wfn.org | DISCIPLES AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADER COMPTON DIES

["Wilma Shufitt" <wshuffit@cm.disciples.org>]

Date: April 21, 2003
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Melinda Mains
Phone: 317-713-2496
E-mail: mmains@cm.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

CINCINNATI, April 21, 2003  -- President Emeritus of the Division of
Homeland Ministries, John R. Compton died Saturday, April 19 at age 77. 
Compton was a pastor who broke numerous racial barriers in the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) and provided key leadership to the church.

During Compton's tenure as president of Homeland Ministries, the
division saw many changes that were the result of several studies and
movement to division-wide long range strategic planning.  Under his
leadership the division also implemented programs to support stated
goals and objectives; changed the division's development procedures;
initiated a new budgeting process; strengthened its partnerships with
regions, general units and congregations; realigned professional staff
portfolios and improved the division's support staff system.

Compton's legacy of firsts is legendary: He was the first Disciples'
African American to serve:
	* The board that governed Disciples national and world
operations  (United Christian Missionary Society).
	* As an executive in the general minister and president's
office.
	* As regional minister, serving Indiana (1979-1981).
	* As president of a general operating division, Homeland
Ministries (1982-1989).
	* On the church's general cabinet.
	* As administrator of the National Convocation of the Christian
Church, the denominational forum for concerns of African American
Disciples.  
	* As administrator, as well as creator of the Disciples
Reconciliation program, which raises funds each year to fight racism

Thirty years ago Compton proposed a 20 percent minimum of ethnic
minority members on church governing bodies, a figure quickly achieved
on the General Board and maintained ever since.  He co-drafted in 1969
the Disciples' response to the Black Manifesto, which demanded
reparations from white churches for past racism. The response decried
the "extortion" involved in the Manifesto but acknowledged the church's
role in "the shameful heritage of racial exploitation" and initiated the
multimillion-dollar Reconciliation program that continues.  Compton also
developed the Black Disciples Endowment Fund to support African American
ministries.

Compton marched with Martin Luther King Jr., including at the "I have a
dream" event in Washington, D.C., in 1963.  He also coordinated visits
for King in Cleveland, Ohio.

Compton viewed all of this with humility. "All I ever wanted to be was
a pastor," he said.  He pastored the United Christian Church in
Cincinnati off and on for 25 years as he served the wider church in
various capacities. Compton paid the price for all of his firsts.  His
home was burned to the ground in suburban Cleveland by arsonists.  

Compton received a bachelor of sacred literature degree from Jarvis
Christian College, Hawkins, Texas; and a bachelor of divinity degree
from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis.  He received honorary
doctorates from Christian Theological Seminary and from Lynchburg (Va.)
College.  

Compton is survived by his adult children John R. Compton, Jr. and
Lenita (Jackie) Bunch, and wife Shirley.  Two brothers Dan Compton and
Howard Compton, and three stepbrothers Raymond E. Brown, Robert L. Brown
and John A. Brown also survive.  His first wife Lucile preceded him in
death. Visitation and memorial services will be at Mount Healthy
Christian Church in Cincinnati.  Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m.,
Tuesday, April 22, with the memorial services at 11 a.m. Wednesday,
April 23.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Kemper Road Christian
Church in Cincinnati, Hospice of Cincinnati, and the Star Supporter
scholarship fund of Disciples Home Missions (Division of Homeland
Ministries).

					    -- end --

03-22