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Rev. John E. Corson

2/19/2021

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
It is with deep sadness that we inform you that our brother, Rev. John E. Corson, died on Friday, February 19, 2021.  
 
John served the following churches and ministry setting in California: First Oakland (Associate), Wesley Foundation Berkeley (Associate), El Camino, Loomis, Lafayette (Associate), Alum Rock in San Jose, and First Bakersfield.  He was then appointed to serve as the District Superintendent of the San Jose District.  His last appointment prior to his retirement in 2001 was to San Ramon Valley, Alamo church.
 
Brother John was known for a leadership strength and demeanor that brought calm, reason, and discipline to the life of the church.  He was an excellent administrator who knew that good administration is fundamental to a healthy church.   John was gifted in leading church stewardship initiatives, his own compassionate generosity serving as an inspiration and model for others.  He passionately and intentionally strived to help the churches he served to always focus on reaching younger people, especially younger families.  Both he and Sylvia had a passion for making sure that the Church invested in every good way in its future.   
 
John was committed to our connectional Church, always willing to step into leadership roles in and on behalf of the Conference.   He was a wonderful mentor to others, especially to younger clergy.  Our Conference is filled with persons, clergy and lay alike whom he mentored, formally and informally, instilling within all who were touched by him a love for learning and growing as disciples of Jesus Christ. 
 
John enjoyed fishing, especially trout fishing. He loved photography and travel, visiting over 100 countries during his lifetime.
 
He is survived by his wife Sylvia, and by his sons John Corson and Thomas Corson of Bakersfield California, by his daughter Mary Corson of West Sacramento, California and by 3 grandchildren. He was predeceased by his infant son Philip Corson and his son Stephen Corson.  Condolences may be sent to Sylvia Corson at 1301 New Stine Rd. #A-1, Bakersfield, CA  93309.
 
The family will remember John at a private graveside gathering, with a public memorial celebration at a time to be determined.
 
Gifts in memory of John may be sent to: The Corson Latin America Endowment, (Heifer Foundation, PO Box 727, Little Rock, AR 72203); the Stephen Corson Award Endowment, (University of the Pacific, 3601 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95211); the Sylvia Corson Endowment Scholarship, (CSUB Foundation, 9001 Stockdale Highway-19W, Bakersfield, CA 93311); the John Edmond Corson Scholarship Fund, (Modesto Junior College Foundation, East Campus – Room 105, 435 College Avenue, Modesto, CA 95350).
 
Let us continue to give God thanks for John’s life and witness and hold his family close in prayer.  In our living and in our dying, we belong to God! (Romans 14:8)

Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño