Gedenkgottesdienst für Lewis Mudge, den führenden Ökumeniker der Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Lew Mudge memorial pays tribute to “the leading ecumenist of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

A memorial service in tribute to Lewis (“Lew”) S. Mudge, a leading 20th century Presbyterian theologian, ethicist and ecumenist, is to be held today (19.10.2009) at Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, United States. Mudge died on 11 September in his home in Berkeley, California at the age of 79 following a long and distinguished career in ecumenism and interreligious dialogue.

In the sermon to be delivered at the service, Clifton Kirkpatrick, President of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC), calls Mudge “the leading ecumenist in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)” and praises his ability as a gifted communicator.

Recalling Mudge’s role in drafting a statement about justice in the economy on behalf of WARC’s General Council in Debrecen, Hungary (1997) Kirkpatrick says:

“The Declaration of Debrecen has become one of the all time classics [and] mobilized Reformed Christians and the church ecumenical to a new covenant for justice in the economy and the earth.”

Interfaith representatives are expected to join Christian academics and church leaders in paying tribute to Mudge whose most recent publication promotes interreligious dialogue among the peoples of the three Abrahamic faiths. The Gift of Responsibility: The Promise of Dialogue Among Christians, Jews and Muslims (2008) addresses the need for understanding in light of tensions in the Middle East region.

Mudge read theology as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University in England, was ordained in 1955 following study at Princeton Theological Seminary and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Princeton University in 1961.  From 1957 to 1962, Mudge served as WARC’s Secretary of the Department of Theology in Geneva, Switzerland.

A second memorial service will be held on 28 November at First Presbyterian Church in San Anselmo, California where Mudge lived and taught for the past 20 years.

Mudge is survived by his wife, three adult children and four grandchildren.

Quelle: www.warc.jalb.de >>>