ELCA NEWS SERVICE
March 16, 2007
Herman G. Stuempfle Jr., Lutheran Church Leader, Dies
07-036-JS*
GETTYSBURG, Pa. (ELCA) -- The Rev. Herman G. Stuempfle Jr.,
president of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (LTSG)
from 1976 to 1989, died March 13 following a long illness.
Stuempfle, 84, a retired pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA), was also known for his contributions as
a poet, preacher and professor. LTSG is one of eight seminaries
of the ELCA.
A memorial service for Stuempfle will be held March 17 at
the LTSG chapel.
Born in Clarion, Pa., Stuempfle was a resident of Gettysburg
for more than five decades. He served as professor, dean and
president of LTSG for 27 years. In 1962 he was named the John
and Susannah Ulrich Professor of the Art of Preaching at LTSG and
taught seminarians through the spring semester of 2003.
Stuempfle was LTSG chaplain from 1966 to 1967 and dean of the
seminary from 1969 to 1971.
"During the latter half of the 20th century, no other
individual left a larger imprint on the life of Gettysburg
Seminary than Dr. Herman Stuempfle. On his watch as dean and
president the seminary fortified its reputation for academic
excellence," said the Rev. Michael Cooper-White, LTSG president.
Stuempfle "doubled housing capacity for students, launched
the widely renowned Music Gettysburg! Concert series, welcomed
the local YWCA to our campus, and navigated the turbulent times
as the newly-formed ELCA struggled to solidify its system of
theological education. But it was in the classroom and chapel
where Dr. Stuempfle's most enduring legacy was forged. As
professor of homiletics, and author of the widely acclaimed
'Preaching Law and Gospel,' he sounded a defining tone for a
whole generation of us who were blessed to be his students," said
Cooper-White.
Stuempfle graduated from Susquehanna University,
Selinsgrove, Pa., in 1945, and LTSG in 1946. Susquehanna is one
of 28 ELCA colleges and universities. He also earned an advanced
degree from Union Theological Seminary, New York, in 1967 and a
doctorate degree from Southern California School of Theology,
Claremont, in 1971.
From 1947 to 1959 Stuempfle was pastor of congregations in
Baltimore, Gettysburg and York, Pa. He served as associate
director, Board of Social Missions, in the former United Lutheran
Church in America from 1959 to 1962.
Stuempfle was the author of several books and articles and
lectures on preaching, history and theology. He wrote an
estimated 550 hymn texts. Eight of Stuempfle's hymn texts are
published in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, the ELCA's primary
worship resource published in 2006.
Stuempfle's "contributions to our life together extended
beyond those precious hymns," said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson,
presiding bishop of the ELCA. "His work as a parish pastor,
church executive, faculty member, dean and president of Lutheran
Theological Seminary at Gettysburg demonstrated his commitment to
the well-being of the church. His life showed clearly and
graciously his diverse abilities and wise leadership," he said.
The Rev. Donald J. McCoid, bishop of the ELCA Southwestern
Pennsylvania Synod, Pittsburgh, and chair of LTSG's board of
directors, said, "Herman Stuempfle will long be remembered for
his preaching, his hymnody and his personal graciousness. Years
after he preached them, we can still remember some of his
sermons."
Stuempfle became the first recipient of the Gettysburg
Seminary Distinguished Alumni Award in 1989. A student apartment
facility on LTSG's campus is named after Stuempfle. LTSG began a
major project to fund the Herman G. Stuempfle Chair of the
Proclamation of the Word -- an endowment project that recently
reached the $1-million-mark. Stuempfle was also granted the
"Peacemaker Award" from the Gettysburg-based Interfaith Center
for Peace and Justice, and he was awarded the status of "Fellow
of the Hymn Society" of the United States and Canada in 2004.
Stuempfle is survived by his wife of 50 years, Gretchen S.
Parkinson, and his sister, Jean Doneker. Stuempfle and Parkinson
are the parents of two sons, Stephen and David, and one daughter,
Kristin.
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Information about LTSG is at http://www.ltsg.edu on the Web.
*John Spangler is director of communication at the Lutheran
Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
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