John McKendree Springer
Encyclopedia
John McKendree Springer was an American
Bishop
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
and The Methodist Church, elected in 1936. He was also notable as a pioneering
missionary
instrumental in developing Methodism
on the continent of Africa.
, the son of the Rev. Henry Martin Springer, and the grandson of the Rev. Elihu Springer, both M.E. Preachers. Elihu Springer was a soldier in the Indian Wars
. Henry Springer served four years with the Colorado
Cavalry
during the American Civil War
. He is buried at the United Methodist mission station in Mulungwishi, Katanga Province
, DRC
. His grave marker indicates that he died on December 1, 1963.
The Springer family is of Swedish origin. John's mother was descended from the Scarritts family, which was involved in the Indian Missions.
(1895 and 1899). He went on to earn a B.D.
degree from the Garrett Biblical Institute
(1901).
and the Superintendent of the Old Umtali Industrial Mission in Rhodesia
from 1901 until 1906. During 1907 he and his wife journeyed across the African continent. He took furlough
, 1907-09. Upon his return to Africa in 1910, he was stationed in the Lunda country of Angola
and Belgian Congo
. He held various appointments between 1910 and 1915, including Kalalua in North Western Rhodesia (1910-11), Lukoshi in Belgian Congo (1911-13), and Kambove
(1913-15). He took a second furlough, 1915-16.
Upon his return to Africa in 1916, Rev. Springer became Superintendent of the Congo Mission Conference. He returned to the U.S.A. in 1918 to work on the Centenary and Inter-Church World Movement projects. In 1920 he was appointed Superintendent of the Elisabethville-Luba District
. In 1921 he was transferred to the Rhodesia Mission Conference to serve as Superintendent of the Mutumbara District. Another transfer occurred in 1924, when Springer joined the Congo Mission Conference a second time, again appointed Superintendent. During this time he was stationed at Panda-Likasi. A third furlough took place 1925-28, again returning to the U.S.A.
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 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 Church, elected in 1936. He was also notable as a pioneering
Innovator
An innovator in a general sense, is a person or an organization who is one of the first to introduce into reality something better than before. That often opens up a new area for others and achieves an innovation.-History:...
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...
instrumental in developing 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...
on the continent of Africa.
Birth and family
Springer was born in Cataract, WisconsinCataract, Wisconsin
Cataract is an unincorporated census-designated place in the town of Little Falls in Monroe County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population is 186.-Attractions:...
, the son of the Rev. Henry Martin Springer, and the grandson of the Rev. Elihu Springer, both M.E. Preachers. Elihu Springer was a soldier in the Indian Wars
Indian Wars
American Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
. Henry Springer served four years with the Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
Cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He is buried at the United Methodist mission station in Mulungwishi, Katanga Province
Katanga Province
Katanga Province is one of the provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Between 1971 and 1997, its official name was Shaba Province. Under the new constitution, the province was to be replaced by four smaller provinces by February 2009; this did not actually take place.Katanga's regional...
, DRC
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. His grave marker indicates that he died on December 1, 1963.
The Springer family is of Swedish origin. John's mother was descended from the Scarritts family, which was involved in the Indian Missions.
Education
Springer graduated from Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
(1895 and 1899). He went on to earn a 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 from the Garrett Biblical Institute
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...
(1901).
Missionary service
Springer was appointed a missionary in 1901. He was assigned as a 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"....
and the Superintendent of the Old Umtali Industrial Mission in Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
from 1901 until 1906. During 1907 he and his wife journeyed across the African continent. He took furlough
Furlough
In the United States a furlough is a temporary unpaid leave of some employees due to special needs of a company, which may be due to economic conditions at the specific employer or in the economy as a whole...
, 1907-09. Upon his return to Africa in 1910, he was stationed in the Lunda country of Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
. He held various appointments between 1910 and 1915, including Kalalua in North Western Rhodesia (1910-11), Lukoshi in Belgian Congo (1911-13), and Kambove
Kambove
Kambove is a town in Haut-Katanga District, Democratic Republic of the Congo.Kambove lies at an altitude of 4783 ft . Economic activity in the area includes cobalt processing.Kambove is the center of the Kambove mines region....
(1913-15). He took a second furlough, 1915-16.
Upon his return to Africa in 1916, Rev. Springer became Superintendent of the Congo Mission Conference. He returned to the U.S.A. in 1918 to work on the Centenary and Inter-Church World Movement projects. In 1920 he was appointed Superintendent of the Elisabethville-Luba District
Luba people
The Luba are one of the Bantu peoples of Central Africa. They are indigenous to the Katanga, Kasai, and Maniema regions which were historic provinces of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo...
. In 1921 he was transferred to the Rhodesia Mission Conference to serve as Superintendent of the Mutumbara District. Another transfer occurred in 1924, when Springer joined the Congo Mission Conference a second time, again appointed Superintendent. During this time he was stationed at Panda-Likasi. A third furlough took place 1925-28, again returning to the U.S.A.