Bader, Jesse Moren bio
Encycopedia Stone-Campbell Movement, Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ;
Douglas A. Foster, Paul M. Blowers, Anthony L. Dunnavant & D.
Newell Williams; Disciples of Christ Historical Society, Nashville,
Tennessee; Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas; William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan / Cambridge, U.K.
page 55
Bader, Jesse Moren (1886-1963)
Disciples of Christ evangelist and leasder of the World Convention of Churches of Christ.
Jesse Bader was devoted to evangelism and to the untiy of all
people under the banner of Christ. Born in Bader, Illinois, he
studied at the University of Kansas and graduated from Drake University
in 1911. Ordained to the ministry, Bader held pastorates in
Kansas and Missouri and served overseas with the Y.M.C.A. during World
War I. In 1910 he married Golda Elam, also an ordained minister
with her own interests and career in ecumerical affairs, including
United Church Women. With the founding of the United Church
Missionary Society in 1920, Bader became the organization's Secretary
of Evangelism. His task was to provide effective evangelistic
strategies for local churches. Later he was called to head the
Department of Evangelism for the Federal Council of Churches.
Writing widely in the field of evangelism, his chief text was
"Evangelism in a Changing America" (1957). He was also a
consultant to Billy Graham. In 1940 he initiated the observance
of World Communion Sunday.
His passion for Christian unity led to the organization of the
World Convention of Churches of Christ. In 1930 he served as
president of the initial convention held in Washington, D.C.
Working to bring about fellowship between global manifestations of the
Movement and among the divided segments of the church within the United
States, Bader served as Genreal Secretary of the World Convention unitl
his death in 1963.
See also: Evangelism, Evangelists; World Convention of Churches of Christ, The
Bibliography: Jesse Moren Bader paper, Disciples of Christ
Historical Society; Samuel McCrae Cavert, "Jesse Moren Bader:
Evangelical and Ecumenical Churchman," in Herald of the Evangel, ed.
Edwin T. Dahlberg (1965)
Clinton J. Holloway
