ELCA NEWS SERVICE July 14, 2003 Bachman, Lutheran Pastor, Author, Educator, Communicator, Dies 03-148-FI CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. John W. Bachman, author, former college president, retired church communicator and pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), died July 7 at the age of 87 in Minneapolis. "John Bachman was this generation's pre-eminent Lutheran student and practitioner of the art of communication," said the Rev. David W. Preus, president of the former American Lutheran Church, 1973 to 1987. Those skills made Bachman effective in more ways than as a professional communicator, he said. "In our work in the American Lutheran Church national office, John was the calm voice of reason and reconciliation. He had strong opinions, and he made them known, but he did so in a way that did not make enemies," Preus said. "He respected others; he was gentle with others. To meet with John was always an occasion of grace," he said. Born May 30, 1916, in Youngstown, Ohio, Bachman is a graduate of Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, and the former Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary (ELTS), Columbus. Ordained in 1941, he served as pastor of Emanuel Lutheran Church, Warren, Ohio, and earned a master's degree from Ohio State University, Columbus. Bachman served on the faculties of Capital University and Baylor University, Waco, Texas, before becoming a professor of practical theology and director of the Center for Communication and the Arts, Union Theological Seminary, New York. In 1964 Bachman became the 11th president of Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa. From 1974 until his retirement in 1980, Bachman was director of the Office of Communication and Mission Support of the former American Lutheran Church, which merged with two other Lutheran churches to form the ELCA in 1988. "Dr. Bachman brought wide vision and profound knowledge to his responsibilities of leadership for effective communication within and beyond The American Lutheran Church," said the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, ELCA secretary. In 1972 the American Lutheran Church went through a restructuring that established the Office of Communication and Mission Support. "Dr. Bachman drew on the strength of the past and shaped a team that served well in fostering clear communication and building stronger mission support," said Almen. Bachman authored several books, including "Together in Hope: 50 Years of Lutheran World Relief ," "Media, Wasteland or Wonderland: Opportunities and Dangers for Christians in the Electronic Age" and "Faith That Makes a Difference." A funeral service was held July 10 at Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis. Bachman is survived by his wife Elsie and son John, news anchor at WHO-TV in Des Moines, Iowa. He is preceded in death by his son Charles, who was also a Lutheran pastor. ELTS merged with Hamma School of Theology, Springfield, Ohio, to form Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, in 1978. Trinity is one of eight seminaries of the ELCA. Capital and Wartburg are among 28 colleges and universities of the ELCA. -- -- -- Wartburg College has a home page at http://www.wartburg.edu/ on the Web. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news