Background
Holter, Don Wendell was born on March 24, 1905 in Lincoln, Kansas, United States. Son of Henry O. and Lenna (Mater) Holter.
Holter, Don Wendell was born on March 24, 1905 in Lincoln, Kansas, United States. Son of Henry O. and Lenna (Mater) Holter.
Don graduated from Baker University in 1927 (Bachelor of Arts). He then attended Harvard University and Garrett Theological Seminary, earning his Bachelor of Divinity from Garrett in 1930. Don went on to earn his Doctor of Philosophy in Church History at the University of Chicago in 1934.
Bishop Holter received honorary doctorates from Baker University, Westmar College, Dakota Wesleyan University, and Saint Paul School of Theology.
His first pastoral appointment was as Assistant Minister at the Euclid Avenue Church in Oak Park, Illinois beginning in 1931 while Don was still a seminarian. From 1935 until 1940, Doctor Holter was Minister at the Central Methodist Church in Manila and Professor at Union Theological Seminary there. From 1940 until 1945 he was President of the seminary.
In 1938 Doctor Holter served as Chairman of the Philippines delegation to the International Mission Conference in Madras, India, a delegation which included Doctor Frank Laubach.
Foreign three years the Holter family was interred by the Japanese during World World War World War II They returned to the United States. in May, 1945. Doctor Holter spent the next year itinerating for the Methodist Missions Board.
During 1946-1949 he was the Pastor of Hamline Methodist Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota. In 1949 Doctor Holter joined the faculty of Garrett Theological Seminary as Professor of Church History and Missions.
In 1958 he spent four months on a special study mission to Africa, including several days spent with Doctor Albert Schweitzer at Lambaréné.
On 1 January 1959 Doctor Holter became the founding President of Saint Paul School of Theology, a position he held until his election to the Episcopacy. Doctor Holter was elected a delegate to U.M. General Conferences (1964-1972), serving in 1968 and 1970 as the Chairman of the Legislative Committee on Ministry. He also held positions of leadership in his Annual Conference as well as on General Church Agencies.
Bishop Holter was elected by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church in 1972.
He was assigned to the Nebraska Episcopal Area, serving one quadrennium before retiring in 1976.
(Lure Of Kansas, The: The Story Of Evangelicals And United...)
Trustee St. Paul School Theology.
Married Isabelle Elliott, June 20, 1931. Children: Phyllis Holter Dunn, Martha Holter Hudson (deceased), Heather Holter Ellis.