Grover L. Hartman

(Aug. 3, 1914-Nov. 13, 1988). Grover L. Hartman was born on a farm near Brookston, Indiana, and reared in a United Brethren family. He graduated from DePauw University with honors in history, earned a Ph.D. from American University, and spent his career working in ecumenical church bodies. He was director of the Wartime Services Committee of the Washington, D.C., Council of Churches and from 1944 to 1946 was assistant to the secretary of the Department of International Justice and Goodwill of the Federal Council of Churches.

Hartman returned to Indiana in 1946 to head the Social Service Department of the Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis. He developed a network among social service agencies and personnel and organized a Fellowship of Church Social Workers. He later was elected president of the National Conference of Church Social Workers and participated in the Mid-Century White House Conference on Children and Youth. While with the federation he completed a masters degree in social work.

In 1954, Hartman became executive secretary of the St. Joseph County Council of Churches in South Bend. Six years later, he headed the Indiana Council of Churches. For 20 years he represented the Protestant community throughout the state, was active in legislative affairs, and developed relations with Catholics, members of Eastern Orthodox Churches, and Jews. For 22 years he was a member of the governing board of the National Council of Churches.

Following retirement in 1979, he was made director of the Ecumenical Institute at Christian Theological Seminary and consultant to the National Council of Churches Commission on Regional and Local Ecumenism. He planned and led ecumenical leadership seminars at the seminary and at other centers in the nation. He was active in this work at the time of his death.

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