Kenneth Lee Carder
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Lee Carder is a retired American
Bishop
of the United Methodist Church
, elected in 1992. Kenneth distinguished himself as a Pastor
, a member of Annual Conference
and General U.M. agencies, a Bishop and an author
.
. They are the parents of two daughters, Sheri Carder Hood and Sandra Carder Nash, and they have five grandchildren: Katelyn, Emily, Megan, Julia Rose, and Michael.
in 1962, and from Wesley Theological Seminary
in 1965. In 1980 he earned a Doctor of Ministry
Degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School
.
; Bristol, Tennessee
; Abingdon, Virginia
; and Oak Ridge
and Knoxville
, Tennessee
. While in Oak Ridge he helped to initiate an ongoing dialogue between scientists and theologians. He continues an interest in science/technology and theology/ethics. He chaired the Task Force on Genetic Science, which presented its report to the 1992 U.M. General Conference. In addition to dialogue between science and theology, Ken has special concern for prison ministries, racial justice, and ministry with the poor and marginalized.
Ken Carder was a delegate to the South Eastern Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church in 1980. He was elected General Conference delegate, 1984-92. He has served in several Annual and General Conference positions, including Chair of the Conference Council on Finance and Administration, a Director of the General Board of Church and Society, and president of the General Board of Discipleship. He was also a trustee of Emory University
, and Henry College, Martin Methodist College
, Lambuth University
, and Millsaps College
, and a member of the Board of Governors of Wesley Seminary.
Episcopal Area, effective 1 September 1992.
He was assigned to the Mississippi Area in 2000 where he served until retiring in 2004 and joining the faculty of Duke University Divinity School.
Currently, Bishop Carder serves as the Ruth W. and A. Morris Williams, Jr. Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry Duke Divinity School, Durham, North Carolina. He is the author of five books and numerous articles.
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 1992. Kenneth distinguished himself as a 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"....
, a member of 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...
and General U.M. agencies, a Bishop and 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:...
.
Birth and family
Born in Washington County, Tennessee, Kenneth is one of five children of Allen and Edith Carder. Ken married Linda Miller 30 June 1961. She is a graduate of Emory and Henry CollegeEmory 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...
. They are the parents of two daughters, Sheri Carder Hood and Sandra Carder Nash, and they have five grandchildren: Katelyn, Emily, Megan, Julia Rose, and Michael.
Education
Ken graduated with honors from East Tennessee State UniversityEast 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 1962, and from Wesley Theological Seminary
Wesley Theological Seminary
Wesley Theological Seminary is a United Methodist–affiliated seminary located in Washington, D.C., United States. The school was founded in 1882...
in 1965. In 1980 he earned a Doctor of Ministry
Doctor of Ministry
The Doctor of Ministry degree is, according to The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada , a doctoral level degree oriented toward ministerial leadership often in an area of applied theology, such as missions, evangelism, church leadership, pastoral psychology or the...
Degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School
Vanderbilt Divinity School
The Vanderbilt Divinity School and Graduate Department of Religion is an interdenominational divinity school at Vanderbilt University, a major research university located in Nashville, Tennessee...
.
Ordained ministry
Ken was ordained Deacon in 1963 by Bishop Roy H. Short. He was ordained Elder in 1965 by Bishop H. Ellis Finger, Jr. Prior to his election to the Episcopacy, Ken pastored churches in Gaithersburg, MarylandGaithersburg, Maryland
Gaithersburg is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The city had a population of 59,933 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest incorporated city in the state, behind Baltimore, Frederick, and Rockville...
; Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 26,702 at the 2010 census. It is the twin city of Bristol, Virginia, which lies directly across the state line between Tennessee and Virginia. The boundaries of both cities run parallel to each other along State...
; Abingdon, Virginia
Abingdon, Virginia
Abingdon is a town in Washington County, Virginia, USA, 133 miles southwest of Roanoke. The population was 8,191 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Washington County and is a designated Virginia Historic Landmark...
; and Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge is a city in Anderson and Roane counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, about west of Knoxville. Oak Ridge's population was 27,387 at the 2000 census...
and Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. While in Oak Ridge he helped to initiate an ongoing dialogue between scientists and theologians. He continues an interest in science/technology and theology/ethics. He chaired the Task Force on Genetic Science, which presented its report to the 1992 U.M. General Conference. In addition to dialogue between science and theology, Ken has special concern for prison ministries, racial justice, and ministry with the poor and marginalized.
Ken Carder was a delegate to the South Eastern Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church in 1980. He was elected General Conference delegate, 1984-92. He has served in several Annual and General Conference positions, including Chair of the Conference Council on Finance and Administration, a Director of the General Board of Church and Society, and president of the General Board of Discipleship. He was also a trustee 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...
, and Henry College, Martin Methodist College
Martin Methodist College
Martin Methodist College is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college located in Pulaski, Tennessee, and affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
, Lambuth University
Lambuth University
Lambuth University was a liberal arts university located in Jackson, Tennessee. It was supported by the Memphis Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Lambuth's athletic teams participated in the NAIA's TranSouth and Mid-South Conferences...
, and Millsaps College
Millsaps College
Millsaps College is a private liberal arts college located in Jackson, Mississippi. Founded in 1890, the college is recognized as one of the country's best private colleges dedicated to undergraduate teaching and educating the whole individual. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Millsaps...
, and a member of the Board of Governors of Wesley Seminary.
Episcopal ministry
Bishop Carder was elected to the Episcopacy in 1992 by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church. At the time he was the Pastor of the Church Street U.M.C. in Knoxville. He was assigned to the NashvilleNashville, 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, effective 1 September 1992.
He was assigned to the Mississippi Area in 2000 where he served until retiring in 2004 and joining the faculty of Duke University Divinity School.
Currently, Bishop Carder serves as the Ruth W. and A. Morris Williams, Jr. Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry Duke Divinity School, Durham, North Carolina. He is the author of five books and numerous articles.