In memoriam: Presiding Bishop Emeritus Herbert W. Chilstrom

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Herbert W. Chilstrom, 88, the first presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), died Jan. 19 at his home in Green Valley, Ariz. He was born in Litchfield, Minn., on Oct. 18, 1931.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Corinne (Hansen), also a Lutheran pastor; a daughter, Mary Cress of Mesa, Ariz.; and a son, Christopher Holt of Baltimore; and four sisters, Winnifred Christenson of Robbinsdale, Minn.; Virginia Francis of Pickens, S.C.; Martha (Charles) Anderson of Ashby, Minn.; and Janet (Frederick) Sickert of West Linn, Oregon. He was preceded in death by son Andrew, sisters Adeline Christenson (Earle) and Lorraine Juul (Dick), and brother David.

Chilstrom completed academic degrees at Augsburg University, Augustana Seminary, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Princeton Seminary, and New York University, where he earned a doctor of education degree.

He served Lutheran congregations in Pelican Rapids, Elizabeth and St. Peter, Minn.

He was professor and dean at Luther College, Teaneck, N.J., from 1962-1970. In 1976 he was elected bishop of the Minnesota Synod of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA). At the 1987 merger that created the 5.2-million-member ELCA, he was elected the first presiding bishop.

Chilstrom was awarded 15 honorary doctorates by 15 colleges, universities and seminaries. He was named a Commander of the Royal Order of the North Star by King Carl Gustav IV of Sweden, received the Pope John XXIII award from Viterbo College, the Servus Dei Award from the ELCA, as well as numerous other honors and awards.

Chilstrom served on numerous boards of directors, including vice president of the Lutheran World Federation, Geneva, Switzerland; Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.; Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota; Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn.; the National Council of Churches and others.

He also authored numerous books and articles.

After retirement he continued to be active in church and community, preaching and lecturing in many parts of the country. He became a Minnesota Master Gardener, volunteering and serving as interim director at the Linnaeus Arboretum at Gustavus Adolphus College.

The family prefers that memorial gifts be given to the Herbert Chilstrom Chair in New Testament Studies at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, or to one of the Chilstrom Student Scholarship Funds at Luther Seminary; Augsburg University, Minneapolis; Gustavus Adolphus College, or Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn.

Service

There are two opportunities to remember God’s promises in Christ and give thanks to God for the life and witness of former Presiding Bishop Herb Chilstrom. The Minnesota service will be live-streamed.

There will be two services of Holy Communion. At both services, clergy and all rostered leaders of the ELCA, together with clergy of all ecumenical partners, are invited to robe and process (the color of the day will be green) and are asked to RSVP to Desert Hills at jhoward@dhlc.org and to Christ Chapel at this online form. 

Thursday, February 13, 2:00 pm

Saturday, February 15, 1:00 pm

Prayer

We thank you, Lord God, for Bishop Chilstrom, who planted your message in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We praise you for the gift of your Holy Spirit, who worked in him to gather and give order to this community, and who still sustains it. Remembering all those who have gone before us, we pray that we may follow as he followed, in the way, the truth, and the life, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

“Lord, now you let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled.”
In Memoriam, Prayers, ELCA, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardHerb Chilstrom1 Comment