Background

James Chamberlain Baker was born on June 2, 1879. He is the son of Benjamin Webb and Martha Frances (née Henry) Baker.

Education

James Baker graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1989. In 1902 he entered the Boston University School of Theology and accepted a student pastorate in Ashland, Mass. He received the degree of Bachelor of Sacred Theology in 1905.

Career

James Baker worked as a teacher of Greek for three years at Missouri Wesleyan University. Then, until 1928, he was a pastor of Methodist Episcopal churches in McLean and Urbana. In 1928 he was an elected bishop at Methodist Episcopal Church (now United Methodist Church). In the period of 1928-1930 James Baker was a supervisor of missions in Japan, Manchuria, and Korea. Meanwhile, in the period of 1933-1934 he was a temporary supervisor of Methodist Episcopal mission in the Shanghai area of China. After that, he became a bishop for San Francisco and then for Los Angeles. In 1952, he was a visiting professor at the University of Southern California. Moreover, in 1941 Baker became a chair of the International Missionary Council and took that position for seven years. After that, in 1948, he became a founding member of the World Council of Churches, the president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, and the consultant to the United Nations.

Achievements

• During his years as an active bishop, Bishop Baker served as a Methodist delegate to many international gatherings of Christians. He was the world chairman of the International Missionary Council in 1942, served as a consultant to the founding conference of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1944, and was one of four men sent by the Protestant Churches of America to Japan during the occupation in 1945. In addition to found the Wesley Foundation, Bishop Baker could be called a founder of the World Council of Churches, for he was a member of the committee that organized that body in 1948. During that same year he also served as president of the Council of Bishops of The Methodist Church, the church's highest office. He chaired the highly important 1947 World Missionary Conference in Whitby, Ontario, Canada, a meeting that recognized the vital role of indigenous churches of Africa and Asia in mission life and history.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The First Wesley Foundation: An Adventure in Christian High Education 1960

Religion

James Chamberlain Baker worked as a bishop at Methodist churches.

Views

After retirement, James Baker remained active in church affairs. He taught at the Graduate School of Theology of the University of Southern California for several terms, and he showed his lifelong concern for students by donating to the school, after it moved to Claremont, California, most of his personal theological library.

Membership

• James Baker was a chair of International Missionary Council.

  International Missionary Council , United States

  1941 - 1947

• James Baker was the president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops.

  United Methodist Council of Bishops , United States

  1948

Connections

James Baker married Lena Sarah Benson in 1901.

Wife:

Lena Sarah Benson