Massie L. Kennard
Encyclopedia
Massie L. Kennard was an African-American Lutheran pastor who would later become secretary for program personnel for the Lutheran Church in America
's Board of American Missions.
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Kennard was a major figure in championing ethnic and racial inclusiveness in the former Lutheran Church in America. Ordained in 1958, he served the church in various staff positions, including director for Minority Concerns of the Division for Mission in North America.
He served as the pastor of two Lutheran congregations. In 1972 he became the director for special need ministries. In 1977, he took the position as the director for racial/ethnic ministries. He remained in that position until his death in 1996.
He is commemorated in the Calendar of Saints
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
as one of the renewers of the church
on October 10.
Lutheran Church in America
The Lutheran Church in America was a U.S. and Canadian Lutheran church body that existed from 1962 to 1987. It was headquartered in New York City and its publishing house was Fortress Press....
's Board of American Missions.
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Kennard was a major figure in championing ethnic and racial inclusiveness in the former Lutheran Church in America. Ordained in 1958, he served the church in various staff positions, including director for Minority Concerns of the Division for Mission in North America.
He served as the pastor of two Lutheran congregations. In 1972 he became the director for special need ministries. In 1977, he took the position as the director for racial/ethnic ministries. He remained in that position until his death in 1996.
He is commemorated in the Calendar of Saints
Calendar of Saints (Lutheran)
The Lutheran Calendar of Saints is a listing which details the primary annual festivals and events that are celebrated liturgically by some Lutheran Churches in the United States. The calendars of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod are from the...
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA officially came into existence on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three churches. As of December 31, 2009, it had 4,543,037 baptized members, with 2,527,941 of them...
as one of the renewers of the church
Renewers of the Church
Renewers of the Church is a title given to some individuals by the Lutheran Church in their Calendar of Saints. It is given only to those individuals who have through their lives and actions significantly contributed to the development and vitality of the Christian church...
on October 10.