Kirby J. Hensley
Encyclopedia
The Reverend Kirby James Hensley (July 23, 1911 – March 19, 1999) was the president and founder of the Universal Life Church
(ULC.)
Hensley was born as second in a family of seven children on July 23, 1911, in the mountains of Lowgap
, North Carolina
. For over 65 years he studied and preached religion
throughout the United States
. An illiterate his entire life, he hired people to read the Bible
to him and later listened to recordings of the Bible on tape.
Hensley was ordained in the Baptist Church, but after preaching for several years he left that denomination and attended the Pentecostal Church
es in the area. Through this church he married his first wife Nora and they had two daughters. He pastored in Oklahoma
and California
.
Hensley divorced Nora and moved to North Carolina, where he met his second wife Lida
. During their forty-six-year marriage they had one daughter and two sons. He had two daughters from his first marriage.
It was shortly after returning to California with his family that he started to work with the idea of forming a church for all people. The one overruling principle guiding the ULC was to have respect for all faiths.
Rev. Hensley ran for President of the United States
as a third party candidate under the third Universal Party in 1964 and 1968, with Roscoe MacKenna as his running mate.
Hensley remained as President of the church until his death on March 19, 1999. During this time he wrote many sermons and even appeared on 60 Minutes
.
The song "Modesto Messiah" written by Jonathan Newton and performed by David Raymer was written about Kirby.
Universal Life Church
The Universal Life Church is a religious organization that offers anyone semi-immediate ordination as a ULC minister free of charge. The organization states that anyone can become a minister immediately, without having to go through the pre-ordination process required by other religious faiths...
(ULC.)
Hensley was born as second in a family of seven children on July 23, 1911, in the mountains of Lowgap
Lowgap, North Carolina
Lowgap is an unincorporated community in the Franklin Township of Surry County, North Carolina. Lowgap is named for the "low gap" the community is settled in among the Blue Ridge Mountains. The community has an elevation of 1,457 feet...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. For over 65 years he studied and preached religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. An illiterate his entire life, he hired people to read the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
to him and later listened to recordings of the Bible on tape.
Hensley was ordained in the Baptist Church, but after preaching for several years he left that denomination and attended the Pentecostal Church
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
es in the area. Through this church he married his first wife Nora and they had two daughters. He pastored in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
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...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Hensley divorced Nora and moved to North Carolina, where he met his second wife Lida
Lida Hensley
Lida Hensley was the wife of Kirby J. Hensley and was for a period of seven years the President of the Universal Life Church . Prior to being elected President, Lida served as Secretary of the church from its founding.Lida was born in Relief, North Carolina to Robert and Margaret Gouge...
. During their forty-six-year marriage they had one daughter and two sons. He had two daughters from his first marriage.
It was shortly after returning to California with his family that he started to work with the idea of forming a church for all people. The one overruling principle guiding the ULC was to have respect for all faiths.
Rev. Hensley ran for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
as a third party candidate under the third Universal Party in 1964 and 1968, with Roscoe MacKenna as his running mate.
Hensley remained as President of the church until his death on March 19, 1999. During this time he wrote many sermons and even appeared on 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
.
The song "Modesto Messiah" written by Jonathan Newton and performed by David Raymer was written about Kirby.