Benton Cordell Goodpasture
Encyclopedia
Benton Cordell "B. C." Goodpasture (April 9, 1895–February 18, 1977) was an influential preacher and writer in the Churches of Christ. A contributing writer to the Gospel Advocate
starting in 1920, in 1939 he became the publication's editor
, a post he held until his death. He was the namesake of Goodpasture Christian School in Nashville Tennessee, named in his honor in 1965.
Goodpasture was born Overton County, Tennessee (in what later became Standing Stone State Park
) to Jefferson Goodpasture and the former Elora Annis Thompson. He was named after the then-Governor of Tennessee Benton McMillin
and Cordell Hull
, then the area's state representative
(later, United States Secretary of State
and "father of the United Nations
"). Goodpasture was baptized in October, 1909 at the age of 14.
, Florence, Alabama
and Nashville, Tennessee
: he is said to have led religious meetings in 20 U. S. states.
Goodpasture graduated from David Lipscomb College
in 1918.
A 1932 profile in the Atlanta Journal noted Goodpasture's love of collecting rare books, many of which Goodpasture donated to Freed-Hardeman College
.
since 1920, Goodpasture became the publication's editor in 1939, a post he held until his death in 1977. In 1951, he resigned his position as the pulpit minister of Hillsboro Church of Christ in Nashville, Tennessee
in order to devote his time to editing and travelling to hold meetings: he was succeeded at Hillsboro by the influential Batsell Barrett Baxter
.
Goodpasture was credited with changing the stance of the publication with respect to inter-congregational support of missionary societies and orphanages which had previously been described as denominationalism
by the publication's earlier editors:
in the 1960s, Florida College
in Temple Terrace, Florida
took the non-institutional position and thus became unsuitable in the eyes of those such as Goodpasture. Goodpasture visited B. C. Carr in Lakeland in the mid-1960s, and challenged Carr to begin a similar school to the Nashville School of Preaching in Florida. The resulting school, the Florida School of Preaching, opened in September, 1969.
Goodpasture died suddenly of a stroke in the driveway of his home upon arriving home from work at the Gospel Advocate, on February 18, 1977. Notable members of the church who officiated at his funeral were Batsell Barrett Baxter
and William F. Ruhl. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery
in Nashville, Tennessee.
Gospel Advocate
The Gospel Advocate is a religious magazine published monthly in Nashville, Tennessee for members of the Churches of Christ. The Advocate has enjoyed uninterrupted publication since 1866....
starting in 1920, in 1939 he became the publication's editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, a post he held until his death. He was the namesake of Goodpasture Christian School in Nashville Tennessee, named in his honor in 1965.
Goodpasture was born Overton County, Tennessee (in what later became Standing Stone State Park
Standing Stone State Park
Standing Stone State Park is a state park in Overton County, Tennessee, in the southeastern United States. The park consists of along the shoreline of the man-made Standing Stone Lake...
) to Jefferson Goodpasture and the former Elora Annis Thompson. He was named after the then-Governor of Tennessee Benton McMillin
Benton McMillin
Benton McMillin was governor of the U.S. state of Tennessee from 1899 to 1903. A Democrat, he was a native of Monroe County, Kentucky and an attorney.-Biography:...
and Cordell Hull
Cordell Hull
Cordell Hull was an American politician from the U.S. state of Tennessee. He is best known as the longest-serving Secretary of State, holding the position for 11 years in the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during much of World War II...
, then the area's state representative
Tennessee House of Representatives
The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional requirements:...
(later, United States Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
and "father of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
"). Goodpasture was baptized in October, 1909 at the age of 14.
Preacher for the Churches of Christ
Goodpasture preached his first sermon at Holly Springs, Tennessee on October 18, 1912. Other communities where he preached included Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Florence, Alabama
Florence, Alabama
Florence is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States, in the northwestern corner of the state.According to the 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the city's population was 36,721....
and Nashville, Tennessee
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...
