Earl Gladstone Hunt Jr
Encyclopedia
Earl Gladstone Hunt, Jr. (1918-2005) was an American
who distinguished himself as a Methodist Pastor
and Evangelist
, as the President
of Emory and Henry College
, as an author
and theologian, as a Bishop
of The Methodist Church and the United Methodist Church
(elected in 1964), and as a leader in World
Methodism
.
, the son of Earl Gladstone and Tommie Mae DeVault Hunt.
During his 46-year career, Hunt served at all levels of the United Methodist Church, and was active in the World Methodist Council
, as well. He was also widely respected as an evangelist
, earning the top awards given for outstanding evangelism in his denomination.
from East Tennessee State University
in 1941, and a divinity degree from the Candler School of Theology
of Emory University
in Atlanta in 1946.
Annual Conference
, Rev. Hunt served churches in Kingsport
, Chattanooga, and Morristown
, Tennessee. In 1956 he was elected President of Emory and Henry College
in Emory, Virginia
, where he served for eight years.
Episcopal Area. During his twelve years there, among his many accomplishments was to appoint the first Black Pastor in the Southeastern Jurisdiction to serve as a District Superintendent. He also organized a Lay Advisory Council.
In 1976 Bishop Hunt was assigned to the Church's Nashville
Episcopal Area. There he began his writing ministry, authoring several books on theology and evangelism. He was, in fact, completing his last book, An Open Door, at the time of his death in 2005.
Four years later, Bishop Hunt was assigned to the Florida
Episcopal Area, where he served until 1988. While in Florida, he led the denomination's Committee on Our Theological Task. This committee spent nearly eight years perfecting a document addressing the Church's theological task in the world. In 1988 the General Conference adopted this document, which still appears in the denomination's Book of Discipline
.
Bishop Hunt was the Keynote Speaker at the 1976 World Methodist Conference in Dublin, Ireland. He served ten years on the World Methodist Council's Executive Committee, and was awarded the World Methodist Chair of Honor in 1988.
. There he served as President of the Foundation for Evangelism, an affiliate ministry of the U.M. General Board of Discipleship. In 2002 the Foundation honored him as a Lifetime Distinguished Evangelist of the U.M. Church, a rare honor indeed! Other honors received by Bishop Hunt include the Philip Award, given by the National Association of U.M. Evangelists. "Bishop Hunt was larger than life in so many ways," said Bishop Richard Looney, President of the Foundation for Evangelism.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
who distinguished himself as a Methodist 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"....
and Evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
, as the 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 Emory and Henry College
Emory and Henry College
Emory & Henry College, known as E&H, Emory, or the College, is a private liberal arts college located in Emory, Virginia, United States. The campus comprises of Washington County, Virginia, which is part of the mountain region of Southwest Virginia...
, as an author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and theologian, as a Bishop
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 Methodist Church and 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 1964), and as a leader in World
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
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...
.
Birth and Family
Earl was born 14 September 1918 in Johnson City, TennesseeJohnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City is a city in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with most of the city being in Washington County...
, the son of Earl Gladstone and Tommie Mae DeVault Hunt.
During his 46-year career, Hunt served at all levels of the United Methodist Church, and was active in the World Methodist Council
World Methodist Council
The World Methodist Council, founded in 1881, is an association of churches in the Methodist tradition which comprises most of the world's Wesleyan denominations.- Extension and organization:...
, as well. He was also widely respected as an evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
, earning the top awards given for outstanding evangelism in his denomination.
Education
Earl earned a bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University is an accredited American university located in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system of colleges and universities, the nation's sixth largest system of public education, and is the fourth largest university in the state...
in 1941, and a divinity degree from the 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...
of 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 Atlanta in 1946.
Ordained Ministry
Earl was ordained a Deacon in the Methodist Church in 1944, and an Elder the following year. He began his pastoral ministry at the Sardis Methodist Church in Atlanta, Georgia as a Student Pastor while attending Candler. Returning to his home conference, the HolstonHolston River
The Holston River is a major river system of southwestern Virginia and east Tennessee. The three major forks of the Holston rise in southwestern Virginia and have their confluence near Kingsport, Tennessee. The North Fork flows southwest from Sharon Springs in Bland County, Virginia...
