Individual Details
Dow Napier Kirkpatrick
(3 Jan 1917 - 10 Mar 2004)
Dr. Dow Napier Kirkpatrick, Jan. 3, 1917-March 10, 2004, retired Methodist minister and missionary, died Wednesday in Atlanta, GA at age 87. Dr. Kirkpatrick is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marjorie Savage of Lexington, KY; two sons, Dow N. Kirkpatrick II of Atlanta, GA and David Earl Kirkpatrick of Birmingham, AL; six grandchildren, Dow Napier Kirkpatrick III, Byron Wight Kirkpatrick, Alexander Earl Kirkpatrick, Celia Carey, David Andrew Kirkpatrick, Mary Amanda Kirkpatrick; and a great-grandchild, Dow Napier Kirkpatrick IV. A memorial service will be held at St. Mark United Methodist Church, 781 Peachtree Street N.E., Atlanta, GA at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 16, 2004. There will be a visitation prior to the memorial service in the St. Mark Church parlor beginning at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Oxford Institute for Methodist Theological Studies, United Methodist Church Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 340005, Nashville, TN 37203-0005 or any other charity the donor may select. H.M. Patterson and Son Spring Hill, 1020 Spring St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30309. 404-876-1022.
Published in the Chicago Tribune on 3/13/2004.
Dow Kirkpatrick, activist pastor
By KAY POWELL
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dr. Dow Kirkpatrick, pastor of Atlanta's St. Mark United Methodist Church 1957-1962, preached racial harmony and social justice from the pulpit and beyond, undeterred by threats.
He helped draft the Ministers Manifesto in 1957. That document, signed by 80 Atlanta preachers, is credited with helping the city desegregate peacefully. It is believed that St. Mark was the first white Methodist church in Atlanta, and probably in the state, to receive black members, said its pastor, the Rev. Jimmy Moor of Decatur.
The memorial service for Dow Napier Kirkpatrick, 87, who died Wednesday of Parkinson's disease at his Atlanta residence, is 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mark United Methodist Church. The body was cremated. H.M. Patterson & Son, Spring Hill, is in charge of arrangements.
Dr. Kirkpatrick, who earned his doctorate in systematic theology from Drew University, spoke out on social issues ranging from racial equality to welcoming homosexuals into the church. He and his family endured harassment, especially for his stand on integration, said his son Dow N. "Kip" Kirkpatrick II of Atlanta.
"He kept us alert. He kept us honest. He kept us focused on justice as love distributed," said retired United Methodist Bishop Bevel Jones of Decatur. "Dow's emphasis was integrity. He believed you had to be consistent between belief and action, if you believed it, you had to live it."
Methodist founder John Wesley said, "I look upon the world as my parish," said Bishop Jones. "Dow lived that out. Dow's parish was the world."
Dr. Kirkpatrick became a missionary to Latin America in 1975 until he retired in 1987. "He came to have a real appreciation for theologians' work in Latin America," said his son. Called liberation theology, it was a firm belief Jesus came to be identified with the poor and oppressed, and God would give the poor strength to see it through, he explained.
"He wanted to go to Latin America and to figure out what was unique about these people who are poor but have a vibrant and vital faith. He wanted to bring that back to the United States," said his son.
"He wanted us to see Christianity through the eyes of the poor," said Bishop Jones.
"I always admired him," said the Rev. Moor. "He was one of the great leaders of our generation."
Survivors include his wife, Marjorie Savage Kirkpatrick; another son, David Earl Kirkpatrick of Birmingham; six grandchildren, and a great-grandson.
Published in the Chicago Tribune on 3/13/2004.
Dow Kirkpatrick, activist pastor
By KAY POWELL
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dr. Dow Kirkpatrick, pastor of Atlanta's St. Mark United Methodist Church 1957-1962, preached racial harmony and social justice from the pulpit and beyond, undeterred by threats.
He helped draft the Ministers Manifesto in 1957. That document, signed by 80 Atlanta preachers, is credited with helping the city desegregate peacefully. It is believed that St. Mark was the first white Methodist church in Atlanta, and probably in the state, to receive black members, said its pastor, the Rev. Jimmy Moor of Decatur.
The memorial service for Dow Napier Kirkpatrick, 87, who died Wednesday of Parkinson's disease at his Atlanta residence, is 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mark United Methodist Church. The body was cremated. H.M. Patterson & Son, Spring Hill, is in charge of arrangements.
Dr. Kirkpatrick, who earned his doctorate in systematic theology from Drew University, spoke out on social issues ranging from racial equality to welcoming homosexuals into the church. He and his family endured harassment, especially for his stand on integration, said his son Dow N. "Kip" Kirkpatrick II of Atlanta.
"He kept us alert. He kept us honest. He kept us focused on justice as love distributed," said retired United Methodist Bishop Bevel Jones of Decatur. "Dow's emphasis was integrity. He believed you had to be consistent between belief and action, if you believed it, you had to live it."
Methodist founder John Wesley said, "I look upon the world as my parish," said Bishop Jones. "Dow lived that out. Dow's parish was the world."
Dr. Kirkpatrick became a missionary to Latin America in 1975 until he retired in 1987. "He came to have a real appreciation for theologians' work in Latin America," said his son. Called liberation theology, it was a firm belief Jesus came to be identified with the poor and oppressed, and God would give the poor strength to see it through, he explained.
"He wanted to go to Latin America and to figure out what was unique about these people who are poor but have a vibrant and vital faith. He wanted to bring that back to the United States," said his son.
"He wanted us to see Christianity through the eyes of the poor," said Bishop Jones.
"I always admired him," said the Rev. Moor. "He was one of the great leaders of our generation."
Survivors include his wife, Marjorie Savage Kirkpatrick; another son, David Earl Kirkpatrick of Birmingham; six grandchildren, and a great-grandson.
Events
| Birth | 3 Jan 1917 | Illinois |  | ||
| Marriage | 1939 | Marjorie Savage | | ||
| Death | 10 Mar 2004 | Atlanta, Fulton Co., Georgia | | ||
| Burial | Wilmore Cemetery, Wilmore, Jessamine Co., Kentucky | |
Families
| Spouse | Marjorie Savage (1915 - 2004) |
| Child | Dow Napier Kirkpatrick II ( - ) |
| Child | David Earl Kirkpatrick ( - ) |
| Father | Hiram Singleton Kirkpatrick (1891 - 1950) |
| Mother | Effie Napier Dycus (1888 - 1958) |
| Sibling | Deane C. "Barney" Kirkpatrick (1920 - 1989) |
| Sibling | Robert Dale "Bobbie" Kirkpatrick (1925 - 1991) |
Endnotes
1. 1930 Census Franklin Co., Illinois.
2. Chicago Tribune, Obituary of Dow Kirkpatrick (n.p: 13 Mar 2004, n.d).
3. Chicago Tribune, Obituary of Dow Kirkpatrick (n.p: 13 Mar 2004, n.d).
4. Chicago Tribune, Obituary of Dow Kirkpatrick (n.p: 13 Mar 2004, n.d).
5. Lexington Herald-Leader, Obituary of Marjorie Savage Kirkpatrick (n.p: 26 Dec 2004, n.d).