Chilstrom, ELCA's first bishop, dies at age 88

GREEN VALLEY, Ariz. - The Rev. Herbert W. Chilstrom, 88, the first presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, died Jan. 19 at his home in Green Valley.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Corinne (Hansen), also a Lutheran pastor; a daughter, Mary Cress of Mesa; a son, Christopher Holt of Baltimore; and four sisters. He was preceded in death by his son, Andrew; as well as a brother and two sisters.

Chilstrom was born in Litchfield, Minnesota, on Oct. 18, 1931. He was always appreciative of his Swedish heritage and grew up in an Augustana Lutheran Synod congregation. In later years, he traveled to Sweden several times to visit relatives and investigate his family tree, drawing it back as far as the 1600s.

Chilstrom completed academic degrees at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Augustana Seminary in Rock Island, Illinois, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Princeton Seminary in New Jersey and New York University, where he earned a Doctor of Education degree.

He served Lutheran congregations in Pelican Rapids, Elizabeth and St. Peter, Minnesota. He was professor and dean at Luther College, Teaneck, N.J., from 1962 to 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. The merger also included the American Lutheran Church and the American Evangelical Lutheran Church synods. From the new synod headquarters in Chicago, he served in that position for two terms, eight years, until his retirement.

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton told Minnesota Public Radio recently, Chilstrom was a man of deep faith, but also had a great sense of humor.

"He was very polished when he spoke, had a great ability to connect to world church leaders," Eaton said. "But in a really charming way, he was just a good Minnesota boy, and he never forgot that, never lost that touch."

Even in the early years of the church, Eaton said Chilstrom was a strong advocate for supporting the involvement of gay and lesbian Lutherans in the church. He later campaigned against a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in Minnesota.

"God loves all people," Eaton said. "He really believed that."

The Chilstroms retired to their cabin on Lake Lida near Pelican Rapids and a home in St. Peter, and later moved to Arizona to be near their daughter.

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 XVI Gustaf of Sweden and received the Pope John XXIII Award for Distinguished Service from Viterbo University, the Servus Dei Award from the ELCA, and numerous other honors and awards. Chilstrom served on numerous boards of directors, including those of the Lutheran World Federation, Geneva, Switzerland (as vice president); Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota; Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota; Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter; and the National Council of Churches.

He and his wife also authored numerous books and articles. His wife's book, "Andrew, You Died Too Soon," about the family's experience of grieving and living after their son took his own life is often cited by grief counselors.

After retirement Chilstrom continued to be active in church and community, preaching and lecturing in many parts of the country.

He became a 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; Gustavus Adolphus College; Augsburg University; or Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota.

While no funeral services were announced, there will be two services of Holy Communion, the first on Thursday, Feb. 13 at Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley. ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton will bring a greeting, Bishop Deborah Hutterer will preach and Pastor Martin Overson will preside. A reception will follow.

A second Holy Communion service will be held Saturday, Feb. 15, at Christ Chapel on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. ELCA Presiding Bishop Eaton will preside, Presiding Bishop Emeritus Mark Hanson will preach, Bishop Jon Anderson will bring a greeting and Chaplain Siri Erickson will host. A reception will follow.

For each service, clergy and rostered leaders of the ELCA, together with clergy of the ELCA's ecumenical partners, are invited to robe and process. The vestments color of the day will be green.