File 15 - Article "The High Cost of Unwise Giving" Nelson E. Kauffman

Nelson E. Kauffman, a Mennonite Church (MC) bishop and conference leader, was born 5 October 1904 in Garden City, Missouri, USA) to David G. Kauffman and Anna King Kauffman. He grew up in Minot, North Dakota, and graduated from Hesston College in 1929. He was ordained a minister (1934) and bishop (1940) and served 22 years (1934-1956) as a missionary and pastor in Hannibal, Missouri, USA). Kauffman was secretary for home missions of the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities (MC), 1955-1970. As president of Mennonite Board of Education (1950-1970) he was one of the architects of cooperation in formation of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries and one of the founders of the Conrad Grebel Projects Committee. As bishop he served congregations in Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas and Michigan. Kauffman's study and writing resulted in many articles in Mennonite periodicals. He wrote three pamphlets on personal and congregational witness (Menn. Bib. 2: 464).

Kauffman was married 10 June 1929 to Christmas Carol (Miller Hostetler) Kauffman. She died in 1969. Their children were Stanlee, James, Marcia (Miller), and Madonna (Eberly). Kauffman married Lois (Gerber Keener) in 1970. He died 18 June 1981 in Largo, Florida. He was buried in Prairie Street cemetery, Elkhart, Indiana.