John McKendree Springer (7 September 1873 – 2 December 1963) was an American Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church and The Methodist Church, elected in 1936.[1] He was also notable as a pioneering missionary instrumental in developing Methodism on the continent of Africa.
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Springer was born in Cataract, Wisconsin, the son of the Rev. Henry Martin Springer, and the grandson of the Rev. Elihu Springer, both M.E. Preachers. Elihu Springer was a soldier in the Indian Wars. Henry Springer served four years with the Colorado Cavalry during the American Civil War. He is buried at the United Methodist mission station in Mulungwishi, Katanga Province, DRC. His grave marker indicates that he died on December 1, 1963.
The Springer family is of Swedish origin. John's mother was descended from the Scarritts family, which was involved in the Indian Missions.
Springer graduated from Northwestern University (1895 and 1899). He went on to earn a B.D. degree from the Garrett Biblical Institute (1901).
Springer was appointed a missionary in 1901. He was assigned as a Pastor and the Superintendent of the Old Umtali Industrial Mission in Rhodesia from 1901 until 1906. During 1907 he and his wife journeyed across the African continent. He took furlough, 1907-09. Upon his return to Africa in 1910, he was stationed in the Lunda country of Angola and Belgian Congo. He held various appointments between 1910 and 1915, including Kalalua in North Western Rhodesia (1910-11), Lukoshi in Belgian Congo (1911-13), and Kambove (1913-15). He took a second furlough, 1915-16.
Upon his return to Africa in 1916, Rev. Springer became Superintendent of the Congo Mission Conference. He returned to the U.S.A. in 1918 to work on the Centenary and Inter-Church World Movement projects. In 1920 he was appointed Superintendent of the Elisabethville-Luba District. In 1921 he was transferred to the Rhodesia Mission Conference to serve as Superintendent of the Mutumbara District. Another transfer occurred in 1924, when Springer joined the Congo Mission Conference a second time, again appointed Superintendent. During this time he was stationed at Panda-Likasi. A third furlough took place 1925-28, again returning to the U.S.A.