ELCA NEWS SERVICE
November 9, 2007
The Rev. C. Thomas Spitz Jr., Lutheran Ecumenist, Communicator, Dies
07-189-FI
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. C. Thomas Spitz Jr., a
pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
and former general secretary of the Lutheran Council in the
U.S.A. (LCUSA), died Nov. 2 in Manhasset, Long Island, N.Y.
He was 86. A funeral is planned for Nov. 10 at the Lutheran
Church of Our Savior, Port Washington, N.Y.
Robert E.A. Lee, Baldwin, Long Island, N.Y., said he
thinks "stature," when remembering Spitz, not only because
Spitz was a tall man. Lee directed the Lutheran Film
Associates, which became a unit of LCUSA.
"Tom, for all of his pastoral gifts, was a political
person. In my mind that refers to a person who negotiates
with others to practice the art of the possible. He used
his political skills to truly earn one of the other meanings
of 'stature': reputation, standing, status. Tom was known
within pan-Lutheranism for his stature," Lee said.
"Tom used his political talents and ecumenical global
experience in serving as a key member of the committee to
form our new church -- the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America," Lee said.
Born May 26, 1921, in Hazard, Neb., Spitz graduated
from St. Paul's Academy and College, Concordia, Mo., and
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Ordained by the Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) in 1944, he served as pastor
of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Waterloo, Iowa; missionary-at-large
for the Southern Illinois Mission Board, Fairfield, Ill.;
and pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Marengo, Iowa.
In 1953 Spitz joined the staff of the Lutheran Hour
Ministries (LHM) and served as director of broadcasting.
LHM -- an auxiliary of the LCMS -- is a worldwide radio
ministry supported by the International Lutheran Laymen's
League.
Spitz became the first general secretary of LCUSA in 1967,
when the American Lutheran Church (ALC), Lutheran Church in
America (LCA), LCMS and Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches
launched the cooperative organization. LCUSA succeeded the
National Lutheran Council in developing various programs,
including social service, missions, public relations, service
to military personnel, service to students, overseas aid, and
ecumenical and interfaith dialogue.
Spitz left LCUSA in 1973 to serve as pastor of the Lutheran
Church of Our Saviour, Manhasset, until he entered semi-retirement
in 1983. He was executive associate for Evangelical Lutherans in
Mission and president of the Lutheran Church in Mission,
organizations that served the formation of the Association of
Evangelical Lutheran Churches (AELC). The AELC, ALC and LCA
merged to form the ELCA in 1988.
Spitz received honorary doctorates from Concordia Seminary;
Capital University, Columbus, Ohio; Gettysburg College, Gettysburg,
Pa.; Luther College, Decorah, Iowa; and Muhlenberg College,
Allentown, Pa. Capital, Gettysburg, Luther and Muhlenberg are four
of the 28 colleges and universities of the ELCA.
Spitz is survived by three adult children -- C. Thomas Spitz
III, Gretchen Ann Bourbon and Garrett R. Spitz. His first wife,
Dorothy Gross Spitz, died in 1982. He married Karen Ankener Lucas
Spitz, who survives him.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
