John Wesley Hardt
Encyclopedia
John Wesley Hardt is a retired American
Bishop
of the United Methodist Church
, elected in 1980. He also distinguished himself as a Preacher
and a Pastor
of Methodist Churches, as a District Superintendent, and as an author
and biographer.
, a son of the Rev. and Mrs. W.W. Hardt. On 13 September 1943 he married Martha Carson of Malakoff
, Henderson County, Texas
. They have four children: Betty (Mrs. Ed Lesko), William C., John S. and James J. (known as Joe). The Hardts also have eight grandchildren.
in Jacksonville, Texas
, and then earned the B.A.
degree from Southern Methodist University
in 1942. He earned the Bachelor of Divinity
degree from Perkins School of Theology
(at S.M.U.) in 1946. He also did graduate work at Vanderbilt University
in Nashville
and Union Theological Seminary
in New York
. He also holds honorary doctorates from Southwestern University
and from Oklahoma City University
.
. Bishop A. Frank Smith ordained him a Deacon in 1943 and an Elder in 1944 in the Texas
Annual Conference
. In 1943 Hardt relieved his father as Pastor at Malakoff. Following the death of his father, Hardt served there another year.
Hardt served four other pastorates in the Texas Conference, each one involving a major building program. In 1977, after serving the First U.M.C., Beaumont, Texas
for eighteen years, he was appointed Superintendent of the Houston East District until elected to the Episcopacy in 1980. Hardt was a delegate to all U.M.
General Conferences from 1960 until 1980, during which time he was also active on general and conference agencies.
Episcopal Area
. He served Oklahoma until his retirement in 1988. He then became Bishop-in-Residence at Perkins School of Theology, later becoming Bishop-in-Residence Emeritus
.
Bishop Hardt has served as a Trustee of St. Paul School of Theology, Lon Morris College, Southern Methodist University and Oklahoma City University. He has been active in Rotary International
and has traveled extensively.
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 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 1980. He also distinguished himself as a 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...
and a Pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Methodist Churches, as a District Superintendent, and as an author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and biographer.
Birth and Family
Hardt was born in San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, a son of the Rev. and Mrs. W.W. Hardt. On 13 September 1943 he married Martha Carson of Malakoff
Malakoff
Malakoff is a suburban commune in the Hauts-de-Seine department southwest of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of the city.-History:The commune of Malakoff was created on 8 November 1883 by detaching its territory from the commune of Vanves...
, Henderson County, Texas
Henderson County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 73,277 people, 28,804 households, and 20,969 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There were 35,935 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile...
. They have four children: Betty (Mrs. Ed Lesko), William C., John S. and James J. (known as Joe). The Hardts also have eight grandchildren.
Education
Hardt attended Lon Morris CollegeLon Morris College
Lon Morris College is a private junior college located in Jacksonville, Texas, United States, and is the only school affiliated with the United Methodist Church that is owned by an individual conference and not the denomination as a whole...
in Jacksonville, Texas
Jacksonville, Texas
Jacksonville is located in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,868 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Jacksonville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Cherokee County and part of the larger Tyler-Jacksonville Combined Statistical...
, and then earned the B.A.
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...
degree from Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
in 1942. He earned the 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....
degree from Perkins School of Theology
Perkins School of Theology
Perkins School of Theology is one of Southern Methodist University's three original schools. The theology school was renamed in 1945 to honor benefactors Joe J...
(at S.M.U.) in 1946. He also did graduate work at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
in 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...
. He also holds honorary doctorates from Southwestern University
Southwestern University
Southwestern University is a private, four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Georgetown, Texas, USA. Founded in 1840, Southwestern is the oldest university in Texas. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church although the curriculum is nonsectarian...
and from Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University, often referred to as OCU, is a coeducational, urban, private university historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
.
Ordained ministry
During college Hardt served as a supply pastorPastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
. Bishop A. Frank Smith ordained him a Deacon in 1943 and an Elder in 1944 in the Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
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...
. In 1943 Hardt relieved his father as Pastor at Malakoff. Following the death of his father, Hardt served there another year.
Hardt served four other pastorates in the Texas Conference, each one involving a major building program. In 1977, after serving the First U.M.C., Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
for eighteen years, he was appointed Superintendent of the Houston East District until elected to the Episcopacy in 1980. Hardt was a delegate to all 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 Conferences from 1960 until 1980, during which time he was also active on general and conference agencies.
Episcopal ministry
Upon his election, Bishop Hardt was assigned to the OklahomaOklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
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...
. He served Oklahoma until his retirement in 1988. He then became Bishop-in-Residence at Perkins School of Theology, later becoming Bishop-in-Residence Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
.
Bishop Hardt has served as a Trustee of St. Paul School of Theology, Lon Morris College, Southern Methodist University and Oklahoma City University. He has been active in Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
and has traveled extensively.
Selected writings
- Not the Ashes, but the Fire, 1977 (a book of sermons).
- Lakeview, A Story of Inspiring Unity, 1992.
- Cecil Peeples, Giant of the 20th Century, 1999.
- Forward in Faith, 1999 (a history of Marvin United Church, Tyler, TX).