R. Kern Eutsler
Encyclopedia
Ralph Kern Eutsler is a retired American Bishop
of the United Methodist Church
, elected in 1984.
. He married Eva Rebecca Vines of Greenville, Virginia
10 October 1945. She was born 23 June 1922 and is a graduate of Mary Baldwin College
, Staunton, Virginia
. They have two daughters: Rebecca Ann Coulter and Mary Margaret Abramson.
degree in 1940 from Berea College
in Berea, Kentucky
, just south of Lexington
. He then earned the B.D.
degree in 1943 from Union Theological Seminary
in New York City
.
Annual Conference
of The Methodist Church. Rev. Eutsler served the following appointments: Greenville
-Mint Spring (1943-45), Elkton
(1945-49), Luray
(1949-53), South Roanoke (1953-60), the Ginter Park
Methodist Church in Richmond
(1960-65), and the Washington Street Church in Alexandria
(1965-66). In 1966 he was appointed the Executive Director
of Virginia Methodist Homes, Inc., serving in this capacity until 1973. Rev. Eutsler then was appointed the Superintendent of the Alexandria District of the United Methodist Church (1973-78), then Pastor
of the Reveille U.M. Church in Richmond (1978-82). His final appointment before his election to the Episcopacy was as Director of the Virginia Conference Council on Ministries (1982-84).
Rev. Eutsler was elected a delegate to U.M.
General and Jurisdictional Conferences, 1964-84. He served on numerous conference agencies, and on the U.M. General Board of Global Ministries (1972-76) and the General Board of Discipleship (1980-88).
In retirement
Bishop Eutsler served for seven years as the Director of Interpretation and Promotion of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission
in the Southeastern Jurisdiction. He also served as a fund raising consultant with local churches.
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 1984.
Birth and Family
Eutsler was born 2 August 1919 in Bridgewater, VirginiaBridgewater, Virginia
Bridgewater is an incorporated town in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. The population was 5,644 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bridgewater is home to the Reds of the Rockingham County Baseball League...
. He married Eva Rebecca Vines of Greenville, Virginia
Greenville, Virginia
Greenville is a census-designated place in Augusta County, Virginia, United States. The population was 886 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Staunton–Waynesboro Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
10 October 1945. She was born 23 June 1922 and is a graduate of Mary Baldwin College
Mary Baldwin College
Mary Baldwin College is a private, independent, and comprehensive four-year liberal arts women's college in Staunton, Virginia. It was ranked in 2008 by US News & World Report as a top-tier, master's level university in the South. Mary Baldwin offers pre-professional programs in law, medicine,...
, Staunton, Virginia
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,746 as of 2010. It is the county seat of Augusta County....
. They have two daughters: Rebecca Ann Coulter and Mary Margaret Abramson.
Education
Eutsler 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 in 1940 from Berea College
Berea College
Berea College is a liberal arts work college in Berea, Kentucky , founded in 1855. Current full-time enrollment is 1,514 students...
in Berea, Kentucky
Berea, Kentucky
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,851 people, 3,693 households, and 2,426 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,055.4 people per square mile . There were 4,115 housing units at an average density of 440.9 per square mile...
, just south of Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. He then earned the B.D.
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 in 1943 from 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 City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Ordained Ministry
He became a member of the VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
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. Rev. Eutsler served the following appointments: Greenville
Greenville, Virginia
Greenville is a census-designated place in Augusta County, Virginia, United States. The population was 886 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Staunton–Waynesboro Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
-Mint Spring (1943-45), Elkton
Elkton, Virginia
Elkton is an incorporated town in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. It is included in the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,042 at the 2000 census. Elkton was named for the Elk Run stream.It is located along the south fork of the Shenandoah River...
(1945-49), Luray
Luray, Virginia
Luray is a town in Page County, Virginia, United States, in the Shenandoah Valley of the northern part of the state. It is also the county seat...
(1949-53), South Roanoke (1953-60), the Ginter Park
Ginter Park
Ginter Park is a suburb neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia built on land owned and developed by Lewis Ginter. The neighborhood's first well known resident was newspaperman Joseph Bryan, who lived in Laburnum, first built in 1883 and later rebuilt . In 1895, many acres of land north of Richmond were...
Methodist Church in Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
(1960-65), and the Washington Street Church in Alexandria
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
(1965-66). In 1966 he was appointed the Executive Director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of Virginia Methodist Homes, Inc., serving in this capacity until 1973. Rev. Eutsler then was appointed the Superintendent of the Alexandria District of the United Methodist Church (1973-78), then 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 the Reveille U.M. Church in Richmond (1978-82). His final appointment before his election to the Episcopacy was as Director of the Virginia Conference Council on Ministries (1982-84).
Rev. Eutsler was elected a delegate to 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 and Jurisdictional Conferences, 1964-84. He served on numerous conference agencies, and on the U.M. General Board of Global Ministries (1972-76) and the General Board of Discipleship (1980-88).
Episcopal Ministry
The Rev. Ralph Kern Eutsler was elected to the Episcopacy by the 1984 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church. He was assigned to the Holston Episcopal Area, where he served until his retirement in 1988. Bishop Eutsler served as the Chairman of the Curriculum Resources Committee of the U.M. General Board of Discipleship (1984-88).In retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
Bishop Eutsler served for seven years as the Director of Interpretation and Promotion of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission is the short-term mission arm of the United Methodist Church. As a connectional body, the United Methodist Church uses related agencies to perform church functions...
in the Southeastern Jurisdiction. He also served as a fund raising consultant with local churches.