wfn.org | The Rev. Paul R. Nelson, Elca Director for Worship, Dies

[news@ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 31, 2000

THE REV. PAUL R. NELSON, ELCA DIRECTOR FOR WORSHIP, DIES
00-249-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Paul R. Nelson, 49, director for
worship in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), died Oct.
28 at his home here following a lengthy illness.
     Nelson joined the ELCA churchwide organization in September 1988,
when he was appointed by the ELCA Division for Ministry as director for
a task force for the five-year Study of Ministry.  In 1993 he was
appointed director for worship in the ELCA Division for Congregational
Ministries.
     During Nelson's tenure as worship director, he was involved in a
number of significant projects and accomplishments for the church:
     + In 1999 he edited "The Future of Worship in the ELCA: A Report
to the Church."
     + The Rev. H. George Anderson, ELCA presiding bishop, appointed
Nelson in 1998 to chair a team that worked to enhance worship life in
the ELCA, one of the ELCA's "Initiatives for a New Century."
     + In 1996 Nelson edited the ELCA's statement on sacramental
practices, "The Use of the Means of Grace: A Proposed Statement on the
Practice of Word and Sacrament."
     + Nelson's responsibilities involved him in the development of
ethnic-specific worship resources, including "Libro de Liturgia y
Cantico" and "This Far by Faith."  He was also involved in developing
the hymnal supplement, "With One Voice," and "Sundays and Seasons," a
publication of Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, the publishing house of
the ELCA.
     + Nelson directed planning for festival services of celebration in
recognition of the ELCA's full communion relationships. Events included
the 1998 celebration for the Lutheran-Reformed full communion
relationship, and in 2000, a celebration for the Lutheran-Moravian full
communion relationship.  He was involved in planning the Jan. 6, 2001,
Lutheran-Episcopal full communion celebration to be held in Washington,
D.C.
     + Nelson coordinated worship at the ELCA's churchwide assemblies.
     + He led the planning for the ELCA "Worship 2000 Jubilee" in July
at Navy Pier, Chicago.  It was the church's first national conference on
worship.
     "Paul Nelson served our church with grace, style and a deep
passion for worship," said the Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock, executive
director, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries. "I am grateful
for his leadership and the partnership we shared.  I will remember his
humility, humor and vast knowledge of the church and worship.  Paul's
faith was always apparent, but never more than in the last weeks of his
life.  I will thank God upon every remembrance of Paul."
     Nelson was born July 13, 1951, in Fargo, N.D., where he grew up.
He was the son of Ingvald Nelson and Inez L. Stevenson.
      Nelson was active in academia during and before he joined the
ELCA's churchwide organization.   From 1992 to this year he was academic
director and lecturer, Ecumenical Liturgy and Worship Seminar, Magdalen
College, Oxford, England.  From 1987 to 1992 Nelson was visiting
professor in the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame,
South Bend, Ind.  He was a teaching fellow at the Yale University
Divinity School, New Haven, Conn., from 1976 to 1977.
     Nelson earned a doctorate in theology in 1987 from the University
of Notre Dame.  He earned a master of arts degree in theology from Notre
Dame in 1985, a master of divinity from Yale University Divinity School
in 1977 and a bachelor of arts in 1973 from Concordia College, Moorhead,
Minn.  Concordia College is an ELCA higher education institution.
     Nelson was a member of the North American Academy of Liturgy,
Societas Liturgica, The Liturgical Conference, Washington, D.C., and the
Lutheran Historical Society.
     Nelson was ordained in the former American Lutheran Church on Jan.
21, 1978.
     He served two congregations as pastor.  From 1982 to 1988, he was
assistant pastor at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, South Bend, and from
1978 to 1982, he was associate pastor at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran
Church, Watertown, Wis.  In 1977 he was interim pastor at St. John and
St. Paul Lutheran Parish, Marxville, Wis.
     Nelson contributed scholarly articles to a number of books,
journals and reference volumes in theology and liturgy, and was a
lecturer and speaker at many church conferences.
     He received many honors in his career, including recognition from
the national forensics honor society in debate and oratory; a
pre-seminary fellowship from Concordia College; a Rockefeller Trial Year
Scholarship; a Zahm Research Travel Scholarship for Archival Research
from Notre Dame; and two graduate scholarships from the former American
Lutheran Church.
      He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Urbashich.
     Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 2 at Ascension
Lutheran Church, 400 Nuttall Rd., Riverside, Ill.  A short prayer
service will be held at 7:30 p.m.  Funeral services are at 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 3 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Luke, 1500 W. Belmont,
Chicago.
  In lieu of flowers, the family requested gifts be sent to any of
the following: "Next Generation of Worship," ELCA; Ascension Lutheran
Church; Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, Minnesota Medical
Foundation; BMT Program, Minneapolis.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html