even confirmed, a Lutheran, John was converted at a revival
held by an itinerant
Evangelical preacher
, Matthias Betz, in Manheim, 21 June 1810. Immediately he showed great zeal for the Christian faith. He was chosen as class leader of a class that met in Manheim. He was also recruited as class leader of a class that met in nearby Mount Joy
.
Circuit. He began a strenuous discipline of Biblical and theological study, which he follow throughout his long ministry.
In 1822 Seybert was ordained a deacon
. He went onto serve other churches/circuits, finally arriving in the Ohio Conference. While traveling through swampy areas of Ohio, he contracted malaria
which kept him in precarious health the rest of his life. In 1824 he was ordained an elder. In 1825 he was elected to the supervisory position of presiding elder, appointed to the Canaan District
in Pennsylvania (a large area mostly east of the Susquehanna River
, south into Virginia
, and north into New York
).
in 1808. Seybert accepted this election only after much prayer and self-examination.
As a Bishop, Seybert was required to travel extensively throughout the expanding Church, both in general ministry
as well as to preside at all Conferences
. He traveled by carriage
where roads were passable. Where there were no roads, he traveled on horseback, and sometimes walked. His travels ranged from New York, to New Jersey, to the Shenandoah Valley, to southwestern Pennsylvania, as far west as St. Louis, eastern Iowa, northern Illinois, Milwaukee, Detroit, Waterloo in Canada, Buffalo, and the Mohawk Valley. In one year (1850), for example, he traveled 106 days in Pennsylvania, 50 days in New York, 60 days in Ohio, 11 days in Michigan, 34 days in Indiana, 81 days in Illinois, 14 days in Wisconsin, 6 days in Maryland, and 3 days in Canada (for a total of 365 days). Although in later years he could have traveled by train, Bishop Seybert continued his previous methods of travel because it allowed him to minister to people in need all along his route.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 Evangelical Association
Evangelical Association
The Evangelical Church or Evangelical Association, also known as the Albright Brethren, is a "body of American Christians chiefly of German descent", Arminian in doctrine and theology; in its form of church government, Methodist Episcopal....
. He was only the second Bishop of this denomination, a predecessor to the Evangelical United Brethren Church
Evangelical United Brethren Church
The Evangelical United Brethren Church was an American Protestant church which was formed in 1946 by the merger of the Evangelical Church with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ...
(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...
). He was elected at the General Conference of 1839.
Birth and Family
Seybert was born 7 July 1791 in ManheimManheim, Pennsylvania
Manheim is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,784 at the 2000 census.-General information:*ZIP code: 17545*Area code: 717*Education: Manheim Central School District and Manheim Central High School-History:...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and died 4 January 1860 near Flat Rock
Flat Rock, Ohio
Flat Rock is a census-designated place in northeastern Thompson Township, Seneca County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 44828....
, 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...
. His father, Henry, had been a German mercenary soldier in the British army during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He was captured and imprisoned at Lancaster
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, Pennsylvania. After the war he became something of an indentured servant
Indentured servant
Indentured servitude refers to the historical practice of contracting to work for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities during the term of indenture. Usually the father made the arrangements and signed...
to a Mr. Schaffner, serving for three years. In 1790 Henry was married to Susan Kreuzer. Two of their four sons survived to maturity, John and David.
Early Life and Conversion
John, Sr. was confirmed in the LutheranLutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
faith. He received an elementary education in German and English. The family prospered, John receiving in 1806 at his father's death a farm near Manheim. One year after Henry's death, John's mother deserted her sons and entered a religious community at Harmony, Pennsylvania
Harmony, Pennsylvania
Harmony is a borough in Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 937 at the 2000 census. It is located about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-Geography:...
, called the Rappites
Harmony Society
The Harmony Society was a Christian theosophy and pietist society founded in Iptingen, Germany, in 1785. Due to religious persecution by the Lutheran Church and the government in Württemberg, the Harmony Society moved to the United States on October 7, 1803, initially purchasing of land in Butler...
. Though John maintained contact with her until his death, her actions permanently alienated David from their mother.
Though raised, even confirmed, a Lutheran, John was converted at a revival
Revival meeting
A revival meeting is a series of Christian religious services held in order to inspire active members of a church body, to raise funds and to gain new converts...
held by an itinerant
Itinerant
An itinerant is a person who travels from place to place with no fixed home. The term comes from the late 16th century: from late Latin itinerant , from the verb itinerari, from Latin iter, itiner ....
Evangelical preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
, Matthias Betz, in Manheim, 21 June 1810. Immediately he showed great zeal for the Christian faith. He was chosen as class leader of a class that met in Manheim. He was also recruited as class leader of a class that met in nearby Mount Joy
Mount Joy, Pennsylvania
Mount Joy is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,765 at the 2000 census.-Name and origin:Mount Joy is often named in lists of "delightfully-named towns" in Pennsylvania Dutchland, along with Intercourse, Blue Ball, PenisPallooza, Amish Land, Dick-in-Hand...
.
Ordained Ministry
Seybert was brought into the preaching ministry of the Evangelical Association by the Rev. John Dreisbach, an early denominational leader. Seybert was received as a preacher-on-trial in 1819 and appointed to the LancasterLancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
Circuit. He began a strenuous discipline of Biblical and theological study, which he follow throughout his long ministry.
In 1822 Seybert was ordained a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
. He went onto serve other churches/circuits, finally arriving in the Ohio Conference. While traveling through swampy areas of Ohio, he contracted malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
which kept him in precarious health the rest of his life. In 1824 he was ordained an elder. In 1825 he was elected to the supervisory position of presiding elder, appointed to the Canaan District
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
in Pennsylvania (a large area mostly east of the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
, south into Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and north into New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
).
Episcopal Ministry
The expansion of the Evangelical Association, both in territory as well as the increasing complexity of its Charitable and Mission Societies, led the denomination in 1839 to adopt a great centralization of leadership. This led to John Seybert's election as Bishop, the first Evangelical leader to hold that office since the death of founder, Bishop Jacob AlbrightJacob Albright
Jacob Albright was an American Christian leader, founder of Albright's People which was officially named the Evangelical Association in 1816...
in 1808. Seybert accepted this election only after much prayer and self-examination.
As a Bishop, Seybert was required to travel extensively throughout the expanding Church, both in general ministry
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...
as well as to preside at all Conferences
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...
. He traveled by carriage
Carriage
A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
where roads were passable. Where there were no roads, he traveled on horseback, and sometimes walked. His travels ranged from New York, to New Jersey, to the Shenandoah Valley, to southwestern Pennsylvania, as far west as St. Louis, eastern Iowa, northern Illinois, Milwaukee, Detroit, Waterloo in Canada, Buffalo, and the Mohawk Valley. In one year (1850), for example, he traveled 106 days in Pennsylvania, 50 days in New York, 60 days in Ohio, 11 days in Michigan, 34 days in Indiana, 81 days in Illinois, 14 days in Wisconsin, 6 days in Maryland, and 3 days in Canada (for a total of 365 days). Although in later years he could have traveled by train, Bishop Seybert continued his previous methods of travel because it allowed him to minister to people in need all along his route.