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Note #6115 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

12-July-2000
00252

	Notes about people

	by Jerry L. Van Marter

		The Rev. B. Clayton Bell, the son of missionary parents who pastored one
of the most storied congregations of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), died
July 4 at Montreat Conference Center of a massive heart attack.  Bell, 67,
the son of fabled Presbyterian medical missionary L. Nelson Bell and
brother-in-law of evangelist Billy Graham, had preached at Montreat the
previous Sunday and had remained at the Presbyterian conference center to
visit friends and relatives when he was stricken.
	Born in Tsingkiang Kiangsu Province in China on Dec. 11, 1932, Bell spent
his first nine years in China until his parents retired in 1941.  He
graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois in 1954 and from Columbia
Theological Seminary in 1958.
	Bell served pastorates in Camden, Birmingham and Dothan, Ala., and in Rome,
Ga., before being called as pastor of Highland Park Presbyterian Church in
Dallas in 1973.  For many years Highland Park has been one of the five
largest congregations in the PC(USA).
	Serving the Highland Park Church nearly killed Bell in the late 80s, when a
fierce debate over whether to remain in the PC(USA) following Presbyterian
reunion in 1983, split the church very badly.  Bell led the effort to keep
Highland Park in the denomination and the stress of the situation
contributed to serious heart attack at that time. Highland Park stayed in
the PC(USA), but lost several thousand members as a result of that decision.
 Bell retired last year.
	He was also active in Presbyterian renewal movements, serving on the board
and as president of The Presbyterian Coalition.
	Clayton Bell is survived by his wife, Peggy, and by four children --
Margaret, B. Clayton Jr., Lemuel Nelson Bell II and Virginia.  Simultaneous
memorial services were held July 10 at Highland Park Presbyterian Church and
at Montreat.

	                         # # #

	The Rev. H. McKennie Goodpasture, 70, a professor at Union Theological
Seminary in Richmond, Va., who taught church and missionary history for 30
years until his retirement in 1996, died June 26.  He remained a professor
emeritus at the school until his death.
	Goodpasture graduated from Union in 1955 and the University of Edinburgh,
Scotland, where he received his doctorate in 1960.  He served as
administrator at the Protestant Theological Seminary in Lisbon, Portugal
until returning to Union in 1965.
	Goodpasture also worked to educate those outside of the seminary.  During
the 1960s, he lent his involvement to a projecty to open Richmond's first
interracial swimming pool.  He worked in Richmond Public Schools as a tutor
from 1987 until his death.  He also sat on the board of directors of the
Richmond Area Association for Retarded Citizens from 1974 to 1979 and also
served for a time on the Richmond Human Relations Commission.
	In addition to his wife of 45 years, Ellen, Goodpasture is survived by a
son, Philip, and a daughter, Katherine, both of Richmond; his mother,
Virginia Puryear Goodpasture of Nashville, Tenn.; and his brother, Jim
Goodpasture of Frankfurt, Ky.  Services were held at Ginter Park
Presbyterian Church in Richmond July 1.

	                         # # #

	The Rev. Kyung Chik Han, 97, pastor emeritus of Youngnak Presbyterian
Church in Seoul, Korea -- the largest Presbyterian church in the world at
60,000 members -- died April 19 in Seoul.
	Han, born in North Korea on Dec. 29, 1902, was educated in Korea and the
United States.  He graduated from the College of Emporia (Kan.) and
Princeton Theological Seminary.  Ordained in 1933 by the Presbyterian Church
of Korea, he served Second Presbyterian Church of Shineuiju, North Korea for
nine years before founding Youngnak Church in 1945.  Upon his retirement in
1973 he was named pastor emeritus.
	In addition to his obvious evangelism skills, Han was deeply involved in
mission, educational ministry and ecumenical relations.  He was the author
of more than 40 books and countless articles on all aspects of the Christian
life.
	In the U.S., a memorial service for Han was held May 27 at Korean First
Presbyterian Church of Greensboro, N.C.

	                         # # #

	The Rev. Roberta Hestenes, pastor of Solana Beach Presbyterian Church near
San Diego, has resigned her pastorate and will become minister-at-large for
World Vision, the largest Christian humanitarian organization in the world.
	Hestenes, a longtime World Vision board member, succeeded the Rev. Donald
McCullough at the Solana Beach Church in November of 1996.  She was caught
in the middle of a maelstrom this spring when McCullough, who left Solana
Beach in 1994 to become president of San Francisco Theological Seminary, was
convicted by San Francisco Presbytery's Permanent Judicial Commission of
engaging in multiple extramarital affairs while he was pastor at Solana
Beach.  Hestenes, against the wishes of some Solana Beach members, argued
for stiff punishment for McCullough.  He was suspended from the ministry
indefinitely.
	Hestenes said she has found herself "increasingly drawn personally into the
worldwide mission of the church, especially for work among children and the
very poor of the world."

	                         # # #

	The Office of Theology and Worship in the Congregational Ministries
Division in Louisville has announced the hiring of the Rev. Sheldon W. Sorge
as Associate for Theology and Worship.
	A native of Canada, he was ordained by the Presbytery of Abingdon and
served as a pastor in Durham, N.C., Marion, Va. and Elkins, W.V.  He holds a
Ph.D. in theology and ethics from Duke University, and has served as adjunct
faculty at King College and Dubuque Theological Seminary.  He has also
taught at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek, Croatia.
	Sorge's responsibilities will be wide-ranging, but will focus on two major
programs funded by the Lilly Endowment -- the "Pastor Theologian Program"
and "Excellence From the Start," a transition to ministry program. He will
begin his service early in September.

	                         # # #

	At the recent General Assembly in Long Beach, Calif., Presbyterians for
Restoring Creation presented its William E. Gibson Award to the Rev. Dieter
Hessel, director of  Ecology, Justice and Faith, a Princeton-based think
tank on environmental issues and former director of the PC(USA)'s Advisory
Committee on Social Witness Policy.
	Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the adoption of "Restoring Creation for
Ecology and Justice" by the General Assembly, the group also honored the
Solana Beach Presbyterian Church near San Diego and St. Mark Presbyterian
Church of Newport Beach, Calif., for their work on environmental issues.

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