W. Maynard Sparks
Encyclopedia
W. Maynard Sparks was an American Bishop of the Evangelical United Brethren Church
(E.U.B.) and of the United Methodist Church
, elected in 1958.
, a son of the Rev. George A. and Sarah (Heefner) Sparks. His father was a Pastor in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ (i.e., New Constitution)
. Bishop Sparks was married to Blanche May Frank Sparks, who died in 1989. They had three sons: Lynn (a clergy member of the Rocky Mountain Annual Conference
of the U.M. Church, who died in a mountain climbing accident in 1978), Fred of Elk Grove, California
, and Robert of Lebanon, Pennsylvania
. The Sparks also had four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren (at the time of the Bishop’s death).
degree from (United Brethren) Lebanon Valley College
in Annville, Pennsylvania
. He earned a Bachelor of Divinity
degree from his denomination’s only seminary, United Theological Seminary
in Dayton, Ohio
. He went on to earn a Master of Education
degree from the University of Pittsburgh
.
at Lebanon Valley College. He was elected a delegate to the 1946 Uniting Conference, which joined the Evangelical Church
and the Church of the United Brethren in Christ (i.e., New Constitution).
’s Western Area. Among the highlights of his ministry, Bishop Sparks represented the E.U.B. Church in 1961 at independence ceremonies for the African nation of Sierra Leone
, where he later also presided over several annual conference sessions. The E.U.B. Church had engaged in missionary activities in that Nation for many years.
Following the 1968 merger of the E.U.B. and Methodist Churches, Bishop Sparks was assigned to the Seattle Episcopal Area, serving there until his retirement in 1972. While in Seattle, he also served for approximately eighteen months as interim Bishop of the Portland, Oregon
Area following the death of Bishop Everett W. Palmer in January 1971.
, at the age of 92. At the time of his death he was one of only two surviving Bishops of the former E.U.B. Church, the other being Bishop Paul W. Milhouse
of Franklin, Indiana
. At the time of the 1968 E.U.B.-Methodist merger, there were one retired and seven active E.U.B. Bishops. A memorial service for Bishop Sparks was held 25 August 1999 at 10:00 a.m. at the Faith United Methodist Church
, 3600 J. Street, Sacramento, CA 95816.
Evangelical United Brethren Church
The Evangelical United Brethren Church was an American Protestant church which was formed in 1946 by the merger of the Evangelical Church with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ...
(E.U.B.) and 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 1958.
Birth and Family
He was born on 16 December 1906 in Rockwood, PennsylvaniaRockwood, Pennsylvania
Rockwood is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 954 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Rockwood is located at ....
, a son of the Rev. George A. and Sarah (Heefner) Sparks. His father was a Pastor in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ (i.e., New Constitution)
Church of the United Brethren in Christ (i.e., New Constitution)
The Church of the United Brethren in Christ is that part of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ which adopted a new constitution in the late-19th century...
. Bishop Sparks was married to Blanche May Frank Sparks, who died in 1989. They had three sons: Lynn (a clergy member of the Rocky Mountain 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 U.M. Church, who died in a mountain climbing accident in 1978), Fred of Elk Grove, California
Elk Grove, California
Elk Grove is a city in Sacramento County, California, located just south of the state capital of Sacramento. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 153,015...
, and Robert of Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Lebanon, formerly known as Steitztown, is a city in and the county seat of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,477 at the 2010 census, a 4.2% increase from the 2000 count of 24,461...
. The Sparks also had four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren (at the time of the Bishop’s death).
Education
W. Maynard Sparks earned a 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 from (United Brethren) Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College is a small, liberal arts higher education institution situated in the heart of Annville in Lebanon County, east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
in Annville, Pennsylvania
Annville, Pennsylvania
Annville Township is a township and census-designated place in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,518 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Annville Township is located at ....
. He earned a 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 his denomination’s only seminary, United Theological Seminary
United Theological Seminary
United Theological Seminary is a United Methodist seminary in Trotwood, Ohio, United States, in the Dayton metropolitan area. Founded in 1869 by Milton Wright, it was originally sponsored by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ...
in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. He went on to earn a Master of Education
Master of Education
The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...
degree from the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
.
Ordained ministry
W. Maynard Sparks was granted a Quarterly Conference License to Preach at the age of thirteen! This was followed by a permanent license. Later, he entered the ministry of the Allegheny Annual Conference of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ (i.e., New Constitution). He served as the Pastor of churches in Pennsylvania, as a Conference Superintendent, and as Assistant Professor of Religion and ChaplainChaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
at Lebanon Valley College. He was elected a delegate to the 1946 Uniting Conference, which joined the Evangelical Church
Evangelical Church
The term Evangelical Church may refer specifically to:* Slovak Evangelical Church* Armenian Evangelical Church* Assyrian Evangelical Church* Christian Evangelical Church of Romania* Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus...
and the Church of the United Brethren in Christ (i.e., New Constitution).
Episcopal ministry
Sparks was elected to the Episcopacy of the E.U.B. Church in 1958. As a Bishop he supervised his denominationChristian 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...
’s Western Area. Among the highlights of his ministry, Bishop Sparks represented the E.U.B. Church in 1961 at independence ceremonies for the African nation of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, where he later also presided over several annual conference sessions. The E.U.B. Church had engaged in missionary activities in that Nation for many years.
Following the 1968 merger of the E.U.B. and Methodist Churches, Bishop Sparks was assigned to the Seattle Episcopal Area, serving there until his retirement in 1972. While in Seattle, he also served for approximately eighteen months as interim Bishop of the Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
Area following the death of Bishop Everett W. Palmer in January 1971.
Death and Funeral
Bishop Sparks died 17 August 1999 at his home in Sacramento, CaliforniaSacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, at the age of 92. At the time of his death he was one of only two surviving Bishops of the former E.U.B. Church, the other being Bishop Paul W. Milhouse
Paul William Milhouse
Paul William Milhouse was an American Bishop of the Evangelical United Brethren Church , elected in 1960. When he died at the age of 94 he was the last surviving U.M. Bishop elected by the E.U.B...
of Franklin, Indiana
Franklin, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,463 people, 6,824 households, and 4,872 families residing in the city. The population increased by more than 50% during the 1990s , with new residents attracted by jobs in the community, as well as some people commuting to Indianapolis for work. The...
. At the time of the 1968 E.U.B.-Methodist merger, there were one retired and seven active E.U.B. Bishops. A memorial service for Bishop Sparks was held 25 August 1999 at 10:00 a.m. at the Faith 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...
, 3600 J. Street, Sacramento, CA 95816.