Carl Julian Sanders
Encyclopedia
Carl Julian Sanders was an American Bishop
of the United Methodist Church
who was elected to that office in 1972. At the time of his election, he was the only candidate for the Methodist episcopacy ever to have been elected on the first ballot in the history of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference.
. He married Eleanor Lupo in 1935, with whom he had two daughters, Lundi Martin and Eleanor Kasler. He had three grandchildren: Karen Kasler Wheeler, Kristen Kasler Peters and Kathleen Kasler O'Keefe. Eleanor died in 1995. Carl married Billie Jo Perry in 1997.
degree in 1933 from Wofford College
. He then earned the B.D.
degree in 1936 from Candler School of Theology
.
in 1934. In 1935 he transferred to, and in 1938 was ordained an Elder in the Virginia
Annual Conference
. He served a variety of local church appointments through 1955. He then served (1955-71) as District Superintendent
of three Districts in succession: Petersburg
, Richmond
, and Norfolk
.
The Rev. Sanders served as a delegate to U.M. General and Jurisdictional Conferences between 1960-72. He also was an accredited visitor to the first World Council of Churches
assembly in Amsterdam in 1948.
Episcopal Area
, consisting of the State of Alabama
and the northwest panhandle
of Florida
(the Alabama-West Florida
and North Alabama
Annual Conferences). He served there for eight years before retiring in 1980.
During his episcopacy he led the Alabama-West Florida Conference in financial campaigns for Huntingdon College
and for Ministerial Pensions, and led the North Alabama Conference in financial campaigns for Birmingham-Southern College
as well as Ministerial Pensions. He was the co-founder of the Alabama-West Florida U.M. Foundation in 1979, which at his death had accumulated assets of over $40 million.
Bishop Sanders served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Carraway Methodist Medical Center
, member of the Board of Trustees of Athens College (now Athens State University
), Birmingham-Southern and Huntingdon Colleges, too. Bishop Sanders also served as a Vice President
of the U.M. General Board of Global Ministries (1972-76), and as President
of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. He was also a member of the U.M. General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and of the Division of Chaplains.
, Asia
and Europe
, as well as a frequent visitor to the Middle East
and the Far East
. He was the Co-Founder of the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies for Educational Opportunities, Inc. of Lakeland, Florida
, also serving on its Board of Directors
(1976-2000). He served as a Lecturer
for Educational Opportunities in England
, Germany
, Austria
, Switzerland
, Sweden
, Alaska
, and Jerusalem.
Bishop Sanders was also known as one of the greatest preachers in Methodism
. He was awarded three Freedom Foundation Awards for his sermons: "One Nation Under God" in 1962, "Independence and Beyond" in 1977, and "In God We Trust - Do We or Don't We" in 1987. In 1980 he was chosen to give the opening sermon for the United Methodist General Conference
. The same year he was chosen to deliver the sermon for the Consecration Service for newly elected Bishops at the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference.
Bishop Sanders' funeral
was held on 12 March 2007 at the Trinity
U.M. Church, 903 Forest Ave., Richmond, Virginia
. He was buried
in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Richmond. A memorial service was held on 15 March 2007 at the First U. M. Church, 2416 W. Cloverdale Park, Montgomery, Alabama
.
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...
who was elected to that office in 1972. At the time of his election, he was the only candidate for the Methodist episcopacy ever to have been elected on the first ballot in the history of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference.
Birth and Family
Carl was born 18 May 1912 in Star, North CarolinaStar, North Carolina
Star is a town in Montgomery County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 807 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Star is known as the geographic center of North Carolina as measured via satellite, according to the Army Corps of Engineers...
. He married Eleanor Lupo in 1935, with whom he had two daughters, Lundi Martin and Eleanor Kasler. He had three grandchildren: Karen Kasler Wheeler, Kristen Kasler Peters and Kathleen Kasler O'Keefe. Eleanor died in 1995. Carl married Billie Jo Perry in 1997.
Education
Carl 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 1933 from 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...
. 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 1936 from 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...
.
Ordained ministry
The Rev. Carl Julian Sanders entered the Upper South Carolina Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, SouthMethodist Episcopal Church, South
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, or Methodist Episcopal Church South, was the so-called "Southern Methodist Church" resulting from the split over the issue of slavery in the Methodist Episcopal Church which had been brewing over several years until it came out into the open at a conference...
in 1934. In 1935 he transferred to, and in 1938 was ordained an Elder in the Virginia
Virginia
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...
