Albert Frederick Mutti
Encyclopedia
Albert Frederick "Fritz" Mutti, III (born 13 February 1938) is a retired American Bishop
of the United Methodist Church
, elected in 1992.
, the son of Albert Frederick Mutti, Jr. and Phyllis M. (Turner) Mutti. All his life he has been identified by the nickname
, "Fritz." He married Etta Mae McClurg, also of Hopkins, Missouri (his high school
sweetheart
) 7 June 1959. They are the parents of three sons: Timothy Allen, John Frederick and Martin Kent. Both Tim and Fred died of A.I.D.S.. They are also the grandparents of Siobhan M. Williams (daughter of John Frederick).
. He then earned an A.B.
from Central Methodist College in 1960, and an M.Div. degree from Garrett Theological Seminary in 1963. His D.Min. is from Saint Paul School of Theology
(1975).
Annual Conference
of The Methodist Church in 1961. He was admitted to Full Connection and ordained an Elder in the Missouri West Annual Conference in 1963. Both ordinations were accomplished by Bishop Eugene Frank.
Rev. Mutti served a variety of appointments as a Pastor, beginning as a Student Pastor in Missouri and Indiana
. Following seminary
graduation
he was the Pastor of the Union Star-Star Chapel-Oak Grove circuit for two years. From there he moved to Savannah
becoming the Founding Pastor of the Crossroads Ecumenical Cooperative Parish.
He was a member of the Missouri West Conference Staff for eight years, serving first as Director of Education and Camping
, then as Conference Council Director. In 1982 Dr. Mutti was appointed Senior Pastor of the First U.M.C., Blue Springs, Missouri
. He was then appointed Superintendent of the Central District in 1987, and of the Kansas City
North District in 1989.
Throughout his career in ordained ministry he was elected a delegate to five Jurisdictional Conferences and four General Conferences of the U.M. Church. He led his conference's delegation in 1984, 1988 and 1992. He also served as a Director of the U.M.
General Board of Discipleship (1980–88) and of the General Board of Global Ministries (1988–92).
Episcopal Area
.
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 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 1992.
Birth and Family
Mutti was born in Hopkins, MissouriHopkins, Missouri
Hopkins is a city in Nodaway County, Missouri, United States. The population was 579 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hopkins is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, the son of Albert Frederick Mutti, Jr. and Phyllis M. (Turner) Mutti. All his life he has been identified by the nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
, "Fritz." He married Etta Mae McClurg, also of Hopkins, Missouri (his high school
High 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....
sweetheart
Sweetheart
Sweetheart can be:*The term of endearment applied to a person's significant other**Childhood sweetheart*Forgetful of bringing drinks to fellow coworkers*Sweetheart , recorded by Rainy Davis and re-recorded by Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri...
) 7 June 1959. They are the parents of three sons: Timothy Allen, John Frederick and Martin Kent. Both Tim and Fred died of A.I.D.S.. They are also the grandparents of Siobhan M. Williams (daughter of John Frederick).
Education
Fritz graduated from Hopkins 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 then earned an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Central Methodist College in 1960, and an M.Div. degree from Garrett Theological Seminary in 1963. His D.Min. is from Saint Paul School of Theology
Saint Paul School of Theology
Saint Paul School of Theology is a school of higher learning in Kansas City, Missouri and is one of 13 seminaries of the United Methodist Church. In addition to the downtown Kansas City campus, Saint Paul School of Theology at Oklahoma City University began offering courses in September 2008...
(1975).
Ordained Ministry
Fritz was admitted on trial and ordained a Deacon in the former MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
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 Church in 1961. He was admitted to Full Connection and ordained an Elder in the Missouri West Annual Conference in 1963. Both ordinations were accomplished by Bishop Eugene Frank.
Rev. Mutti served a variety of appointments as a Pastor, beginning as a Student Pastor in Missouri and Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. Following 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...
graduation
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
he was the Pastor of the Union Star-Star Chapel-Oak Grove circuit for two years. From there he moved to Savannah
Savannah, Missouri
Savannah is a city in Andrew County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,762 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Andrew County.Savannah is part of the St...
becoming the Founding Pastor of the Crossroads Ecumenical Cooperative Parish.
He was a member of the Missouri West Conference Staff for eight years, serving first as Director of Education and Camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, then as Conference Council Director. In 1982 Dr. Mutti was appointed Senior Pastor of the First U.M.C., Blue Springs, Missouri
Blue Springs, Missouri
Blue Springs is a city in Jackson County, Missouri and is a satellite city of Kansas City, Missouri. As of the 2010 census the population at 52,575.- Geography :...
. He was then appointed Superintendent of the Central District in 1987, and of the Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
North District in 1989.
Throughout his career in ordained ministry he was elected a delegate to five Jurisdictional Conferences and four General Conferences of the U.M. Church. He led his conference's delegation in 1984, 1988 and 1992. He also served as a Director of the U.M.
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...
General Board of Discipleship (1980–88) and of the General Board of Global Ministries (1988–92).
Episcopal Ministry
Fritz Mutti was elected to the Episcopacy by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church in 1992. He was assigned to the KansasKansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
Episcopal Area
Episcopal Area
An Episcopal Area in the United Methodist Church is a basic unit of this denomination. It is a region presided over by a resident bishop that is similar to a diocese in other Christian denominations. Each annual conference in the UMC is within a single episcopal area; some episcopal areas...
.