ELCA NEWS SERVICE June 11, 2008 John H.P. Reumann, ELCA Pastor, Professor, Scholar, Ecumenist, Dies 08-085-MS*/JB CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. John H.P. Reumann, a New Testament professor with an encyclopedic knowledge of the Bible, and whose significant influence ranged from the seminary classroom to national and international ecumenical and interfaith circles, died of cancer June 6 at his Lafayette Hill, Pa., residence. He was 81. A funeral service is planned for 2 p.m., June 12, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lansdale, Pa. The Rev. Claire S. Burkat, bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Norristown, will preach. The Rev. John P. Saraka, Christ Ascension Lutheran Church, Philadelphia (Chestnut Hill), will preside. Reumann, the Ministerium of Pennsylvania Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Greek at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP), enjoyed a 45-year teaching career before retiring in 1996. During his career, he was also dean and acting president of LTSP, and was a visiting lecturer at several colleges, universities and seminaries. Reumann also influenced the church in several areas of interest, including life-of-Jesus research and Christian origins, especially the theology of the apostle Paul, ecumenism and Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogues. LTSP is one of eight ELCA seminaries. For more than 30 years, Reumann was influential in the Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogues, which included his role in shaping the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, signed in Augsburg, Germany, in 1999. Reumann did considerable writing in connection with the declaration, and his knowledge of English and German did much to advance the discussions. Born in 1927 in Easton, Pa., Reumann spent his formative years in Lansdale. After earning a bachelor's degree in 1947 from Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa., he graduated from LTSP in 1950 and was ordained by the United Lutheran Church in America. He earned a master of arts degree in the classics from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in 1950, and a master of sacred theology degree from LTSP in 1951. In 1957 he earned a doctorate in classics and Semitic studies from the University of Pennsylvania. Muhlenberg College is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities. Reumann was a Guggenheim Fellow from 1965 to 1966, served on the studies committee for Lutheran World Ministries (U.S.A. National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation) from 1965 to 1987, was part of the Lutheran-Jewish Conversation in the U.S.A. from 1969 to 1978, and served on the Commission for a New Lutheran Church from 1982 to 1986, which led to the formation of the ELCA. He served twice on the board of trustees for Muhlenberg College. Reumann chaired the Task Force for the ELCA Study of Ministry from 1988 to 1993, and he participated 11 times as a voting member of ELCA churchwide assemblies and those of a predecessor church body, the Lutheran Church in America. "John Reumann was truly a 'teacher of the church'," said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop. "Some church bodies identify an office of 'teacher of the church' within their polity. The ELCA does not have such a defined office, but if that were the case, certainly Dr. Reumann would have occupied it. He provided significant theological leadership in deliberations of the LCA and later the ELCA. The recommendations of the Study of Ministry that he chaired were submitted to the 1993 churchwide assembly and largely affirmed." Hanson noted that Reumann had been the sole surviving original member of the Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue which began in 1965, and that Reumann had served on the Revision Committee for the New American Bible, New Testament (U.S. Roman Catholic Bible) from 1978 to 1987. "Witnessing Dr. Reumann's contributions to the dialogue always was memorable," said the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, Lutheran co-chair of the U.S. Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue and former ELCA secretary. "He would offer key biblical insights, quoting by chapter and verse from memory a relevant passage in English and often also in Greek. His commitment to fruitful ecumenical dialogue seemed unbounded. That was true even in these past few years of struggles with his health. The 43 years of the U.S. Lutheran- Roman Catholic Dialogue have resulted in significant documents. That is so in no small measure because of Dr. Reumann's dedication," Almen wrote in a tribute to be delivered at Reumann's funeral. The Rev. Donald J. McCoid, executive, ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations, said he first met Reumann more than 40 years ago when he was McCoid's New Testament theology professor. "Whenever he spoke, I listened carefully, whether it was in a classroom, at a meeting or at a churchwide assembly. His insights were direct, helpful, challenging and faithful. John Reumann was an exceptional teacher, scholar, leader, ecumenist, writer and friend. He left us with a treasury of contributions that will continue to bless us in the future. I join Lutherans, Christians and people of other faith traditions in celebrating the life of Dr. John Reumann and thanking God for the many ways that he shared his many gifts with us." "Dr. Reumann was a model in every respect for many of us who have followed him at the seminary and in the Church," said Philip D. W. Krey, LTSP president. "He mentored us graciously with faith and patience and retired well. In retirement he continued to work on his scholarly and ecumenical projects and remained unflagging in his support and as an advisor. We will miss a giant in the faith." Before his health declined, Reumann had turned in to his publisher at Yale University Press his voluminous commentary on Philippians, a focal point of his biblical scholarship. His final edition ran 832 pages. In addition to authoring the Philippians commentary, Reumann wrote at least 15 books, including "Jesus in the Church's Gospels" (Fortress Press, 1968) and edited or contributed to dozens of books and articles. He served as associate editor of the Journal of Biblical Literature, 1961-69, and as its editor in 1970. The Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia recently received a $5,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission/Bureau for Historic Preservation to "employ a project archivist to arrange, describe and create finding aids for the personal papers of John H.P. Reumann, a Pennsylvania theologian and scholar of international renown." Reumann traveled widely to Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, an interest nurtured by his parents, who took him on international trips as a young boy. In addition to his wife Martha, Reumann is survived by the couple's three adult daughters: Rebecca, Philadelphia; Amy, Wauwatosa, Wis.; Miriam, Wrentham, Mass.; and three grandchildren. --- Information about John Reumann's life and his work at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia is at http://tinyurl.com/5frwbq on the Web. * Mark Staples is director of the Faith and Life Institute at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. 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