Former Lutheran Church Leaders Hanson, Houser, Die

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Two former Lutheran church leaders -- the Rev. Paul A. Hanson and the Rev. Donald L. Houser -- died in the past month. Both were retired pastors of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Hanson, 78, was executive director of the Division for Life and Mission in the Congregation for the former American Lutheran Church (ALC) from 1973 to 1987. He died from pancreatic cancer Sept. 30 at his home in Minneapolis.
Houser, 91, was executive secretary of the Board of American Missions in the former Lutheran Church in America (LCA) from 1962 to 1973. He died Oct. 12. Houser lived in Hinsdale, Ill.
The ELCA was formed in 1987 from the merger of the ALC, LCA and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches.
Hanson was born in 1922 at Middle River, Minn. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1947 from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities. Hanson earned a bachelor of theology degree in 1950 from Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., one of eight ELCA seminaries. In 1955 he earned a master of theology degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J.
Hanson was ordained in 1950. He served as pastor of the 13 congregations of the Air Parish of Western South Dakota, Firesteel, S.D.; a three-point parish in Lemmon, S.D.; and Lutheran congregations in Willmar, Minn. and Moorhead, Minn. While he was a parish pastor, Hanson's father, the Rev. A.E. Hanson, was president of the ALC's Northern Minnesota District from 1952 to 1963.
In his role with the ALC's Division for Life and Mission, Hanson worked with some 5,000 congregations in worship, learning, evangelism and service programs, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported. He created events for parishioners, a Bible study program, a rural ministry program and Lutheran camps, the newspaper said. The ALC was based in Minneapolis.
Hanson is survived by his wife, Dolores, and two grown daughters. A service was held Oct. 6 at Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis.
Houser was born in Ruffsdale, Pa., in 1909. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1931 from Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pa., an ELCA higher education institution. In 1935, Houser completed his seminary education at Philadelphia Lutheran Theological Seminary. Today the seminary is known as the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and is affiliated with the ELCA.
Houser was ordained in 1935 and served for 10 years as pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church, Wesleyville, Pa. He was secretary for English Missions of the former United Lutheran Church in America (ULCA) and superintendent of home missions for the ULCA's Pittsburgh Synod.
From 1957 to 1962 he was executive secretary of the ULCA's Board of American Missions, until the ULCA was merged with three other Lutheran Church bodies to form the LCA. He continued in a similar role with the LCA as executive secretary of the Board of American Missions. When the church was restructured in 1973, Houser was named director of the Department of Church Extension for the LCA Division for Mission in North America. He served in that role until he retired in 1975. Houser's LCA office was in Chicago.
With the LCA, Houser helped organize numerous mission congregations in the 1960s and 1970s. It was during his tenure that the LCA also became more involved in a variety of urban ministries.
Houser is survived by his wife, Johanna, and two grown children. A service was held Oct. 15 at Christ Lutheran Church, Clarendon Hills, Ill.

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