John H.P. Reumann, ELCA Pastor, Professor, Scholar, Ecumenist, Dies

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. John H.P. Reumann, a New
Testament professor with an encyclopedic knowledge of the Bible,
and whose significant influence ranged from the seminary
classroom to national and international ecumenical and interfaith
circles, died of cancer June 6 at his Lafayette Hill, Pa.,
residence. He was 81.
     A funeral service is planned for 2 p.m., June 12, at Trinity
Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lansdale, Pa.  The Rev. Claire S.
Burkat, bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Norristown, will preach.  The
Rev. John P. Saraka, Christ Ascension Lutheran Church,
Philadelphia (Chestnut Hill), will preside.
     Reumann, the Ministerium of Pennsylvania Professor Emeritus
of New Testament and Greek at The Lutheran Theological Seminary
at Philadelphia (LTSP), enjoyed a 45-year teaching career before
retiring in 1996. During his career, he was also dean and acting
president of LTSP, and was a visiting lecturer at several
colleges, universities and seminaries. Reumann also influenced
the church in several areas of interest, including life-of-Jesus
research and Christian origins, especially the theology of the
apostle Paul, ecumenism and Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogues.
LTSP is one of eight ELCA seminaries.
     For more than 30 years, Reumann was influential in the
Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogues, which included his role in
shaping the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification,
signed in Augsburg, Germany, in 1999. Reumann did considerable
writing in connection with the declaration, and his knowledge of
English and German did much to advance the discussions.
     Born in 1927 in Easton, Pa., Reumann spent his formative
years in Lansdale. After earning a bachelor's degree in 1947 from
Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa., he graduated from LTSP in
1950 and was ordained by the United Lutheran Church in America.
He earned a master of arts degree in the classics from the
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in 1950, and a master
of sacred theology degree from LTSP in 1951.  In 1957 he earned a
doctorate in classics and Semitic studies from the University of
Pennsylvania.  Muhlenberg College is one of 28 ELCA colleges and
universities.
     Reumann was a Guggenheim Fellow from 1965 to 1966, served on
the studies committee for Lutheran World Ministries (U.S.A.
National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation) from 1965 to
1987, was part of the Lutheran-Jewish Conversation in the U.S.A.
from 1969 to 1978, and served on the Commission for a New
Lutheran Church from 1982 to 1986, which led to the formation of
the ELCA. He served twice on the board of trustees for Muhlenberg
College. Reumann chaired the Task Force for the ELCA Study of
Ministry from 1988 to 1993, and he participated 11 times as a
voting member of ELCA churchwide assemblies and those of a
predecessor church body, the Lutheran Church in America.
     "John Reumann was truly a 'teacher of the church'," said the
Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop. "Some church bodies
identify an office of 'teacher of the church' within their
polity. The ELCA does not have such a defined office, but if that
were the case, certainly Dr. Reumann would have occupied it. He
provided significant theological leadership in deliberations of
the LCA and later the ELCA. The recommendations of the Study of
Ministry that he chaired were submitted to the 1993 churchwide
assembly and largely affirmed."
     Hanson noted that Reumann had been the sole surviving
original member of the Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue which
began in 1965, and that Reumann had served on the Revision
Committee for the New American Bible, New Testament (U.S. Roman
Catholic Bible) from 1978 to 1987.
     "Witnessing Dr. Reumann's contributions to the dialogue
always was memorable," said the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, Lutheran
co-chair of the U.S. Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue and former
ELCA secretary.
     "He would offer key biblical insights, quoting by chapter
and verse from memory a relevant passage in English and often
also in Greek. His commitment to fruitful ecumenical dialogue
seemed unbounded. That was true even in these past few years of
struggles with his health. The 43 years of the U.S. Lutheran-
Roman Catholic Dialogue have resulted in significant documents.
That is so in no small measure because of Dr. Reumann's
dedication," Almen wrote in a tribute to be delivered at
Reumann's funeral.
     The Rev. Donald J. McCoid, executive, ELCA Ecumenical and
Inter-Religious Relations, said he first met Reumann more than 40
years ago when he was McCoid's New Testament theology professor.
"Whenever he spoke, I listened carefully, whether it was in a
classroom, at a meeting or at a churchwide assembly. His insights
were direct, helpful, challenging and faithful.  John Reumann was
an exceptional teacher, scholar, leader, ecumenist, writer and
friend.  He left us with a treasury of contributions that will
continue to bless us in the future. I join Lutherans, Christians
and people of other faith traditions in celebrating the life of
Dr. John Reumann and thanking God for the many ways that he
shared his many gifts with us."
     "Dr. Reumann was a model in every respect for many of us who
have followed him at the seminary and in the Church," said Philip
D. W. Krey, LTSP president. "He mentored us graciously with faith
and patience and retired well.  In retirement he continued to
work on his scholarly and ecumenical projects and remained
unflagging in his support and as an advisor.  We will miss a
giant in the faith."
     Before his health declined, Reumann had turned in to his
publisher at Yale University Press his voluminous commentary on
Philippians, a focal point of his biblical scholarship. His final
edition ran 832 pages. In addition to authoring the Philippians
commentary, Reumann wrote at least 15 books, including "Jesus in
the Church's Gospels" (Fortress Press, 1968) and edited or
contributed to dozens of books and articles. He served as
associate editor of the Journal of Biblical Literature, 1961-69,
and as its editor in 1970.
     The Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia recently
received a $5,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and
Museum Commission/Bureau for Historic Preservation to "employ a
project archivist to arrange, describe and create finding aids
for the personal papers of John H.P. Reumann, a Pennsylvania
theologian and scholar of international renown."
     Reumann traveled widely to Europe, the Mediterranean and the
Middle East, an interest nurtured by his parents, who took him on
international trips as a young boy.
     In addition to his wife Martha, Reumann is survived by the
couple's three adult daughters: Rebecca, Philadelphia; Amy,
Wauwatosa, Wis.; Miriam, Wrentham, Mass.; and three
grandchildren.
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     Information about John Reumann's life and his work at The
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia is at
http://tinyurl.com/5frwbq on the Web.

* Mark Staples is director of the Faith and Life Institute at The
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.