Paul Hardin Jr
Encyclopedia
Paul Hardin, Jr. was a Bishop
in The Methodist Church in the U.S.
, elected in 1960.
He was Bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference
of the Methodist Church in 1963 when he joined seven other white clergymen to write the letter A Call For Unity
, making a thinly veiled reference to Martin Luther King, Jr.
King replied to this letter with his Letter from Birmingham Jail
.
Paul was the son of Paul and Harriet (Wannamaker) Hardin. He attended Wofford College
in 1920 where he studied law and then to Candler School of Theology
, Emory University
in 1924 where he received his divinity degree in 1927. Hardin was ordained Deacon
in 1929 and Elder
in 1931. He was assigned to pastorates in South Carolina
and in 1949 he was appointed to Birmingham, Alabama
First Methodist Church
. Hardin was elected bishop on July 15, 1960 at the Southeastern Jurisdictional conference. For many years he was the resident bishop of the Columbia (South Carolina) area. From 1961 to 1964 he also had charge of the Alabama-West Florida following the death of Bishop Bachman Gladstone Hodge.
Bishop Hardin was a member of the General Board of Education; of the General Board of Christian Social Concerns; and president of the Council on World Service and Finance.He was a delegate to the General Conference and Jurisdictional conference of 1960. He has been a member of the Lake Junaluska Assembly, and a trustee of Emory University. Bishop Hardin was installed as president of the United Methodist Church's Council of Bishops on April 15, 1971 in San Antonio, Texas. Bishop Hardin died in 1996.
*
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...
in The Methodist Church in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, elected in 1960.
He was Bishop of the Alabama-West Florida 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 1963 when he joined seven other white clergymen to write the letter A Call For Unity
A Call For Unity
"A Call for Unity" was a letter written on April 12, 1963 by eight white clergymen local to Birmingham, Alabama and published in a local newspaper...
, making a thinly veiled reference to Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
King replied to this letter with his Letter from Birmingham Jail
Letter from Birmingham Jail
The Letter from Birmingham Jail or Letter from Birmingham City Jail, also known as The Negro Is Your Brother, is an open letter written on April 16, 1963, by Martin Luther King, Jr., an American civil rights leader...
.
Paul was the son of Paul and Harriet (Wannamaker) Hardin. He attended Wofford College
Wofford College
Established in 1854 and related to the United Methodist Church, Wofford College is an independent, Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts college of 1,525 students located in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. The historic campus is recognized as a national arboretum and features “The...
in 1920 where he studied law and then to Candler School of Theology
Candler School of Theology
Candler School of Theology, Emory University, is one of 13 seminaries of the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1914, the school was named after Warren Akin Candler, a former President and Chancellor of Emory University and a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South...
, Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
in 1924 where he received his divinity degree in 1927. Hardin was ordained Deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1929 and Elder
Elder (Christianity)
An elder in Christianity is a person valued for his wisdom who accordingly holds a particular position of responsibility in a Christian group. In some Christian traditions an elder is a clergy person who usually serves a local church or churches and who has been ordained to a ministry of Word,...
in 1931. He was assigned to pastorates in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and in 1949 he was appointed to Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
First Methodist Church
First Methodist Church
First Methodist Church or variations with Building may refer to:in the United States* First Methodist Church , listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Lafayette County, Arkansas...
. Hardin was elected bishop on July 15, 1960 at the Southeastern Jurisdictional conference. For many years he was the resident bishop of the Columbia (South Carolina) area. From 1961 to 1964 he also had charge of the Alabama-West Florida following the death of Bishop Bachman Gladstone Hodge.
Bishop Hardin was a member of the General Board of Education; of the General Board of Christian Social Concerns; and president of the Council on World Service and Finance.He was a delegate to the General Conference and Jurisdictional conference of 1960. He has been a member of the Lake Junaluska Assembly, and a trustee of Emory University. Bishop Hardin was installed as president of the United Methodist Church's Council of Bishops on April 15, 1971 in San Antonio, Texas. Bishop Hardin died in 1996.
Birth and Family
Paul Hardin Jr was born November 7, 1903 in Chester, South Carolina. Born from the original Paul Hardin himself. He married Dorthy (Dot) Elizabeth Reel, who died at the age of 65 in 1992. She was later buried at the Garrett-Hillcrest Cemetery/Memorial Gardens. Between the two of them they had three children. A daughter named Betsey Hardin, and two sons, Edward and Paul the III. His son Paul grew up to be a very successful man and became more recognizable than his father.Death
Paul Hardin Jr died Saturday June 22, 1996 at the age of 92. His service was held for him on June 25, 1996 at the First Methodist Church in Waynesville. He was then buried in Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Gardens next to his wife Dorthy.Honorary Titles
- Member of the Western North Carolina Conference for 20 years.
- 1949-1960- minister of the First Church in Bermingham, Alabama.
- Bishop to the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference for 12 years. Durint that time, he also served as relief bishop to the Alabama-West Florida conference and was President of the Council of Bishops from 1971-1972.
- Member of the Rotary Club of Emory University for life.
- Former Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Emory University.
Accomplishments
- Member of the General Board of Education
- Member of the General Board of Christian Social Concerns
- President of the Council on World Service and Finance
- Delegate to the General Conference and Jurisdictional conference of 1960
- Member of the Lake Junaluska Assembly
- Trustee of Emory University