Edna P. Bruner

Bruner was born and raised in Ruthven, Ontario, Canada,{{Cite book |last=Schulman |first=Frank |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YrJDAhd6t0YC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&lpg=PA91&dq=Edna%20Bruner%20Universalist&pg=PA91#v=onepage&q=Edna%20Bruner%20Universalist&f=false |title=This Day in Unitarian Universalist History: A Treasury of Anniversaries and Milestones from 600 Years of Religious Tradition |date=2004 |publisher=Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations |isbn=978-1-55896-466-2 |pages=91 |language=en}} the daughter of Albert Leonard Bruner and Nora May Peterson Bruner. While she was still in high school, Bruner became junior superintendent of the Young People's Christian Union, a Universalist youth organization.{{Cite journal |last=Hicks |first=Granville |date=April 19, 1924 |title=Young People's Christian Union |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W9kEXci6NT4C&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=Edna%20Bruner%20Universalist&pg=RA15-PA26#v=onepage&q=Edna%20Bruner&f=false |journal=The Universalist Leader |volume=27 |pages=26}} She graduated from St. Lawrence University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1929,St. Lawrence University, The Gridiron (1929 yearbook): 33. via Ancestry. and a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1931.{{Cite news |date=1957-03-17 |title=The Rev. Miss Edna Bruner of Boston Speaker Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evansville-press-the-rev-miss-edna-brun/162709919/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |work=Evansville Press |pages=45 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=1967-02-11 |title=Rev. Edna P. Bruner to Meet with 2 Groups on Trip Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-springfield-news-leader-rev-edna-p/162723820/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |work=The Springfield News-Leader |pages=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Bruner was ordained as a Universalist minister in 1930. She served as a pastor in Waterloo, Iowa, from 1930 to 1940,{{Cite news |date=1935-12-18 |title=Rev. Edna Bruner Talks at B. P. W. Christmas Party |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-rev-edna-bruner-talks-at-b/162709777/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |work=The Courier |pages=6 |via=Newspapers.com}} in Canton, New York, from 1945 to 1950, and in Kennebunk, Maine, from 1968 to 1972. She was also dean of the Midwest Universalist Summer Institute in Michigan for three years.

From 1940{{Cite book |last=Buehrens |first=John A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oPZCDQQs0dAC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&lpg=PA169&dq=Edna%20Bruner%20Universalist&pg=PA169#v=onepage&q=Edna%20Bruner%20Universalist&f=false |title=Universalists and Unitarians in America: A People's History |date=2011 |publisher=Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations |isbn=978-1-55896-613-0 |pages=169 |language=en}} to 1968, Bruner was a field worker{{Cite news |date=1944-09-29 |title=Universalist Field Worker to Talk Here; Rev. Edna Bruner Supper Speaker |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/biddeford-saco-journal-universalist-fiel/162724753/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |work=Biddeford-Saco Journal |pages=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} and educational consultant on the national staffs of the Council of Liberal Churches{{Cite news |date=1955-11-29 |title=Rev. Edna P. Bruner to Meet Fellowship of Unitarian Church |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-rev-edna-p-bruner-to-me/162724059/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |work=Clarion-Ledger |pages=13 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=1955-12-10 |title=What Do Liberal Religions Teach? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-memphis-press-scimitar-what-do-liber/162725307/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |work=The Memphis Press-Scimitar |pages=5 |via=Newspapers.com}} and the Unitarian Universalist Association, based in Boston.{{Cite news |date=1966-09-20 |title=Rev. Edna Bruner to Speak Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-portsmouth-herald-rev-edna-bruner-t/162707849/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |work=The Portsmouth Herald |pages=3 |via=Newspapers.com}} She toured nationally in this work,{{Cite news |date=1943-05-07 |title=Bangor Brewer Church Women May Hold Luncheon; Rev. Edna Brewer Addresses Group at Bangor House Mtng |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bangor-daily-news-bangor-brewer-chur/162709479/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |work=The Bangor Daily News |pages=7 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=1962-10-27 |title=Unitarians Plan Two-Day Meet with Dr. Bruner |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-idaho-statesman-unitarians-plan-two/162709208/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |work=The Idaho Statesman |pages=11 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=1955-05-03 |title=Rev. Edna Bruner Talks to Church Group at Dexter |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bangor-daily-news-rev-edna-bruner-t/162708517/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |work=The Bangor Daily News |pages=9 |via=Newspapers.com}} giving lectures and introducing local congregations and church women's groups to curriculum materials for religious education.{{Cite news |date=1954-12-15 |title=Church Educational Leader Meets with Universalists |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-journal-church-educational-leader-me/112068778/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |work=Sun-Journal |pages=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=1942-11-28 |title=Universalist Women Hear Rev. Edna Bruner; Field Worker Urges United Front for Church Women |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bangor-daily-news-universalist-women/162725469/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |work=The Bangor Daily News |pages=7 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Bruner became a United States citizen by naturalization in 1941. She died in 1997, at the age of 91, in Boston. There is a collection of her papers in the library of Harvard Divinity School.[https://hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/repositories/12/resources/1026 Edna P. Bruner Papers, 1929–1980], Harvard Divinity School Library, Harvard University.

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• [https://athenaeum.pastperfectonline.com/Photo/58178A56-6B85-4E48-A64F-261802021158 A professional portrait of Bruner] from the photograph collection of the Portsmouth Athenaeum

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Category:1906 births

Category:1997 deaths

Category:People from Essex County, Ontario

Category:St. Lawrence University alumni

Category:American Universalists

Category:Women clergy