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.
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*Information was supplied by Augsburg Fortress Publishers.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
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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
