Eugene Carson Blake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eugene Carson Blake
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Blake in 1967
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| Born | November 7, 1906 |
| Died | July 31, 1985 (aged 78) Stamford, Connecticut, United States
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| Occupation | Presbyterian Church leader, president of the National Council of Churches, head of the World Council of Churches |
| Spouse(s) |
Valina Gillespie
(m. 1929; died 1973)Jean Ware Hoyt
(m. 1974) |
| Parent(s) | Orville Prescott Blake and Lulu Carson |
| Relatives | Rhea Carson Blake Harvey (sister); Howard Carson Blake (brother) |
Eugene Carson Blake (November 7, 1906 – July 31, 1985) was an important American leader in the Presbyterian Church. He worked to bring different churches together and was a strong voice for civil rights in the United States.
From 1954 to 1957, he was the president of the National Council of Churches. This group helps many different Christian churches work together. Later, from 1966 to 1972, he led the World Council of Churches, which connects churches all over the globe. He also helped plan and took part in the famous 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
Contents
Who Was Eugene Carson Blake?
Eugene Carson Blake was born in St. Louis, Missouri on November 7, 1906. His parents were Lulu and Orville Prescott Blake.
Early Life and Education
He went to Princeton University and earned a degree in 1928. After that, he studied to become a minister at the Princeton Theological Seminary. He also took classes at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
A Leader in the Church
From 1928 to 1929, Blake taught at a college in Lahore. Then, from 1935 to 1951, he served as a minister in Presbyterian churches. He led churches in New York City and Albany, New York. For eleven years, he was the Senior Minister of Pasadena Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, California.
Blake held important leadership roles within the Presbyterian Church. He was also the president of the National Council of Churches from 1954 to 1957. This council brings together many different Protestant churches in the U.S. Later, he became the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches in 1966. He retired from this global role in 1972.
Fighting for Civil Rights
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Eugene Carson Blake is well-known for his strong stand against racial segregation. This was a time when people were separated based on their race. He believed this was wrong.
In 1963, Blake joined Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders. They called for a big protest called the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. This march happened on August 28, 1963.
Before the march, Blake and the other organizers met with President John F. Kennedy. Then, they marched together down Constitution Avenue. At the Lincoln Memorial, Blake spoke to the large crowd. He spoke before John Lewis. A few minutes later, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
Working for Church Unity
Blake also had a big idea about bringing different Protestant churches together. In 1960, he gave a sermon where he suggested that many major Protestant churches should unite. This idea led to a 40-year effort called the Consultation on Church Union. Its goal was to unite ten different Christian groups.
Later Life and Legacy
Blake passed away in 1985. He is buried in Long Ridge Union Cemetery in Stamford, Connecticut. His work helped to shape both the church and the civil rights movement in America.
