Barr, Martha

Collection

Identifier: RG-1548

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Martha Barr papers comprise presentations and other works written by Barr from 1979 through 1986. The majority of these works were presented to various women's groups while Reverend Barr was serving as executive director of Amerian Baptist Women (1984-1988). In an 1986 article, Ms. Barr recounts why she was "Proud to be an American Baptist." Also included is a collection of writings compiled by Barr, "Oneness in Christ: American Baptists are Ecumenical," which includes chapters by Barr, George D. Younger, William K. Cober, and Chester J. Jump.

Articles in the collection are arranged by date of publication, then alphabetically by title (for works published in the same year.)

Dates

Creation: 1979-1986

Creator

Barr, Martha (Martha Mathews) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and copyright holder. Staff may refuse copying of fragile or at-risk materials.

Materials may be accessed by request at the American Baptist Historical Society. For more information on accessing collections or obtaining copies, visit http://abhsarchives.org.

Biographical / Historical

Martha Mathews Barr was born June 22, 1939, in Fresno, California, and grew up in Reading, Massachusetts. While in Reading, she became a proficient pianist, performing with the Reading Symphony Orchestra as a high school student. She earned educational degrees from William Jewell College; Colgate Rochester Rochester Divinity School; and Temple University. Ms. Barr was ordained to American Baptist ministry in 1964 and served as a minister in Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches in New York. In 1975, Reverend Barr moved to St. Davids, Pennsylvania, where she became an active denominational leader in the American Baptist Churches USA.

Reverend Barr served as assistant general secretary of American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) from 1975 to 1983. In that role she was staff coordinator of 1977 ABCUSA Biennial Meeting in San Diego and was significantly involved in writing the final report of the Study Commission on Relationships and the Covenant of Relationships. She also worked on implementing bylaws for denominational reorganization, and served as chief Affirmative Action officer and member of the Task Force on Women. She served as deputy for National Operations (1977-1981) and as staff to the General Board, its Executive Committee and the National Executive Council.

Reverend Barr was ecumenical officer for ABCUSA from 1982 to 1983, in which capacity she represented the denomination in organizations and gatherings of the National Council of Churches of Christ, Baptist World Alliance and World Council of Churches, among other groups. As executive director of American Baptist Women (ABW) from 1984 to 1988, Reverend Barr supervised the programs, projects and funding of that organization; and she represented ABW within denominational and ecumenical bodies.

In addition to her work with ABCUSA, Ms. Barr was active with the Roger Williams Fellowship, the association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, the College Theology Society, the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion and the Musical Coterie of Wayne (Pennsylvania).

Martha Barr was married to William Barr, with whom she had three children.

Sources: Obituaries in the News-Leader (22 January 2006) and BPFNA Bautistas por la Paz, "In Memoriam: Martha M. Barr" (24 January 2006).