Alfred T. Howard
12 March 1868 - 12 November 1948
Dr. Alfred T. Howard
On November 12th God called one of the great Christian Statesmen of our church to his crowning. Dr. Alfred T. Howard was a member of the Michigan Conference for forty-seven years. Born at Schoolcraft, Michigan in 1868, he became a Christian at an early age, and was graduated from Otterbein College in 1894. He was married to Miss May Stevenson, and almost immediately they set sail for Africa as Missionaries. After four years they returned to the States and after three months furlough, sailed for Japan as our first Missionaries. He showed such an understanding of the principles of good Mission Administration that in 1913, the General Conference elected him as Missionary Bishop and placed him in charge of all overseas work. In 1921 he became Professor of Missions at Bonebrake Theological Seminary, and served until his retirement in 1942. He was President of Bonebrake from 1921 to 1929 and from 1933 to 1938. He always maintained a keen interest in his own conference and returned for its sessions whenever possible. His was a great life well spent in sacrificial service.
- Michigan Conference (UB) of the Evangelical United Brethren minutes of 1949, p.8
- Joined the Michigan Conference of the United Brethren Church in 1901 and served as a missionary to Japan
- Elected as Foreign Mission Bishop in 1913
- In 1920 he became President of Bonebrake Theological Seminary (later known as United Theological Seminary) and was associated with that institution as an administrator, faculty member, or professor emeritus for the rest of his career.
Appointments
- 1902-1904: Missionary to Japan
- 1905-1912: Superintendent of Missions in Japan
- 1912-1913: Missionary to Japan and Superintendent of Missions in the Orient
- 1913-1919: Foreign Missionary Bishop
- 1919-1920: Foreign Missionary Bishop and General Secretary of Foreign Missions
- 1921-1929: President, Bonebrake Seminary
- 1929-1932: Teacher, Bonebrake Seminary
- 1934-1938: President, Bonebrake Seminary
- 1938-1942: Teacher, Bonebrake Seminary
- 1942-1948: Professor Emeritus, Bonebrake Seminary