. He served a variety of local church appointments through 1955. He then served (1955-71) as District Superintendent
District Superintendent (United Methodist Church)
A District Superintendent, often abbreviated D.S., in the United Methodist Church is a clergyperson who serves in a supervisory position over a geographic District of churches providing spiritual and administrative leadership to those churches and their pastors...
of three Districts in succession: Petersburg
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
, 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...
, and Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
.
The Rev. Sanders served as a delegate to U.M. General and Jurisdictional Conferences between 1960-72. He also was an accredited visitor to the first World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
assembly in Amsterdam in 1948.
Episcopal ministry
The Rev. Carl Julian Sanders was elected to the Episcopacy in 1972 by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was assigned the BirminghamBirmingham, 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...
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...
, consisting of the State of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
and the northwest panhandle
Panhandle
A panhandle is an informal geographic term for an elongated arm-like protrusion of a geo-political entity, such as a subnational entity or a sovereign state.-Term:...
of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
(the Alabama-West Florida
West Florida
West Florida was a region on the north shore of the Gulf of Mexico, which underwent several boundary and sovereignty changes during its history. West Florida was first established in 1763 by the British government; as its name suggests it largely consisted of the western portion of the region...
and North Alabama
North Alabama
North Alabama is a region of the U.S. state of Alabama, generally considered to include 12 counties: Cherokee, Colbert, DeKalb, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan, and Winston, with a combined population of 958,247, or 20.84% of the state's population as...
Annual Conferences). He served there for eight years before retiring in 1980.
During his episcopacy he led the Alabama-West Florida Conference in financial campaigns for Huntingdon College
Huntingdon College
Huntingdon College, founded in 1854, is a coeducational liberal arts college in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Related to the United Methodist Church, the college's central hallmarks are faith, wisdom, and service. The college is known for providing a solid academic experience based on good...
and for Ministerial Pensions, and led the North Alabama Conference in financial campaigns for Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham–Southern College is a 4-year, private liberal arts college located three miles northwest of downtown Birmingham. Founded in 1856, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Approximately 1400 students from 30 states and 23 foreign countries attend the college...
as well as Ministerial Pensions. He was the co-founder of the Alabama-West Florida U.M. Foundation in 1979, which at his death had accumulated assets of over $40 million.
Bishop Sanders served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Carraway Methodist Medical Center
Carraway Methodist Medical Center
Carraway Methodist Medical Center was a medical facility in Birmingham, Alabama founded as Carraway Infirmary in 1908 by Dr. Charles N. Carraway. It was moved in 1917 to Birmingham's Norwood neighborhood. Its facilities were segregated according to skin color for much of its history and, in one...
, member of the Board of Trustees of Athens College (now Athens State University
Athens State University
Athens State University, located in Athens, Alabama, USA, is a two-year upper level university. Athens State is the only two-year upper level university in the state of Alabama. Thirty-three different majors are offered to junior and senior students....
), Birmingham-Southern and Huntingdon Colleges, too. Bishop Sanders also served as a Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of the U.M. General Board of Global Ministries (1972-76), and as President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. He was also a member of the U.M. General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and of the Division of Chaplains.
Preacher and traveler
Bishop Sanders traveled extensively, visitiing refugee camps and mission work in AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, as well as a frequent visitor to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
. He was the Co-Founder of the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies for Educational Opportunities, Inc. of Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
, also serving on its Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
(1976-2000). He served as a Lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
for Educational Opportunities in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, and Jerusalem.
Bishop Sanders was also known as one of the greatest preachers in Methodism
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
. He was awarded three Freedom Foundation Awards for his sermons: "One Nation Under God" in 1962, "Independence and Beyond" in 1977, and "In God We Trust - Do We or Don't We" in 1987. In 1980 he was chosen to give the opening sermon for the United Methodist General Conference
General conference (United Methodist Church)
The General Conference of The United Methodist Church is the denomination's top legislative body for all matters affecting the United Methodist connection...
. The same year he was chosen to deliver the sermon for the Consecration Service for newly elected Bishops at the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference.
Death and Burial
Bishop Carl Julian Sanders died 7 March 2007 at Fairhaven Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama after a brief illness. He was 94. He was survived by his wife; his two daughters, Lundi Martin and Eleanor Kasler; two stepdaughters, Elizabeth Perry and Judith Shipp; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and one brother, Charles Sanders.Bishop Sanders' funeral
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
was held on 12 March 2007 at the Trinity
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
U.M. Church, 903 Forest Ave., Richmond, Virginia
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...
. He was buried
Burial
Burial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Richmond. A memorial service was held on 15 March 2007 at the First U. M. Church, 2416 W. Cloverdale Park, Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
.