Edsel Albert Ammons
Encyclopedia
Edsel Albert Ammons is a retired American
Bishop
of the United Methodist Church
, elected in 1976.
(1907–1949). He is the father of six children: Marilyn, Edsel, Jr., Carol, Kenneth, Carlton, and singer Lila
. Bishop Ammons is married to Helen Ammons, the former Director of Student Life at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
, Evanston, Illinois
.
, Chicago, Illinois (B.A.
, 1948). He earned his Bachelor of Divinity
degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
, Evanston, Illinois (1956), and his D.Min. from Chicago Theological Seminary
(1975).
(1947 and 1949), pastor
ing churches of that denomination
in Chicago and in Highland Falls, New York
. Edsel was a Social Case Worker for the Department of Welfare of Cook County, Illinois (1951–56). In 1957, under the influence of Bishop Charles Wesley Brashares
, Rev. Ammons transferred into the Rock River Annual Conference
of the Methodist Church, and was appointed to the Whitfield Methodist Church in Chicago (which became the Ingleside-Whitfield Methodist Parish). He served this church until 1963, when he became Director of Urban Ministry for the Rockford
District. In 1966, he was appointed to the Program Staff of the Annual Conference.
Rev. Ammons joined the faculty
of Garrett Theological Seminary in 1968, remaining in this position until elected to the Episcopacy in 1976.
Episcopal Area (the Detroit and West Michigan Annual Conferences). After eight years in Michigan, he was assigned to the Ohio
West Area (the West Ohio Conference).
Bishop Ammons served as the President of the U.M. General Board of Discipleship (1980–84), the Chairperson of the Health and Welfare Program Department (1984–88), and Chairperson of the Missionary
Personnel and Resources Program Department (1988–92) of the General Board of Global Ministries.
Bishop Ammons received honorary degree
s from Westmar College (1975), Albion College
(1979), Adrian College
(1980), Mount Union College
(1992) and Chicago Theological Seminary (1992). In retirement Bishop Ammons serves as Bishop-in-Residence at Garrett-Evangelical.
Bishop Ammons died on December 24, 2011 in Evanston, Illinois at age 86.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 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 1976.
Birth and Family
Ammons was born 17 February 1924 in Chicago, Illinois. He died 24 December, 2010. He is the son of boogie woogie legend Albert AmmonsAlbert Ammons
Albert Ammons was an American pianist. Ammons was a player of boogie-woogie, a bluesy jazz style popular from the late 1930s into the mid 1940s.-Life and career:...
(1907–1949). He is the father of six children: Marilyn, Edsel, Jr., Carol, Kenneth, Carlton, and singer Lila
Lila Ammons
Lila Ammons is a blues and jazz vocalist. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Ammons is the granddaughter of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons and the niece of tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons....
. Bishop Ammons is married to Helen Ammons, the former Director of Student Life at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Garrett–Evangelical Theological Seminary is a graduate school of theology of the United Methodist Church located in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1853, Garrett-Evangelical is on the campus of Northwestern University and continues many associations with the university...
, Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
.
Education
He is a graduate of Roosevelt UniversityRoosevelt University
Roosevelt University is a coeducational, private university with campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The university's curriculum is based on...
, Chicago, Illinois (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...
, 1948). He earned his Bachelor of Divinity
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 from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Garrett–Evangelical Theological Seminary is a graduate school of theology of the United Methodist Church located in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1853, Garrett-Evangelical is on the campus of Northwestern University and continues many associations with the university...
, Evanston, Illinois (1956), and his D.Min. from Chicago Theological Seminary
Chicago Theological Seminary
The Chicago Theological Seminary is a seminary of the United Church of Christ. It prepares women and men for leadership in the church and society through Master of Divinity , Master of Arts in Religious Studies , Master of Sacred Theology , Doctor of Ministry , and Doctor of Philosophy programs...
(1975).
Ordained Ministry
Rev. Ammons was ordained, both deacon and elder, in the African Methodist Episcopal ChurchAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church
The African Methodist Episcopal Church, usually called the A.M.E. Church, is a predominantly African American Methodist denomination based in the United States. It was founded by the Rev. Richard Allen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1816 from several black Methodist congregations in the...
(1947 and 1949), 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"....
ing churches of that denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
in Chicago and in Highland Falls, New York
Highland Falls, New York
Highland Falls, formerly named Buttermilk Falls, is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 3,678 at the 2000 census. The village was founded in 1906...
. Edsel was a Social Case Worker for the Department of Welfare of Cook County, Illinois (1951–56). In 1957, under the influence of Bishop Charles Wesley Brashares
Charles Wesley Brashares
Charles Wesley Brashares was an American Bishop of The Methodist Church and the United Methodist Church, elected in 1944.Charles was born 31 March 1891 in Williamsport, Ohio, the son of Isaiah Mark and Clara Emma Brashares. Charles married Julia Estelle Merrill 20 December 1916...
, Rev. Ammons transferred into the Rock River 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, and was appointed to the Whitfield Methodist Church in Chicago (which became the Ingleside-Whitfield Methodist Parish). He served this church until 1963, when he became Director of Urban Ministry for the Rockford
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
District. In 1966, he was appointed to the Program Staff of the Annual Conference.
Rev. Ammons joined the faculty
Faculty (university)
A faculty is a division within a university comprising one subject area, or a number of related subject areas...
of Garrett Theological Seminary in 1968, remaining in this position until elected to the Episcopacy in 1976.
Episcopal Ministry
Bishop Ammons was elected by the North Central Jurisdictional Conference and assigned to the MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
Episcopal Area (the Detroit and West Michigan Annual Conferences). After eight years in Michigan, he was assigned to the Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
West Area (the West Ohio Conference).
Bishop Ammons served as the President of the U.M. General Board of Discipleship (1980–84), the Chairperson of the Health and Welfare Program Department (1984–88), and Chairperson of the Missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
Personnel and Resources Program Department (1988–92) of the General Board of Global Ministries.
Bishop Ammons received honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
s from Westmar College (1975), Albion College
Albion College
Albion College is a private liberal arts college located in Albion, Michigan. Related to the United Methodist Church, it was founded in 1835 and was the first private college in Michigan to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. It has a student population of about 1500.The school's sports teams are...
(1979), Adrian College
Adrian College
Adrian College is a private, co-educational liberal arts college related to the United Methodist Church in the city of Adrian, Michigan.-Campus:The school is approximately a 45-minute drive from Ann Arbor and Toledo, Ohio, and 90 minutes from Detroit...
(1980), Mount Union College
Mount Union College
The University of Mount Union is a 4-year private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Alliance, Ohio.Mount Union enrolls 2200 undergraduates. Approximately 50 percent are women and 50 percent are men, representing more than 22 states and 13 countries. Mount Union has an active alumni base of...
(1992) and Chicago Theological Seminary (1992). In retirement Bishop Ammons serves as Bishop-in-Residence at Garrett-Evangelical.
Bishop Ammons died on December 24, 2011 in Evanston, Illinois at age 86.