: he is said to have led religious meetings in 20 U. S. states.
Goodpasture graduated from David Lipscomb College
Lipscomb University
Lipscomb University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. It is affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The campus is located in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville between Belmont Boulevard to the west and Granny White Pike on the east...
in 1918.
A 1932 profile in the Atlanta Journal noted Goodpasture's love of collecting rare books, many of which Goodpasture donated to Freed-Hardeman College
Freed-Hardeman University
Freed-Hardeman University is a primarily undergraduate university in Henderson, Tennessee. The university is located within a short distance of the town's central area. The university traces its heritage to the members of the Churches of Christ who helped build it...
.
Editor of the Gospel Advocate
Having contributed to the Gospel AdvocateGospel Advocate
The Gospel Advocate is a religious magazine published monthly in Nashville, Tennessee for members of the Churches of Christ. The Advocate has enjoyed uninterrupted publication since 1866....
since 1920, Goodpasture became the publication's editor in 1939, a post he held until his death in 1977. In 1951, he resigned his position as the pulpit minister of Hillsboro Church of Christ in Nashville, Tennessee
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...
in order to devote his time to editing and travelling to hold meetings: he was succeeded at Hillsboro by the influential Batsell Barrett Baxter
Batsell Barrett Baxter
Batsell Barrett Baxter was an influential preacher and writer within the Churches of Christ.-Biography:...
.
Goodpasture was credited with changing the stance of the publication with respect to inter-congregational support of missionary societies and orphanages which had previously been described as denominationalism
Denominationalism
Denominationalism is the division of one religion into separate groups, sects, schools of thought or denominations. Denominationalism as an ideology which views some or all Christian groups as being, in some sense, versions of the same thing regardless of their distinguishing labels, is not...
by the publication's earlier editors:
- "I have been able to encourage and help the preaching of the gospel in all the countries of the English-speaking world through the ADVOCATE. The editorship has offered me an opportunity to help stabilize a brotherhood torn by hobby riders and factionists. I hope that I have made a major contribution to indoctrinating and strengthening churches wherever the ADVOCATE has been read."
Later life
During the schism with the non-institutional churches of ChristThe churches of Christ (non-institutional)
The label "non-institutional" refers to a distinct fellowship within the churches of Christ who do not agree with the support of para-church organizations by local congregations. They contend that the New Testament includes no authority for churches' support of such institutions...
in the 1960s, Florida College
Florida College
Florida College is a small, regionally accredited, coeducational Christian college located in the City of Temple Terrace, Florida, eight miles northeast of the City of Tampa, Florida...
in Temple Terrace, Florida
Temple Terrace, Florida
Temple Terrace is an incorporated city in northeastern Hillsborough County, Florida, USA, adjacent to Tampa. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,541. It is the third and smallest incorporated municipality in Hillsborough County...
took the non-institutional position and thus became unsuitable in the eyes of those such as Goodpasture. Goodpasture visited B. C. Carr in Lakeland in the mid-1960s, and challenged Carr to begin a similar school to the Nashville School of Preaching in Florida. The resulting school, the Florida School of Preaching, opened in September, 1969.
Goodpasture died suddenly of a stroke in the driveway of his home upon arriving home from work at the Gospel Advocate, on February 18, 1977. Notable members of the church who officiated at his funeral were Batsell Barrett Baxter
Batsell Barrett Baxter
Batsell Barrett Baxter was an influential preacher and writer within the Churches of Christ.-Biography:...
and William F. Ruhl. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery
Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery
Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery is located at 660 Thompson Lane in Nashville, Tennessee. It is one of the largest cemeteries in Nashville.Among those interred or entombed in the cemetery, there are many prominent members of the country music genre and their families.-List:Use the following...
in Nashville, Tennessee.
External links
- Benton Cordell Goodpasture at restorationmovement.com.
- Pioneer Preachers (scroll down to find Goodpasture's entry.)