wfn.org | Bell dead of a heart attack at age 67

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Note #6106 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

00243
July 6, 2000

00243	Clayton Bell dead of a heart attack at age 67

	Long-time pastor of Highland Park in Dallas stricken at Montreat

	by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE, Ky.–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.  Funeral
services are pending.

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