Background
Kearns, Francis Emner was born on December 9, 1905 in Bentleyville, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of George Verlinda and Jennie Mae (McCleary) Kearns.
Kearns, Francis Emner was born on December 9, 1905 in Bentleyville, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of George Verlinda and Jennie Mae (McCleary) Kearns.
AB, Ohio Wesleyan University, 1927. Doctor of Divinity, Ohio Wesleyan University, 1954. Bachelor of Sacred Theology, Boston University School Theology, 1930.
Postgraduate, University Berlin, Germany. Postgraduate, University Edinburgh, Scotland, 1931. Doctor of Philosophy, University Pittsburgh, 1939.
Doctor of Laws, Mount Union College, 1965. Doctor of Humane Letters, Ohio Northern University, 1965. Doctor of Philosophy, Baldwin-Wallace College, 1966.
Pastor, Dravosburg, Pennsylvania, 1931-1932;
associate pastor, Christ Methodist Church, Pittsburgh, 1932-1935;
associate pastor, Ben Avon Methodist Church, 1935-1940;
associate pastor, Asbury Methodist Church, Uniontown, Pennsylvania, 1940-1945;
associate pastor, Wauwatosa (Wisconsin) Methodist Church, 1945-1964;
bishop, United Methodist Church, 1964-1992. Member general board evangelism, 1965-1968, vice chairman general board education, 1968-1972,chairman division curriculum resources, 1968-1972, member program council, 1968-1972. Member Methodist Corporation, 1968-1972.
Member general assembly National Council Churches;president Ohio Council Churches, 1969-1971. Member general board Global Ministries ofUnited Methodist Church, 1972-1976, vice-chairman division health and welfare ministries, 1972-1976. Member general board Church and Society of United Methodist Church, 1972-1976.
Chairman Methodist Interbd. Committee on Christian Vocations, 1964-1968, Faith and Order Commission, Ohio Council Churches, 1965-1969. Member Methodist Interbd.
Commision on Town and Country, 1964-1968, North Central Jurisdictional Council, 1972-1976. Visiting professor Methodist Theological School, Ohio, 1976-1978.
Trustee Baldwin-Wallace College, Mount Union College, Ohio Northern University, Ohio Wesleyan University, Methodist Theological School in Ohio, Otterbein College, United Theological Seminary. Member Phi Beta Kappa. Clubs: Mason (33 degree), Rotarian.
Married Alice Margaret Thompson, September 1, 1933. Children: Rollin Thompson, Margaret (Mistress Richard E. Baldwin), Francis Emner World War II.