Clyde Wilson Humphrey, 1907-1991

Clyde Wilson Humphrey was born July 25, 1907, in Lancaster, Kentucky, where he received his secondary education at Garrard High School. In 1930, he married Gertrude, his helpmate of 61 years. That same year he received two bachelor's degrees in business education from Eastern Kentucky University. He received a master's degree in business education from Vanderbilt. He then received a master's degree in Christian education from Wesley Theological Seminary. He received a doctorate in education in business at the American University. He received a Ph.D. in business from California National Open University.

He started his career teaching in a one-room school and progressed to high school principal, college professor, regional sales manager for McGraw-Hill Book. Company and regional director of business education program for the U.S. Office of Education. He served as associate pastor at Cranford United Methodist Church and Christ United Methodist Church, Arlington. He was ordained elder in 1960 and in 1961 was appointed to the Center for Church Management-the American University as its founding director until his retirement in 1974. He founded the National Society for Religious Organization Management and served as executive director and as a past president until 1990.

He authored a college textbook Research in Business Education. He designed and was editor-in-chief of the Prentice-Hall series in Church Management (eight volumes), the most comprehensive work in this field. He authored numerous articles and chapters of professional publications.

He was certified to teach world religions by the United Methodist Church and designed a pilot Sunday school program for the General Board of Discipleship, fashioned after college courses. He was a certified director of Christian Education in the United Methodist Church.

He was a charter member of the Hall of Fame of the National Association of Church Business Administration. He was honored by the Interfaith Council for Financial Planning. He served on full- and part-time faculties of numerous colleges and universities throughout the United States. He served as dissertation advisor for several universities. He was a member of the board of National Graduate University and member of Lincolnia United Methodist Church, Alexandria.

Dr. Humphrey wrote, "If churches are to accomplish their purposes effectively, their business affairs must be managed as well as, or better than, those of other organizations. Since churches are service-rendering rather than profit-making, and because of their voluntary nature and the trustee relationship involved, their business policies and practices must differ in certain respects from those of commercial enterprises and the differences must be clearly identified and thoroughly understood. "

Clyde wrote to help clergy and laity become more effective stewards of church business responsibilities and to strengthen the role of pastors as chief administrators of individual churches.

Dr. Humphrey was a pioneer in the field of church administration and a founding father of the field. He taught many who now serve all across the land on faculties of universities, judicatories and local churches. When he learned that the United Methodist Church with 100 institutions of higher education offered no undergraduate courses designed especially for church management he got busy. He not only impacted his denomination but many others as well.

Dr. Humphrey's Pioneer Delineation was that, "Church Business Management is the science and art of administering church program development, financial resources, physical facilities, office services, staff personnel, and public relation$, all in accordance with the most effective standards of religious stewardship. Included in this concept are such managerial processes as forecasting, planning, organizing, delegating, controlling, evaluating, and reporting. Management of a church's business responsibilities is a facilitating function to be regarded not as an end in itself but as an important means to a worthy end."

I learned of Dr. Humphrey through his writings and reputation. Later I became a student of the center and took every course and seminar offered at the center and grew to appreciate him as a professor, mentor, friend and one who practiced his Christian convictions. He was like a second father to me. He not only changed my life but many in our conference who have benefited from his work.. He always expected the church to be more professional.

Clyde served his Master with honor and distinction and today he is a member of the Church Triumphant. On December 6, 1991, memorial services were conducted by his former students and his pastor, the Rev. Randall Blankenship at Lincolnia United Methodist Church, Alexandria District after private interment in Lancaster, Kentucky. His wife, one daughter, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild survive him.

 

-J. Blaine Blubaugh