Bauman, Edward

Edward W. Bauman (1927-2021), United Methodist minister, writer, producer and educator, earned his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Boston University Graduate School. Bauman began his church career in 1951 as a probationary minister with the North East Ohio Annual Conference. By 1952, he was appointed beyond the local church to attend school. In the following year, North East Ohio ordained him as an elder in full connection. The Utica church became Bauman's first pastoral appointment from 1954 to 1956. The next year saw Bauman appointed as a chaplain to American University in Washington, D.C., a post he would keep until 1960 when he started teaching at Wesley Theological Seminary. He continue to teach full time at Wesley until 1965. During this time period Bauman moved his clergy credentials from North East Ohio to the Washington Annual Conference in 1958. In the Spring of 1965, the Washington area bishop appointed him to Foundry Church where he served as senior pastor until his retirement in 1991.

Bauman was an excellent communicator and in 1979 Time magazine recognized this fact by naming him as one of the most outstanding ministers in the United States. Part of this recognition by time centered on his weekly Sunday morning WMAL-AM radio broadcasts which spanned more than thirty years. Radio, however, was not the only medium by which the public could listen to Bauman’s sermons. His career in television and film lasted thirty-five years (1958-1992). Televison stations across the United States broadcasted his shows from WMAL-TV studios. The films, which were based on the televison shows, were shown by military chaplains on bases or ships around the world.

Audiovisuals were not the only medium by which Bauman reached out to the public. He wrote eight books. The titles are The Life and Teaching of Jesus, An Introduction to the New Testament, God’s Presence in My Life, We’re Spreading the Good News, John’s Gospels in the Modern World, Beyond Belief, Intercessory Prayer, The Bible and New Life for the Church and God of Our Fathers and A Study Guide for the Film and TV Course. Other forms of ministries outside the local parish and after retirement included a variety of retreats and church renewal seminars.

In 1993, Bauman headed to Calcutta, India, to spend time working with Mother Teresa with a focus on her Home for the Dying located in Khaligat. The experience made such a lasting impression that Bauman started to work with hospices in the Washington, D.C. area upon his return.

Later Bauman would serve as an associate minister at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. The Washington National Cathedral named him a member of the Associate Faculty of The College of Preachers.