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
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
