Title: Paul E. Erickson, Former Lutheran Bishop of Illinois, Dies ELCA NEWS SERVICE
April 5, 2007
Paul E. Erickson, Former Lutheran Bishop of Illinois, Dies 07-051-FI
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Paul E. Erickson, a synod bishop of the former Lutheran Church in America (LCA) and a retired pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), died April 3 in Savoy, Ill. He was 85.
A memorial service will be held April 14 at Grace Lutheran Church, Champaign, Ill.
Born here Jan. 18, 1922, Erickson joined the U.S. Army and served in the South Pacific during World War II. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Arizona State University, Tempe, and a master of divinity degree from Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary, Maywood, Ill. The seminary became the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago -- one of eight ELCA seminaries. Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill. -- one of 28 colleges and universities of the ELCA -- awarded him an honorary doctorate of divinity.
Ordained in 1953 in the former United Lutheran Church in America (ULCA), Erickson served as pastor of Ridge Lutheran Church, Chicago. He was director of Christian education for the ULCA Illinois Synod from 1957 until 1960, when he became pastor of First Lutheran Church, Decatur, Ill. Erickson was an assistant to the bishop of the LCA Illinois Synod from 1971 to 1975.
In 1975 the LCA Illinois Synod elected Erickson to a four- year term as its bishop and reelected him in 1979 and 1983. He worked with other Christian leaders to help start the ecumenical Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago.
Erickson retired in 1987, when the LCA merged with two other Lutheran churches to form the ELCA. He moved to Champaign and remained active in ministry, fishing and following sports at the University of Illinois.
"Pastor Erickson and I came from different predecessor church bodies, but it didn't take long for me to understand the blessing he had been to the LCA prior to the formation of the ELCA, and the gifts he brought to this church after 1988," said the Rev. Warren D. Freiheit, bishop, ELCA Central/Southern Illinois Synod, Springfield.
Freiheit became bishop in 2000, and "Pastor Erickson was the only former bishop I could turn to for advice on serving in this office," he said.
"Having come directly from the parish into the office of bishop was a dramatic change for me, and Pastor Erickson was gracious in his support and help. He was continually affirming of my ministry each time we were together," Freiheit said.
"In addition to the affirmation I received from Pastor Erickson, watching him and his wife Jo work together served to reinforce the way my wife and I have ministered together," Freiheit said.
Erickson is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jo, and their five adult children: Peter, Mary Jo, Susan, Phillip and Carol.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog