Elementos de identidad
Código de referencia
Nombre y localización del repositorio
Nivel de descripción
Título
Fecha(s)
- 1904-1992 (Creación)
Extensión
14.36 cubic feet
Nombre del productor
Historia biográfica
William Ralph Ward (1908-1988), an American bishop, was born in Boston on October 16, 1908, the son of William Ralph and Janie (Johnston) Ward. He received the A.B. from Baker University and the S.T.B. and S.T.M. degrees from Boston University.
On June 3, 1933, he married Arleen Burdick (1909-2000). They were the parents of three sons.
William Ralph Ward was ordained to the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1932. His pastorates included Waldoboro, Maine, 1931; Porter Church, East Weymouth, Massachusetts., 1932-1933; Hingham, Massachusetts., 1933-1934; First Church, East Weymouth, 1934-1940; Newport, Rhode Island, 1940-1941; Manchester, Conn., 1941-1948; and Mt. Lebanon Church, Pittsburgh, 1948-1960.
In 1960 he was elected bishop and assigned bishop of the Syracuse Area. In 1972 he was became bishop of the New York Area, which post he held until his retirement in 1980. During his tenure in the New York Area he served as President of the Council of Bishops. After Bishop Ward's retirement he continued to serve in leadership posts, including the Board of Global Ministries and as Bishop in Residence at Drew University.
Ward's activities included the General Board of Christian Social Concerns; vice-president of the General Board of Missions; president, Division of National Missions; honorary life member, Women's Society of Christian Service, president of the Pittsburgh Area Council of Churches, 1957-1958; chairman of the Denominational and Interdenominational Staff Conference, 1964; director of the New York State Council of Churches; a delegate to the Oxford Institute on Methodist Theological Studies, London, 1958; member of the World Methodist Council; member of the Commission on Promotion and Cultivation, and president of the denomination's Program Council, 1968-1972. In 1970 he was also a member of the Quadrennial Emphasis Committee, the Social Principles Study Commission, the Interboard Committee on Town and Country Work, the International Methodist Historical Society, and the General Assembly of the National Council of Churches. He was an Edmund Beebe Fellow at Boston University, a trustee of Hartford Seminary Foundation, 1944-1949; and a trustee of the following: Syracuse University, Bethune-Cookman College, Drew University, Folts Home for the Aged, Methodist Home for Children, Williamsville; Clifton Springs Sanatorium, and Blocher Homes. He was the recipient of the Freedom Foundation award, 1951 and man of the year award, B' nai B'rith, Pittsburgh, 1954. He was a member of the Newcomen Society in North America, Zeta Chi, Theta Chi Beta. He was heavily involved in the 1970's in establishing a TV and Radio Presence for the United Methodist Church. In the late 1970's Ward as bishop of the New York Area was engaged in dealing with the racial conflict that engulfed our nation.
Ward was a prolific writer of articles and sermons. He contributed articles to The Upper Room, Prayers for Today, Christian Advocate, and to numerous other publications. He is the author of Authentic Man Encounters God's World. His latest work was in 1986 entitled, Faith In Action, a history of Methodism in New York State.
Área de contenido y estructura
Alcance y contenido
The Bishop W. Ralph Ward Jr. Papers document Ward's ministry from his earliest appointment through his episcopal leadership and his years of retirement.
A major part of this collection consists of Ward's sermons, addresses, and writings. These materials reflect Ward's personal faith and his commitment to social concerns and the institutional life of the Methodist Church.
Ward's correspondence is fairly typical and not as revealing of larger issues as might be hoped. There are occasional letters to ecclesiastical and political leaders of note. There is one note to him from Harry Emerson Fosdick.
Ward's episcopal leadership is well documented in this collection. He was a dynamic and insightful leader. There is significant information about his skill in developing goals and programs in the Council and in his Areas.
Ward gave particular attention to the training of his District Superintendents.
While bishop of the New York Area Ward was involved in the racial crisis which engulfed the nation. There is not as much material on this period as might be desired, but it should not be overlooked in research. There is also significant material on the well publicized program by 60 Minutes on the role of the World and National Councils of Churches which inferred Communist sympathies on the part of those groups.
Ward was a prolific writer. Several of his published sermons are included in the collection as well as a number of unpublished manuscripts on Christian belief and practice. As an active and loyal member of the Masonic Order he spoke frequently at their assemblies. He was also an early advocate of the importance of visual aids in promoting Christian education.. The materials include early scripts he wrote as well as film strips dealing with educational themes. This interest in communication continued throughout his ministry.
There is considerable material documenting of TV and radio in the ministry of the larger Methodist Church.
Methodist history was one of Ward's special interests. The collection includes addresses he gave on this theme. The collection also documents Ward's continued ministry after retirement in 1980. There is a small but significant body of material on the Ward family. There are photos and genealogical materials. The latter material pertains to both the Bishop's roots but also those of his spouse, Arleen Burdick Ward. There are a few items from Arleen's childhood which are particularly attractive. She was a Christian educator in her own right, and some of the articles she authored are included in the collection. Family letters from the Ward children depicting their activities and marriages are also in the collection. For the interest of the researcher who may be working on Bishop Ward's life and ministry this family section has extensive materials written by the bishop in preparation of his autobiography. This autobiography was never published, but offers a sound base for understanding the man.
Sistema de arreglo
This collection is arranged by series and subseries.
Condiciones de acceso y uso de los elementos
Condiciones de acceso
There are no restrictions regarding this collection.
Acceso físico
Acceso técnico
Condiciones
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.
Idiomas del material
- inglés
Escritura(s) de los documentos
Notas sobre las lenguas y escrituras
Instrumentos de descripción
Elementos de adquisición y valoración
Historial de custodia
Origen del ingreso
Valoración, selección y eliminación
Acumulaciones
Elementos de material relacionado
Existencia y localización de originales
Existencia y localización de copias
Unidades de descripción relacionadas.
Descripciones relacionadas
Elemento notas
Nota general
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, W. Ralph Ward, Jr. Collection, United Methodist Church Archives- GCAH, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the item's call number as that is not a stable descriptor.
Notas especializadas
Identificador/es alternativo(os)
Área de control de la descripción
Reglas o convenciones
Fuentes
Nota del archivista
Prepared by Walter Cano, Meyongho Cha, and Lindsay Richardson, Student Assistants; Robert Drew Simpson, Assistant Archivist; Mark C. Shenise, Associate Archivist
Puntos de acceso
Puntos de acceso por materia
Puntos de acceso por lugar
Puntos de acceso por autoridad
- Methodist church. General conference (Materia)
- Methodist Church (U.S.). Uniting Conference (Materia)
- United Metodist Church (U.S.). Uniting Conference (Materia)
- United Methodist Church (U.S.). General Conference (Materia)
- Methodist Church (U.S.). General Conference (Materia)
- Methodist Church (U.S.). Troy Conference (Materia)
- Methodist Church (U.S.) (Materia)
- Ward, Arleen (Materia)
- Ward, David (Materia)