wfn.org | The Rev. Harold 'Hal' Rast, Former Head Of Fortress Press, Dies

[NEWS@ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 20, 2004

The Rev. Harold 'Hal' Rast, Former Head Of Fortress Press, Dies
04-200-AFP*/JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Harold W. (Hal) Rast, former head of
Fortress Press and retired pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA), died Oct. 13, following a long battle with pancreatic
cancer.
     A memorial service for Rast, 71, was held Oct. 18 at Grace Lutheran
Church, Lancaster, Pa., where he was a member.
     In 1981 Rast became head of Fortress Press, Philadelphia, through the
Board of Publication of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA). While there
he directed a program of publishing works in theology and biblical
studies.
     The ELCA was formed in 1988 through a merger of the LCA, the American
Lutheran Church and Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches.
     In 1989 Rast became the founding publisher of Trinity Press
International, Valley Forge, Pa., and later served as publisher at Judson
Press, the publishing arm of American Baptist Churches, U.S.A., Valley
Forge.
     In 2000 he returned full-time to head the Fortress Press book program
as interim vice president for academic and professional publishing while
the company searched for a replacement.  Today Fortress Press is a
division of Augsburg Fortress, the publishing house of the ELCA.
     After the interim appointment, Rast continued to edit books and
consult with the editors of Fortress Press. Most recently he edited
several volumes of the "New Proclamation" series.
     Rast was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1933. He and his family were
members of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).  In 1958 he received
a bachelor of divinity degree at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.  In 1966
he received a master of sacred theology degree, and in 1971 earned a
doctorate in theology, both at Concordia Seminary.
     Following ordination in 1958, he was pastor of three LCMS
congregations in California: in Chester, Greenville and Quincy. From 1960
to 1966 he taught at St. Paul's College, an LCMS higher education
institution in Concordia, Mo.  From 1966 to 1975 Rast was executive editor
for the LCMS Board of Parish Education, St. Louis.
     Rast left the LCMS in 1976 and become assistant director of Lutheran
Family and Children's Services of Missouri, St. Louis.	In 1978 he joined
the LCA and the staff of the Division for Parish Services.
     Rast is survived by his wife of 46 years, Jean, and children Mark,
Lancaster; Kevin, Baltimore; and Michelle, Basking Ridge, N.J.; a brother,
Lawrence, Chicago; and seven grandchildren.
     He was preceded in death by his parents, the Rev. Alfred O. and Edith
Jordan Rast, and brothers Herbert and Walter.
---
     *Information was supplied by Augsburg Fortress Publishers.

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