Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1965 (Creation)
Extent
0.18 cubic feet
Name of creator
Biographical history
K. James Stein (1929-?), a theologian and professor. Stein was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the son of Gustav and Anna (Sommer) Stein. He was educated in the rural areas of the Red River Valley. Stein acquired a temporary teaching certification following high school and taught in rural schools of Pembina County, ND from 1947-1950. Stein received his bachelor's degree at Westmar College in Iowa (1953). He attended seminary at Evangelical Theological Seminary of the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Naperville, Illinois. Subsequently he received a masters of sacred theology and his PhD at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. His dissertation title was "Church Unity Movements in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ until 1946" Stein married Loretta Bahr of Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Ordained as an elder in 1956, Stein served appointments in the Dakota Conference in Kidder (1952), Casselton- Chaffee (1953), and at Patterson Christ in New Jersey (1956). Prior to finishing his PhD at Union (1965), Stein became a Professor of Church History at Evangelical Theological Seminary (ETS) in Ilinois in 1960 and became a dean at the seminary in 1972. In 1973, while serving as president of ETS, Stein oversaw its merger with Garrett Seminary and served as the first dean of the new Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Stein retired in 1995, continuing to function as a "senior scholar" at Garrett-Evangelical.
Stein numerous multiple articles, and two books, "Phillip Jakob Spener: Pietist Patriarch" (1986) and "Spiritual Guides for the 21st Century: Faith Stories of the Protestant Reformers" (2000).
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
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.
System of arrangement
Material is arranged by record type.
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
There are no restrictions regarding this collection.
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Detailed use restrictions relating to our collections can be requested from the office of the archivist at the General Commission on Archives and History. Photocopying is handled by the staff and may be limited in certain instances. Before using any material for publication from this collection a formal request for permission to publish is expected and required.
Languages of the material
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Accession: 1972-020
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Related descriptions
Notes element
General note
The purpose of this finding aid is to help you understand the nature of this collection and to assist you in the retrieval of material from this collection. The following pages contain a brief biographical history of the person, or persons, who created or collected these papers; followed by a general description of the collection in the scope and content note. If more detailed information is warranted then series descriptions also appear.
The container listing appears last and is the listing of material in each box, or container, of this collection. To request material you need to turn to the container listing section. It is essentially a listing of file folders, or artifact items, in the collection. Each folder, or item, has a call number associated with it. Each folder also lists the inclusive dates of the material in the folder. On the material request form list both the call number and the folder, or item, title. Use a different line for each folder, or item, requested. When your request sheet is complete, or full, bring it to the archivist and the material will be retrieved.
General note
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, James Stein Dissertation, United Methodist Church Archives - GCAH, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the items call number as that is not a stable descriptor.
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Archivist's note
Archivist's note
Prepared by Justin A. Causey, Student Assistant and Mark C. Shenise, Associate Archivist
Access points
Subject access points
Name access points
- Evangelical United Brethren Church (Subject)