About the Kerr Archive

A tribute to Ronn Kerr — United Methodist pastor, author, and publisher. Decades of church bulletin art, preserved and freely available for every congregation.

A Legacy of Liturgical Art

For more than thirty years, Ronn Kerr has served at the intersection of theology and visual communication. His work is uniquely characterized by its deep adherence to the Revised Common Lectionary — unlike generic religious clipart, his designs were intentionally crafted to reflect the specific themes of the liturgical year, from the solemnity of Lent to the celebration of Trinity Sunday. By blending traditional Christian symbols — the fleur-de-lis, the dove, the chalice — with a clean, contemporary aesthetic, he provided a visual language that was accessible yet profoundly spiritual. His art didn’t just decorate a page; it served as a visual sermon, helping to illuminate the Gospel for the person in the pew.

In the early 1970s, Ronn served on the staff of the United Methodist Board of Discipleship in Nashville, where he was Director of Communications for the Evangelism Division and chaired the launch phase of Key ’73 — a nationwide evangelism effort spanning dozens of denominations and millions of churchgoers across the United States.

In 1975 Ronn founded Kerr Associates, a publishing company that served mainline Protestant churches — especially United Methodist and Presbyterian (U.S.A.) congregations — with bulletins, worship aids, and educational materials. Kerr Associates worked with the National and World Councils of Churches, the American Bible Society, the World Methodist Council, the Presbyterian (U.S.A.) General Assembly, and other ecumenical agencies.

When Kerr Associates closed in 1990, churches kept calling. In 1995 Ronn relaunched as Kerr Resources — “Published Resources for the Church” — and the catalog expanded into early internet and CD-ROM delivery, making Kerr Resources one of the first publishers to offer digital church bulletin images online. He recognized early on that many congregations struggled to find high-quality, biblically grounded imagery that fit the modern printing needs of a local parish, and his work provided a visual bridge for smaller congregations that lacked the budget for professional designers.

A Pastor in Port Orford

Ronn and his wife Jo eventually settled on the south coast of Oregon, just outside the small fishing village of Port Orford. There he served as pastor and teacher at Zion Lutheran Church — a progressive, ecumenical congregation drawn from several denominations — for over nine years. His perspective from the pulpit gave him a rare understanding of the practical needs of the local parish. As an artist, his style ranges from intricate, stained-glass-inspired compositions to modern, minimalist line art, all designed with the technical constraints of church printing in mind. For Ronn, graphic design was never merely decorative; it was a tool for teaching — a way to translate complex theological concepts into accessible images that could reside on a bulletin cover or a classroom wall.

He also served as president of the Port Orford Chamber of Commerce (2002–2003), received the community’s Special Achievement Award, and chaired the local Rotary Foundation.

Books and Publications

Beyond bulletins, Ronn was a prolific author. His published books include:

• Christianity and Islam: So Much in Common, So Far Apart — a 13-week study used by over 13,000 students, accompanied by a 359-frame animated PowerPoint presentation
• 102 Fascinating Bible Studies on the New Testament
• Big Christian Ideas
• 2000 Years: Helping Christians Understand Their Heritage
• A New Adventure in the Meaning of United Methodist Membership
• John Wesley: Winning the Frontier — a church history comic strip, illustrated by Bill McPheeters

Some of these titles are still available as used copies through third-party sellers on Amazon and eBay, but Kerr Resources is no longer in operation and no new copies are being printed.

Why This Archive Exists

As this collection transitions from a commercial resource to a permanent legacy site, it becomes a generous gift to the global faith community. By offering his entire library of images for free, Ronn is ensuring that the barrier to beautiful liturgical art is removed for every church, regardless of their budget. Too much church art has disappeared when small publishers retired. This digital archive serves as a lasting testament to his commitment to the “priesthood of all believers,” providing the tools for future generations of clergy and laypeople to continue the work of sharing the Good News through the power of the image.

Every bulletin image is keyed to its scripture reference and lectionary season, just as Ronn originally designed — so you can search by book, chapter, or the Sunday of the church year.

What You'll Find Here

• Over 2,400 bulletin images — full-color and grayscale, covering every liturgical season
• Multiple download formats — WebP (color & grayscale), print-ready PDF, PNG, and JPG
• Lectionary meanings — sermon starters and teaching ideas for every season and week
• Scripture cross-references — search by testament, book, chapter, or verse
• Revised Common Lectionary — follows the lectionary cycle used by most denominations
• Free for personal and church use — no subscriptions, no hidden fees