Introduction

Biography

A Church of the Na­za­rene min­is­ter, Ben­ner was edu­cat­ed at Ol­iv­et Na­za­rene Col­lege and Van­der­bilt Uni­ver­si­ty of Sou­thern Ca­li­for­nia.

After serv­ing as a col­lege pro­fess­or, and lat­er as a pas­tor in San­ta Mo­ni­ca, Ca­li­for­nia; Spo­kane, Wash­ing­ton; and Kan­sas Ci­ty First Church, Ben­ner was elect­ed the first pre­si­dent of the Na­za­rene Theo­lo­gic­al Se­mi­na­ry in l944.

He was elect­ed ge­ne­ral su­per­in­ten­dent in 1952, serv­ing un­til re­tir­ing in 1968. He was ge­ne­ral su­per­in­ten­dent em­eri­tus un­til his death. Ben­ner Hall and Ben­ner Lib­ra­ry on the cam­pus of Ol­iv­et Na­za­rene Uni­ver­si­ty are named af­ter him.

Works

• Singing Dis­ci­ples: To­ward Bet­ter Church Mu­sic (Na­za­rene Pub­lish­ing House, 1959)