United Methodist Bishop R. Marvin Stuart dead at 93
11/17/2003 News media contact: Linda Green · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn A UMNS Report
By Linda Green*
Retired United Methodist Bishop R. Marvin Stuart, 93, who
advocated full clergy rights for women in the denomination, died Nov. 11
at his Palo Alto, Calif., retirement home.
Born in Paullina,
Iowa, Stuart was ordained in 1934 and elected bishop in 1964. He served
as president of the Council of Bishops in 1978. His election to bishop
highlighted a ministerial career that included 22 years as pastor of
First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto, as well as service at other
churches in the San Francisco Bay area. He served 16 years as bishop in
Denver and San Francisco.
At the 1956 General Conference, Stuart
was the chairman of the legislative body for the committee on ministry
and presented the report for the church to approve full clergy rights
for women. As a result, the assembly granted clergywomen full rights in
the United Methodist Church that year. Stuart served as a General
Conference delegate from 1952 to 1964.
He was also responsible
for beginning the denomination's national training program for district
superintendents and directors of councils on ministries.
"I knew
Bishop Stuart well and had high regard for him," said retired Bishop
Jack Tuell of Des Moines, Wash. "One of the things that marked his
ministry before he was elected bishop and after was the incredible
energy he devoted to his ministerial work."
Stuart received an
associate degree from Taylor University in Indiana and later received
bachelor's and master's degrees in sacred theology from Boston School of
Theology. He also received an honorary doctorate from Taylor
University.
Tuell said Stuart was an idea person, particularly with regard to missions.
"Bishop
Stuart was phenomenal at fund raising for mission programs, and First
United Methodist Church was one of the leading churches in the
denomination for supporting a variety of Advance Specials (mission
projects). He devoted considerable energy to mission in an outstanding
way," Tuell said.
When Stuart was appointed pastor of First
Church in 1948, the congregation had only a few hundred members. During
his 22-year tenure, the church grew to 2,000 members, and a
gothic-styled sanctuary was constructed in 1962. As bishop, he led the
denomination's Denver Area for eight years, beginning in 1964, and later
oversaw the San Francisco Area until his retirement in 1980.
During
his ministerial career, Stuart was an advocate for social justice. "He
was in the forefront of people working to integrate the church during
the '60s," Tuell said.
Stuart's wife, Mary Ella Stuart, died in
2001. He is survived by his son, Robert Lee Stuart of San Francisco. A
memorial service will be held Jan. 17 at First United Methodist Church
in Palo Alto. Donations may be made to the Stuart Landscaping Endowment,
First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto, 625 Hamilton Ave., Palo
Alto, CA 94301.
# # #
*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer in Nashville, Tenn.
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