Johann Wilhelm Ernst Sommer
Encyclopedia
Johann Wilhelm Ernst Sommer (31 March 1881 – 15 October 1952) was a Bishop
of the Methodist Church, elected in 1946 for service in Germany
.
He was educated in Germany, at Kingswood School
, Bath, and Caius College, Cambridge, in England, and in Switzerland
. From 1906 until 1912 he was a Methodist Missionary
in the Ottoman Empire
. He also attended Methodist Conferences in Lausanne
(1927) and in Edinburgh
(1937). He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Free Church Council of Germany. During World War II
, his family lived in the basement of their looted home, and eight times he was called before the Gestapo
for questioning.
. Bishop Sommer was assigned to the Frankfort-on-Main Episcopal Area (which included the Central, Northeast, Northwest, South and Southwest Germany Annual Conferences).
Bishop Sommer died 15 October 1952 in Zurich, Switzerland. Bishop Sommer's son, Ernst, was elected to the Episcopacy in 1968.
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 Methodist Church, elected in 1946 for service in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Birth and Family
Johann was born 31 March 1881 in Stuttgart, Germany, of German and English ancestry. He was the eldest son of The Reverend Johann Jakob Sommer (1850-1925), a Methodist preacher who was arrested and reprimanded for persistent preaching in public places, and Zillah Elizabeth Barratt (1848-1935).He was educated in Germany, at Kingswood School
Kingswood School
Kingswood School, referred to as 'Kingswood', is an independent day and boarding school located in Bath, Somerset, England. The school is coeducational and educates some 950 children aged 3 to 18. It is notable for being founded by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, in 1748...
, Bath, and Caius College, Cambridge, in England, and in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. From 1906 until 1912 he was a Methodist Missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. He also attended Methodist Conferences in Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
(1927) and in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
(1937). He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Free Church Council of Germany. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, his family lived in the basement of their looted home, and eight times he was called before the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
for questioning.
Episcopal Ministry
Johann was elected to the Episcopacy by the Germany Central Conference of the Methodist Church, and consecrated by Bishop R.J. Wade, assisted by Bishops P.N. Garber and Theodor ArvidsonAugust Theodor Arvidson
August Theodor Arvidson was a bishop of The Methodist Church in Sweden.Arvidson was born in Järpas, Sweden to Lutheran parents. He was converted to methodism in his youth and joined the Methodist Church in Gothenburg in 1901...
. Bishop Sommer was assigned to the Frankfort-on-Main Episcopal Area (which included the Central, Northeast, Northwest, South and Southwest Germany Annual Conferences).
Bishop Sommer died 15 October 1952 in Zurich, Switzerland. Bishop Sommer's son, Ernst, was elected to the Episcopacy in 1968.