Edmund Clowney Dies at 87

I thank God for the ministry that Dr. Clowney has had in my life through his teaching and writing ministry. "The great theme of his life, namely Christ's presence in the whole of Scripture and his present work in the church" has had a profound influence on my life and ministry. The following is from the web magazine of the PCA.

Edmund P. Clowney, 87, (July 30, 1917 – March 20, 2005) met his Lord face to face on Sunday, March 20. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jean Wright Clowney; by his five children: David Clowney, Deborah Weininger, Paul Clowney, Rebecca Jones, and Anne Foreman; by twenty-one grandchildren; and by eleven great grandchildren.

Born in Philadelphia, Ed received his B.A. from Wheaton College in 1939, a Th. B. from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1942, a S.T.M from Yale University Divinity School in 1944, and a D.D. from Wheaton College in 1966. Ordained in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, he served as pastor of several churches from 1942 to 1946 and was then invited to become assistant professor of practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in 1952. He became that institution's first president in 1966, and remained there until 1984, when he took a post as theologian-in-residence at Trinity Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In 1990 Ed and Jean moved to Escondido, California, where Ed was adjunct professor at Westminster Seminary California. In 2001, he took a full-time position as associate pastor at Christ the King Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Houston, Texas. After two years, he moved back to Charlottesville, where he once again became part-time theologian-in-residence at Trinity Presbyterian Church. He remained in this role until his death.

Ed was a compassionate counselor; a devoted servant of Jesus Christ, his Word, and his church; a peacemaker; and a true visionary. He dreamed for Christ's kingdom and was instrumental in the birth or furtherance of such ministries as the Reformed Theological Seminary in Aix-en-Provence, France; Westminster Seminary California; Trinity Church, Charlottesville; the Lausanne Conference; InterVarsity ministries, both in the United States and in England; and "The Westminster Ministerial Institute," an inner-city training program for pastors in Philadelphia, out of which the Lord developed the Center for Urban Theological Studies. He also had a life-long interest in children's Christian education materials.

Ed will be supremely remembered by many as a preacher, perhaps the most gifted proponent and practitioner of redemptive-historical preaching of this generation. He was unique in his ability to pick up the threads of redemptive history and to weave a rich expositional tapestry that brought Christ in all his perfections and glory before God's people so that they were drawn to love and worship the Redeemer.

His writing displays the great theme of his life, namely Christ's presence in the whole of Scripture and his present work in the church. His books include Preaching and Biblical Theology, Called to the Ministry, Christian Meditation, Doctrine of the Church, The Message of I Peter, The Unfolding Mystery, and Preaching Christ in all of Scripture. Some of these titles have been translated for the benefit of the worldwide church. His last book, How Christ Transforms the Ten Commandments, was accepted by his publisher only days before his death.

Ed left behind a legacy not only of written books and articles, but a great number of sermons and lectures, as well as magazine columns such as the humor column "Eutychus and His Pin" for Christianity Today and Bible studies for Tabletalk. His sense of humor and his love for people left a mark wherever he went. In the last week of his life, one attending nurse, laughing as she left his room, exclaimed, "What a sweet man!" Those who knew and loved him would agree. His tender-hearted encouragement and wisdom will be greatly missed, but his work will be established by his Master who has now welcomed him with those reassuring words: "Well-done, good and faithful servant, enter now into the joy of your Lord!"

The family has established a scholarship fund at Westminster Theological Seminary. Contributions in support of Dr. Clowney's continuing Kingdom legacy may be made to The Edmund Clowney Memorial Fund by mailing your check to Westminster Theological Seminary, P.O. Box 27009, Philadelphia, PA 19118 or online via credit card at https://www.gospelcom.net/wts/development/clowney-memorial.html.

Information on memorial services in Charlottesville, Virginia, and at Westminster Theological Seminary's Glenside, Pennsylvania campus will be posted at the Seminary's website at www.wts.edu as soon as the details become available. The family is creating a memorial website where remembrances may be posted by the public. A link will be posted shortly at www.wts.edu.