Sherk, J. Harold (1904-1974)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Mar 7 p. 3

Birth date: 1904

text of obituary:

Former Executive Secy. of MCC Peace Section dies in Ontario

KITCHENER, ONT. — J. Harold Sherk, 70, who gave leadership to peace and conscientious objector concerns among Mennonites and Brethren in Christ of Ontario and throughout North America for nearly 30 years, died at a hospital here on Feb. 28 after an extended illness.

Rev. Sherk, a minister of the Missionary Church (formerly Mennonite Brethren in Christ), served as the first full-time executive secretary of the Mennonite Central Committee Peace Section, 1949 to 1958. During this time the alternative service program for COs was initiated, and the Peace Section established a network of counselors at state and local levels. Its manual of draft information was widely distributed.

AFTER the Korean War, the Peace Section formulated a statement regarding civilian defense and expanded its overseas work in Europe and the Far East, sending a representative to Japan.

From 1958 to 1969 Rev. Sherk served as secretary to the National Service Board for Religious Objectors, Washington, D. C. He retired in 1969.

During his involvement in peace work Rev. Sherk devoted much time and effort to working with individual COs, counseling hundreds on pastoral and legal concerns. He earned the high respect of attorneys working in the field of the legal aspects of conscientious objection.

IN 1940 Rev. Sherk was named secretary of the Conference of Historic Peace Churches of Ontario, one of the forerunners of the present MCC-Canada. During the war years he represented that organization in dealings with the government and also served as camp pastor in the alternative service program. In 1944 the MCC sent him on an assignment in India, where he contacted the Mennonite missions and churches to lay the groundwork for the post-war relief program. He returned in 1946.

Rev. Sherk was ordained to the ministry in 1928, and formerly taught at Emmanuel Bible College of the United Missionary Church in Ontario.

FUNERAL SERVICES were held Monday, March 4, at the Bethany Missionary Church, Kitchener.

Survivors include his wife, Mila, of 90 Ripplewood Ave., Kitchener, and four children, Mrs. Iva Toews of Kitchener, Harold of Milverton, Ont., Arthur of Toronto, and Mrs. Sidney (Mildred) Kreider of Baltimore, Md.

The Mennonite obituary: 1974 Apr 2 p. 227 T