Don Wendell Holter
Encyclopedia
Don Wendell Holter was an American Bishop
of the United Methodist Church
, elected in 1972. He was born in Lincoln, Kansas, a son of Henry O. and Lenna Mater Holter.
in 1927 (A.B.
). He then attended Harvard University
and Garrett Theological Seminary, earning his Bachelor of Divinity
from Garrett in 1930. Don went on to earn his Ph.D.
in Church History at the University of Chicago
in 1934. Bishop Holter received honorary doctorates from Baker University, Westmar College, Dakota Wesleyan University
, and St. Paul School of Theology.
and Elder by Bishop Charles L. Mead, in the Kansas
Annual Conference
of the M.E. Church. His first pastoral appointment was as Assistant Minister at the Euclid Avenue Church in Oak Park, Illinois beginning in 1931 while Don was still a seminarian. From 1935 until 1940, Dr. Holter was Minister at the Central Methodist Church in Manila
and Professor
at Union Theological Seminary there. From 1940 until 1945 he was President of the seminary.
In 1938 Dr. Holter served as Chairman of the Philippines
delegation to the International Mission Conference in Madras, India, a delegation which included Dr. Frank Laubach
. For three years the Holter family was interred by the Japanese during World War II. They returned to the U.S. in May, 1945. Dr. Holter spent the next year itinerating for the Methodist Missions Board. During 1946–49 he was the Pastor of Hamline Methodist Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
In 1949 Dr. Holter joined the faculty
of Garrett Theological Seminary as Professor
of Church History and Missions. In 1958 he spent four months on a special study mission to Africa, including several days spent with Dr. Albert Schweitzer
at Lambaréné
. On 1 January 1959 Dr. Holter became the founding President of Saint Paul School of Theology
, a position he held until his election to the Episcopacy.
Dr. Holter was elected a delegate to U.M. General Conferences (1964–72), serving in 1968 and 1970 as the Chairman of the Legislative Committee on Ministry. He also held positions of leadership in his Annual Conference as well as on General Church Agencies.
Episcopal Area, serving one quadrennium
before retiring in 1976.
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 1972. He was born in Lincoln, Kansas, a son of Henry O. and Lenna Mater Holter.
Education
Don graduated from Baker UniversityBaker University
Baker University is a private, residential university located in Baldwin City, Kansas, United States. Founded in 1858, it is the oldest university in Kansas and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Baker University is made up of four schools...
in 1927 (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...
). He then attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and Garrett Theological Seminary, earning his Bachelor of Divinity
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....
from Garrett in 1930. Don went on to earn his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Church History at 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...
in 1934. Bishop Holter received honorary doctorates from Baker University, Westmar College, Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University is a four-year university located in Mitchell, South Dakota, founded in 1885, that is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The student body averages slightly less than 800 students...
, and St. Paul School of Theology.
Ordained, missionary, and academic ministry
Don was ordained Deacon by Bishop Ernest Lynn WaldorfErnest Lynn Waldorf
Ernest Lynn Waldorf was an American Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected in 1920.He was born on a farm in the South Valley, Otsego County, New York. The "Waldruff" family originally came from Holland. Waldorf united with the Central New York Annual Conference of the M.E. Church in...
and Elder by Bishop Charles L. Mead, in the Kansas
Kansas
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...
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 M.E. Church. His first pastoral appointment was as Assistant Minister at the Euclid Avenue Church in Oak Park, Illinois beginning in 1931 while Don was still a seminarian. From 1935 until 1940, Dr. Holter was Minister at the Central Methodist Church in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
and 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 Union Theological Seminary there. From 1940 until 1945 he was President of the seminary.
In 1938 Dr. Holter served as Chairman of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
delegation to the International Mission Conference in Madras, India, a delegation which included Dr. Frank Laubach
Frank Laubach
Frank Charles Laubach was an Evangelical Christian missionary and mystic known as "The Apostle to the Illiterates." In 1935, while working at a remote location in the Philippines, he developed the "Each One Teach One" literacy program. It has been used to teach about 60 million people to read in...
. For three years the Holter family was interred by the Japanese during World War II. They returned to the U.S. in May, 1945. Dr. Holter spent the next year itinerating for the Methodist Missions Board. During 1946–49 he was the Pastor of Hamline Methodist Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
In 1949 Dr. Holter joined the faculty
Faculty (university)
A faculty is a division within a university comprising one subject area, or a number of related subject areas...
of Garrett Theological Seminary as 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...
of Church History and Missions. In 1958 he spent four months on a special study mission to Africa, including several days spent with Dr. Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer OM was a German theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary. He was born in Kaysersberg in the province of Alsace-Lorraine, at that time part of the German Empire...
at Lambaréné
Lambaréné
Lambaréné is the capital of the political district Moyen-Ogooué in Gabon. The city counts 24,000 inhabitants and is located 75 kilometres south of the equator....
. On 1 January 1959 Dr. Holter became the founding President of 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...
, a position he held until his election to the Episcopacy.
Dr. Holter was elected a delegate to U.M. General Conferences (1964–72), serving in 1968 and 1970 as the Chairman of the Legislative Committee on Ministry. He also held positions of leadership in his Annual Conference as well as on General Church Agencies.
Episcopal ministry
Bishop Holter was elected by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church in 1972. He was assigned to the NebraskaNebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
Episcopal Area, serving one quadrennium
Quadrennium
A quadrennium is a period of 4 years, most commonly used in reference to the 4 year period between each Olympic Games....
before retiring in 1976.
Selected writings
- Fire on the Prairie: Methodism in the History of Kansas.
- Flames on the Plains: History of United Methodism in Nebraska.
- The Lure of Kansas: The Story of Evangelicals and United Brethren, 1853–1968.