1970
Reverend Ronald L. Sundbye
The Rev. Ronald L. Sundbye served as minister of the First United Methodist Church in Lawrence from 1968 to 1974. Soon after he arrived at the church, he began to attract large crowds with his sermons and contemporary liturgy. In particular, he drew a great many students from the University of Kansas by preaching sermons relevant to their lives.
By 1970, Sundbye’s reputation as a preacher began to draw regional attention. The Kansas City Star magazine ran an extensive article about the church and its senior minister titled, “It’s Standing Room Only at Reverend Sundbye’s Place.” Because there were so many young people in his congregation, Sundbye officiated at dozens of weddings.
On Aug. 9, 1970, he was married himself, in his own church, to Dr. Nita Wyatt, a professor of education at the University of Kansas. The Rev. Neal Malicky officiated.
In 1970, Lawrence was a city in turmoil over the Vietnam War and discrimination against blacks. On May 10 of that year, a group of black men interrupted the late Sunday morning services at the First Methodist Church and demanded $75,000 for Lawrence’s 3,000 black residents. Sundbye had no advance knowledge that they were coming but allowed them to speak. The church was unable to meet their demand for $75,000, but did respond in October with the donation of $10,000 to provide help for minority groups in the city.
Sundbye served at an extraordinary time in the history of the First United Methodist Church and the City of Lawrence. Sundbye died Sept. 14, 1994.
History provided by Nita Sundbye Sewell. Step Sponsored By: Nita Sundbye Sewell