William Clyde Martin

William Clyde Martin (1893-1984) was a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, The Methodist Church, and the United Methodist Church, elected in 1938. He also distinguished himself in military service during World War I, as a Methodist Pastor, and in ecumenical ministries with the National (U.S.) and World Council of Churches.

Birth and Family

Martin was born 28 July 1893 in Randolph, Tennessee, the son of John Harmon and Leila (Ballard) Martin. He married Sally Katherine Beene 1 July 1918. They had three children: Donald Hankey Martin (who served in the United States Army Air Forces during W.W.II), Mary Catharine Martin, and John Lee Martin (who served in the U.S. Army during W.W.II).

Education and Military Service

Martin attended the University of Arkansas (1913-14), graduating from Hendrix College with an A.B. degree in 1918. He also attended the University of Aberdeen (1919). He earned the B.D. degree from Southern Methodist University in 1921. He was a member of Chi Alpha and Theta Phi fraternities.

Martin served in the U.S. Army during World War I.

Ordained Ministry

Rev. Martin was ordained in 1921. He was appointed the Pastor of Grace Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, 1921-25. He next served as Pastor of First Methodist in Port Arthur, 1925-28. He was appointed the Pastor of First Methodist in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1928-31. His final appointment before election to the Episcopacy was First Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas, 1931-38. Rev. Dr. Martin was elected a delegate to the M.E., South General Conference of 1938.

Episcopal Ministry

William Clyde Martin was elected a Bishop at the last General Conference of the M.E. Church, South (1938). He was assigned to the Pacific Area of his denomination. Upon the reunion of the M.E. Church, M.E. Church, South and the M.P. Church in 1939, Bishop Martin was assigned the Kansas-Nebraska Episcopal Area. His offices were at 810 National Bank of Topeka Building, Topeka, Kansas.

Martin was a trustee of Southern Methodist University and a special lecturer at its Perkins School of Theology. He also served on many church-wide agencies. He was considered one of the most dedicated and effective leaders in The Methodist Church.

National and International Ministry

Bishop Martin was President of the National Council of Churches in the U.S.A. during 1953-54. He also was a member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches during 1954-61.

Honors

Rev. Martin was honored with the D.D. degree by Hendrix College in 1929. Nebraska Wesleyan University gave Bishop Martin an LL.D. in 1940. Baker University awarded the LL.D. in 1944. In 1952 he was designated a Distinguished Alumnus of Southern Methodist University.

Bishop Martin died 30 August 1984.

References

* Howell, Clinton T., Prominent Personalities in American Methodism, Birmingham, Alabama: The Lowry Press, 1945.
* "Handbook of Texas Online," s.v. "MARTIN, WILLIAM CLYDE," (accessed 8 January 2007). [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/MM/fmacf.html]

External links

* [http://www.ncccusa.org/news/NCCPresidentMartin.htm Bishop Martin and the National Council of Churches (including photo)]

ee also

*List of Bishops of the United Methodist Church