Herbert Welch
Encyclopedia
Herbert George Welch was an American
Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church
, The Methodist Church and the United Methodist Church
. He was elected to the Episcopacy in 1916. He also distinguished himself as a Methodist Pastor
, and as the fifth President
of Ohio Wesleyan University
, Delaware, Ohio
.
and Polytechnic Institute in 1882. He earned the B.A.
degree
from Wesleyan University
in 1887. He earned an M.A.
from Wesleyan in 1890. He attended Drew Theological Seminary, Madison, New Jersey
, earning the B.D.
degree in 1890. He did postgraduate work at Oxford University in 1903.
of the M.E. Church and was appointed to Bedford
Station in 1890. In 1892 he was appointed Pastor of St. Luke's M.E. Church in N.Y.C. He then transferred to the New York East Annual Conference, where he was appointed successively to: Summerfield in Brooklyn, 1893–98; Middletown, Connecticut
, 1898–1903; and the Chester Hill M.E. Church in Mt. Vernon, New York, 1903-05.
In 1905 Welsh transferred his Conference Membership again, this time to the West Ohio Annual Conference, when he was named the President of Ohio Wesleyan University. He served as President until becoming Bishop in 1916.
During 1907-1908, the Welch was President of the Association of Ohio College Presidents and Deans. He was also the President of the Methodist Social Service from 1909–1912, and later served as chairman of the Methodist Commission for Overseas Relief, 1940-1948.
His first episcopal assignment was to Korea
and Japan
(the Seoul
Episcopal Area
), where he served for twelve years. From 1928 until 1932 he was assigned the Pittsburgh Area. In 1932 he was sent to China
for his last assignment. He retired in 1936 from the active episcopacy.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series 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...
. He was elected to the Episcopacy in 1916. He also 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 as the fifth 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 Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five — a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges...
, Delaware, Ohio
Delaware, Ohio
The City of Delaware is a city in and the county seat of Delaware County in the United States state of Ohio. Delaware was founded in 1808 and was incorporated in 1816. It is located near the center of Ohio, is about north of Columbus, and is part of the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Area...
.
Birth and family
Welch was born 7 November 1862 in New York City, New York. He was a son of Peter A. and Mary L. (née Loveland) Welch. Herbert married Adelaide Frances McGee 3 June 1890. They had two daughters: Dorothy M. and Eleanor L.Education
Welch attended the Brooklyn CollegeCollege
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
and Polytechnic Institute in 1882. He 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
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
from Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
in 1887. He earned an M.A.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from Wesleyan in 1890. He attended Drew Theological Seminary, Madison, New Jersey
Madison, New Jersey
Madison is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the population was 16,530. It also is known as "The Rose City".-Geography:Madison is located at ....
, earning 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 1890. He did postgraduate work at Oxford University in 1903.
Ordained and Academic Ministry
Welch entered the New York Annual ConferenceAnnual 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 M.E. Church and was appointed to Bedford
Bedford (town), New York
Bedford is a town in Westchester County, New York, USA. The population was 17,335 at the 2010 census.The Town of Bedford is located in the northeastern part of Westchester County, and contains the three hamlets of Bedford Hills, Bedford Village, and Katonah...
Station in 1890. In 1892 he was appointed Pastor of St. Luke's M.E. Church in N.Y.C. He then transferred to the New York East Annual Conference, where he was appointed successively to: Summerfield in Brooklyn, 1893–98; Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
, 1898–1903; and the Chester Hill M.E. Church in Mt. Vernon, New York, 1903-05.
In 1905 Welsh transferred his Conference Membership again, this time to the West Ohio Annual Conference, when he was named the President of Ohio Wesleyan University. He served as President until becoming Bishop in 1916.
During 1907-1908, the Welch was President of the Association of Ohio College Presidents and Deans. He was also the President of the Methodist Social Service from 1909–1912, and later served as chairman of the Methodist Commission for Overseas Relief, 1940-1948.
Episcopal ministry
Welch was elected and consecrated a Bishop by the M.E. General Conference of 1916. He served in this capacity for 53 years until his death at the age of 106 in 1969.His first episcopal assignment was to Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(the Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
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...
), where he served for twelve years. From 1928 until 1932 he was assigned the Pittsburgh Area. In 1932 he was sent to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
for his last assignment. He retired in 1936 from the active episcopacy.