John Calvin Broomfield
Encyclopedia
John Calvin Broomfield was one of only two Bishops ever elected by the Methodist Protestant Church
(M.P. Church). This U.S. branch of Methodism did not elect Bishops but had Conference Presidents instead. However, in 1939 in preparation for reunion with the Methodist Episcopal Church
and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South
, the M.P. delegates to the Uniting Conference in Kansas City
were authorized to elect two Bishops as their contribution to the episcopacy of the new denomination, The Methodist Church. John Calvin Broomfield and James Henry Straughn were those elected.
. He emigrated to the U.S.A., eventually settling in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
.
of churches in Pennsylvania
and West Virginia
. He was also involved in the Religious Work campaign during World War I
.
Rev. Broomfield was elected President of the Pittsburgh Conference in 1924 and continued in this office until his election to the episcopacy. After his election, he was assigned the St. Louis Episcopal Area
. Upon his election as Bishop, he was introduced by Bishop John Moore:
He was a delegate to the Sixth Ecumenical Conference and was a member of the Oxford and Edinburg Conferences in 1937. He also made a church journey in the Orient
.
Bishop Broomfield retired in 1944.
Methodist Protestant Church
The Methodist Protestant Church is a regional Church body which was officially formed in 1828 by former members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, remaining Wesleyan in doctrine and worship, but adopting congregational governance....
(M.P. Church). This U.S. branch of Methodism did not elect Bishops but had Conference Presidents instead. However, in 1939 in preparation for reunion with 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...
and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South
Methodist 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...
, the M.P. delegates to the Uniting Conference in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
were authorized to elect two Bishops as their contribution to the episcopacy of the new denomination, The Methodist Church. John Calvin Broomfield and James Henry Straughn were those elected.
Early years
John was born 4 July 1872 in Eyemouth, Scotland. He began his working career as a sailorSailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
. He emigrated to the U.S.A., eventually settling in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,987 at the 2010 census. It is located 31 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and on the Beaver River, six miles from its confluence with the Ohio River...
.
Ordained and Episcopal Ministry
He was Admitted On Trial to the Pittsburgh Conference of the M.P. Church in 1895 and ordained in 1896. He served as PastorPastor
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"....
of churches in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. He was also involved in the Religious Work campaign during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Rev. Broomfield was elected President of the Pittsburgh Conference in 1924 and continued in this office until his election to the episcopacy. After his election, he was assigned the St. Louis 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...
. Upon his election as Bishop, he was introduced by Bishop John Moore:
- "John Calvin Broomfield - a Methodist: born in Scotland and a naturalized American; a Methodist Protestant and a Bishop!"
He was a delegate to the Sixth Ecumenical Conference and was a member of the Oxford and Edinburg Conferences in 1937. He also made a church journey in the Orient
Orient
The Orient means "the East." It is a traditional designation for anything that belongs to the Eastern world or the Far East, in relation to Europe. In English it is a metonym that means various parts of Asia.- Derivation :...
.
Bishop Broomfield retired in 1944.