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Bishop James M. Ault was prominent church leader

Sep. 23, 2008    News media contact:   Marta  Aldrich * (615) 742-5133*   Nashville {395}

NOTE: A photograph is available at http://umns.umc.org

>By Elliott Wright*

BRUNSWICK, Maine (UMNS)-Retired Bishop James M. Ault, a prominent  educator, ecumenical advocate and episcopal leader in The United  Methodist Church, has died at the age of 90.

Ault died Sept. 21 at the Midcoast Senior Health Center in Brunswick.

An active bishop from 1972 until his retirement in 1988, he served as  president of the Council of Bishops 1986-87 and president of the United  Methodist Board of Global Ministries 1985-89.

Prior to his election as bishop, he taught at Union Theological Seminary  in New York and served as professor and dean at the School of Theology  of Drew University, Madison, N.J.

The bishop was a leader in ecumenical affairs, representing The United  Methodist Church in both the National and World Council of Churches. A  member of the World Council of Churches Central Committee, he was active  in promoting economic sanctions to oppose apartheid in South Africa.

"He leaves a legacy of diligently working for a better world," said the  Rev. Edward W. Paup, chief executive of the Global Ministries agency,  who knew the bishop through their links to the Western Pennsylvania  Annual (regional) Conference. "Thanks be to God for (Bishop Ault's)  commitment to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ."

>Humble roots

James M. Ault was born on Aug. 24, 1918, in Sayre, Penn., the third of  five sons of Tracey Everett Ault, a railroad worker, and Bessie Mase  Ault, a schoolteacher. He attended public schools in his hometown and  after graduation became an apprentice in a local tool-and-die plant.

He met his wife, the former Dorothy Mae Barnhart, who survives him,  through the Methodist Youth Fellowship at the Sayre Methodist Church.  The couple married in 1943 while he was a lieutenant in the U.S. Army,  handling supplies for the Pacific front in San Francisco. The Aults  would have four children, three of whom survive their father.

Following military service in World War II, the future bishop attended  Colgate University, Syracuse, N.Y., and served the Preston Charge in the  Wyoming Annual Conference. He graduated from Colgate in 1949 and was  elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He then enrolled in Union Theological  Seminary, where he graduated at the head of his class. He subsequently  joined the Northern New Jersey Conference.

After serving appointments in both the Northern New Jersey and Troy  conferences, Ault in 1961 took a position at Union Seminary, his alma  mater, where he taught practical theology and served as dean of  students. While at Union, he earned the Master of Sacred Theology degree  and did advanced study at St. Andrews' University in Scotland.

Ault was dean and professor of pastoral theology for four years at Drew  Theological School, where he worked to increase the outreach of the  institution to Korean and Hispanic/Latino theologians and pastors.

>Episcopacy leadership

In 1972, he was elected a bishop by the Northeastern Jurisdiction. He  served for eight years in the church's Philadelphia Area, followed by  eight years in the Pittsburgh Area.

His selection as secretary of the Council of Bishops thrust him into the  ecumenical arena. He was a member of the Governing Board of the National  Council of Churches in USA, 1981-1984; the Central Committee of the  World Council of Churches, 1981-1991; and Executive Committee of the  World Methodist Council, 1981-1988. He was president of the Council of  Bishops in 1986 and 1987.

Ault was a director and then president of the Board of Global Ministries  when an important new statement on mission theology, "Partnership in  God's Mission," was developed and introduced. Discussing the document in  his monthly column for New World Outlook, the United Methodist mission  magazine, he explained that one purpose of the project was to hear the  voices of United Methodists from around the world and become more truly  global in mission. "Partnership in God's Mission" continues as a  benchmark statement in the history of United Methodist mission.

The bishop played a significant role in helping Puerto Rican Methodists  become a self-governing part of the Methodist family of denominations.

Upon Ault's retirement, a newspaper in Pittsburgh reported that at a  time of division between liberals and conservatives in The United  Methodist Church, the bishop managed to speak effectively to both sides.

He was the author of the book Responsible Adults for Tomorrow's World,  published in 1962 by the Women's Division of Christian Service, now the  Women's Division of the Board of Global Ministries.

In addition to his wife, Ault leaves a brother, Alfred Ault of Potomac,  Md.; a son, James Ault Jr., Northampton, Mass.; two daughters, Kathryn  Ault, Brunswick, and Beth Ault Brinker, West Salem, Wis.; four  grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is scheduled for Nov. 1 at Brunswick United Methodist  Church. Memorial contributions to the James Mase Ault Scholarship Fund  at Africa University may be sent to the fund, c/o James Salley, United  Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, 1001 Nineteenth Ave.  South, Nashville, TN 37203.

># # #

*Wright is the information officer of the United Methodist Board of  Global Ministries.

>********************

United Methodist News Service Photos and stories also available at: http://umns.umc.org

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