Showing 3 results

This collection consists of the dissertation of K. James Stein at Union Theological Seminary, submitted in 1965. There is a single volume of roughly 320 typed pages. Its focus is on the various Ecumenical currents within the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and its forerunners, along with its occasional attempts at union with denominations such as the Methodist Episcopal Church. Stein examines the attempts and explains their origins, progress and ultimate reasons (in attempts at union) for failure. The time-span largely focuses on the 19th century, with some early focus on the late-18th century. Stein depicts the ethos, and rural emphasis of the Brethren sects along with their involvement in foreign missionary work. He also makes a significant focus of the pietistic elements in Church of the United Brethren doctrine, attitude, and worship.

Quentin Lansman papers includes some of Lansman's notes and drafts for his dissertation at Northwestern University, titled An Historical Study of the Development of Higher Education and Related Theological and Educational Assumptions in the Evangelical United Brethren Church: 1800-1954. Also includes numerous sermon notes from the 1950s and 1960s. Also included are photographs of an Evangelical Church meeting and families in Hagerstown, Maryland, from prior to 1925, possibly before 1920, along with turn of the century post cards from Corydon, Indiana, the original state capital of Indiana. Also includes images of a commemoration service at the grave of early-19th century church figure John G. Pfrimmer (1762-1825). Personnal correspondance of Evangelical Church Rev. Henry Fuessner of Cleveland, Ohio is also included-among them are letters from General Secretary Bishop Sylvanus Charles Breyfogel (1851-1934). The letters range from 1928-1931.

There are numerous records and minutes from the 1960s for the United Campus Christian Fellowship, an ecumenical collegiate organization resulting from the merger of the campus Christian Fellowships of the Disciples of Christ, Evangelical United Brethren, United Church of Christ, and United Presbyterian U.S.A Chuches into a single national organization. At least one chart of its national structure, from its related churches down to college campuses and local congregations, is included. Handouts, reports, policies, and other materials related to Campus Fellowship make up the remainder of the collection. Images of events and student activities in several collegiate Christian fellowships are included, as well as a strategic plan titled "Operation Nehemiah" from the Hillcrest Bible Institute in Alberta, Canada, from the late 1950s-early 1960s. A panorama photograph of the 1958 Evangelical United Brethren Student Conference at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania, is in a separate box.

This collection primarily documents the work and ministry of the Evangelical Church's annual conferences and local churches from the middle nineteenth century to the middle twentieth century. To a lesser degree there are records that reflect the ministry of the general church as well. There are other records that pertain to filial denominations such as the Evangelical Association, United Evangelical Church, Church of the United Brethren in Christ (United Brethren Church), and the Evangelical United Brethren Churches are also found in this collection. Leedy was an avid collector of church related information so that the topical landscape of this collection is broad enough to cover information ranging from local church ministries and histories to denominational theological beliefs and social concerns. Most of the paper records center on church work in the Ohio region though not to the exclusion of other geographic areas within the continental United States and Germany. All in all this collection provides a nice overview of the diversified life within the Evangelical tradition and is an excellent resource for those who wish to understand more fully the Evangelical Church's historical influence within the ongoing traditions of United Methodism.