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...
, Rev. Hunt served churches in Kingsport
Kingsport, Tennessee
Kingsport is a city located mainly in Sullivan County with some western portions in Hawkins County in the US state of Tennessee. The majority of the city lies in Sullivan County...
, Chattanooga, and Morristown
Morristown, Tennessee
Morristown is a city in, and the county seat of, Hamblen County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 29,137 at the 2010 United States Census. It is the principal city of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Grainger, Hamblen and Jefferson counties...
, Tennessee. In 1956 he was elected President of Emory and Henry College
Emory and Henry College
Emory & Henry College, known as E&H, Emory, or the College, is a private liberal arts college located in Emory, Virginia, United States. The campus comprises of Washington County, Virginia, which is part of the mountain region of Southwest Virginia...
in Emory, Virginia
Emory, Virginia
Emory is a census-designated place in Washington County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,251 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Kingsport–Bristol –Bristol Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA...
, where he served for eight years.
Episcopal Ministry
He was elected Bishop at the age of 46 by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church. He was assigned to lead the CharlotteCharlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
Episcopal Area. During his twelve years there, among his many accomplishments was to appoint the first Black Pastor in the Southeastern Jurisdiction to serve as a District Superintendent. He also organized a Lay Advisory Council.
In 1976 Bishop Hunt was assigned to the Church's Nashville
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...
Episcopal Area. There he began his writing ministry, authoring several books on theology and evangelism. He was, in fact, completing his last book, An Open Door, at the time of his death in 2005.
Four years later, Bishop Hunt was assigned to the 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...
Episcopal Area, where he served until 1988. While in Florida, he led the denomination's Committee on Our Theological Task. This committee spent nearly eight years perfecting a document addressing the Church's theological task in the world. In 1988 the General Conference adopted this document, which still appears in the denomination's Book of Discipline
Book of Discipline (United Methodist)
The Book of Discipline constitutes the law and doctrine of the United Methodist Church. It follows similar works for its predecessor denominations....
.
Bishop Hunt was the Keynote Speaker at the 1976 World Methodist Conference in Dublin, Ireland. He served ten years on the World Methodist Council's Executive Committee, and was awarded the World Methodist Chair of Honor in 1988.
Ministry in Retirement
Upon retiring in 1988, Bishop Hunt moved to Lake Junaluska, North CarolinaLake Junaluska, North Carolina
Lake Junaluska is a census-designated place in Haywood County, North Carolina, USA. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,675 at the 2000 census...
. There he served as President of the Foundation for Evangelism, an affiliate ministry of the U.M. General Board of Discipleship. In 2002 the Foundation honored him as a Lifetime Distinguished Evangelist of the U.M. Church, a rare honor indeed! Other honors received by Bishop Hunt include the Philip Award, given by the National Association of U.M. Evangelists. "Bishop Hunt was larger than life in so many ways," said Bishop Richard Looney, President of the Foundation for Evangelism.
Selected Writings
- A Bishop Speaks His Mind: A Candid View of United Methodism, Nashville: Abingdon PressAbingdon PressAbingdon Press is the book publishing arm of the United Methodist Publishing House which publishes sheet music, ministerial resources, Bible-study aids, and other items, often with a focus on Methodism and Methodists. Abingdon Press was begun in the early 1900s by The Methodist Church, and is...
, 1987. (ISBN 0687035651 ISBN 978-0687035656) - I Have Believed: A Bishop Talks About His Faith, Nashville: Abingdon, 1980. (ISBN 0835804038 ISBN 978-0835804035)
- Storms and Starlight (Bishops' Messages on the Holy Spirit), Earl G. Hunt, Jr. (Editor), Nashville: Tidings, 1974.
- Recovering the Sacred: Papers From the Sanctuary and the Academy, Jonathan Creek Press, 1992. (ISBN 0963130803)
- Aspects of our Methodist heritage: With particular focus upon one of its distinguishged transmitters, Bishop Roy Hunter ShortRoy Hunter ShortRoy Hunter Short was an American Bishop of The Methodist Church and the United Methodist Church, elected in 1948.-Birth and family:...
, 1972.