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06516 October 12, 2006
Legendary Presbyterian parliamentarian Marianne Wolfe dies
Pittsburgh elder literally 'wrote the book' on PC(USA) process
by Jerry Van Marter
LOUISVILLE * Marianne Wolfe, a Pittsburgh elder who was the preeminent parliamentarian in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), died Oct. 10 at her home in Cranberry Township, PA. She was 78.
Wolfe, a Professional Registered Parliamentarian from 1970 until her death, literally wrote the book on Presbyterian parliamentary law. Her published works included a teaching curriculum, Members Together (1976); Parliamentary Law for the Presbyterian Church (1983); The Elder (1991); and the chapter on polity in 1992's Encyclopedia of the Reformed Faith.
In 2003, the PC(USA)'s Association of Stated Clerks named her the first winner of the C. Fred Jenkins Award for her contributions to the polity and parliamentary law of the denomination.
Born in Pittsburgh in 1926, Wolfe graduated from Swarthmore College in 1950. Throughout her life she dedicated herself to her family and her church. She was a member of Ben Avon Presbyterian Church for nearly 50 years where she was a teacher, an elder, clerk of session, and chair of a pastor nominating committee.
She served on the council of the Pittsburgh Presbytery from 1967-1973, as moderator of the presbytery in 1973, as stated clerk of the presbytery from 1977-1993, and on the Permanent Judicial Commission from 1995-2000.
Wolfe served on the board of directors of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary from 1978 until her death and in 1978 was elected as the first woman chair of the board. of Directors of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, where she also taught as adjunct lecturer on polity from 1978-1994. In all, she served on the Pittsburgh seminary board from 1978-1998, and an member Emeritus of the Board since 2000. In 1999, the seminary honored her with its John Anderson Award of Merit.
Her service to the church extended worldwide. Wolfe was a commissioner to the 1973 General Assembly. She was a PC(USA) delegate to the Consultation on Church Union for 16 years, 1978-1994; the General Assembly's parliamentarian from 1987-1993 after serving as an assistant to the stated clerk for seven assemblies prior to that; a member of the General Assembly's Special Committee on Ordination from 1988-1992, and on the Advisory Committee to the Constitution from 1995-2001.
Ecumenically, in addition to her COCU service, Wolfe served as delegate to the World Council of Churches Assembly in Nairobi in 1975 and as a PC(USA) delegate to the National Council of Churches Governing Board from 1981-1991.
Her parliamentary service extended beyond the PC(USA) to numerous state and national organizations. Wolfe served as a publicly elected official on the Borough Council of Ben Avon, PA, from 1974-1978, as was elected chair of the Ben Avon Municipal Authority from 1970-1974.
Marianne Wolfe is survived by her husband, Tony; a son, Larry, and daughter, Sandy; and her sister, Martha. A memorial service will be held Oct. 14 at the Sherwood Oaks Adult Community, where she lived. Messages may be sent to Tony Wolfe, 183 Norman Drive, Cranberry Township, PA 16066.
Under the PC(USA)'s form of government, every Presbyterian has access to the decision-making mechanisms of the church, but those mechanisms can be very complicated. For years, Marianne Wolfe selflessly helped countless Presbyterians * including this writer * gain the access they needed to make their voices heard in the church she loved. She will be greatly missed.
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