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A White Preacher's Message... |
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Rev. Robert S. Graetz |
Pastor Bob Graetz, author of "A White Preacher's Memoir: The Montgomery Bus Boycott" |
Born: May 16, 1928, Clarksburg, W. Va.Education: Charleston, W. Va., High School, 1946
Capital University, Columbus, Ohio (A.B.),1950
Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary, Columbus, Ohio (B.D.), 1955 (now called Trinity Lutheran Seminary) Family: Married June 10, 1951, to Jean Ellis, East Springfield, Pa.
Four daughters, three sons (born 1952 to 1963)
Twenty-six grandchildren
One great-grandchild Ministries: Community Lutheran, Los Angeles, Cal. (1952-54), as an intern (student pastor)
Trinity Lutheran, Montgomery, Ala. (1955-58)
St. Philip Lutheran, Columbus, Ohio (1958-67) – named Pastor Emeritus
Lutheran Mission 373, Washington, D. C. (1967-70), an experimental community ministry
St. James Lutheran, Washington, D. C. (1970), interim pastor
Ohio Council of Churches, Columbus, Ohio (1970-83)
Christ the King Lutheran, Columbus, Ohio (1974)
St. John Lutheran, Logan, Ohio (1983-95), part-time ministry
Retired, October 31, 1995 – named Pastor Emeritus
St. Matthew Lutheran, Sugar Grove, Ohio (1997-1998), interim pastor
St. John Lutheran Church, Logan, Ohio (1998), interim pastor
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Pomeroy, Ohio, and St. John Lutheran Church, Racine, Ohio - interim (2001-2002)
Faith Lutheran Church, Jackson, Ohio - interim (2002-2003) Major Awards: Russwurm Award, National Negro Newspaper Publishers Association, 1957
Selma Humanitarian Award, from the producers and cast of the musical "Selma," about life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1976
Distinguished Alumnus, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, 1986
Doctor of Humanities, Capital University, 1990
Ohio Humanitarian Award, 1993, in conjunction with Martin Luther King Day celebration
(Ohio) Governor's Humanitarian Award, 1997, in conjunction with Martin Luther King Day celebration Areas of Montgomery, Ala., bus boycott -
Involvement: Secretary of Montgomery Improvement Association Board
Previous and Speaking and writing for various groups
Current:`
Church race relations -
Bridge between black and white ministerial associations in various cities
Delegate to Lutheran World Federation Conference on Christian Social Responsibility, Baden-bei-Wien, Austria, 1969
National secretary, Conference on Inner City Ministries, American Lutheran Church (ALC)
Advisor to national Urban Church Committee (ALC)
Member, national board, Lutheran Human Relations Association of America
Chairman, Ohio District (ALC) Task Force on Ministry in
Changing Communities Frequent speaker Tour leader for groups going into the South for "Civil Rights
Pilgrimages” Church at large -
Delegate to national ALC conventions in 1964 and 1968
Member of General Convention Committee, 1968 national ALC convention
Member of Executive Committee, Region 6 Coordinating Council
Tour organizer for groups traveling to Germany to experience
Kirchentag, Luther-land, Oberammergau Passion Play and
visits with German churches School desegregation -
Member, Columbus, Ohio, Council on Intercultural Education Legislation -
President, Washington, D.C.-based Legislative Task Force, national lobbying group related to Poor People's Campaign
Director, Ohio Ecumenical Commission on Church and
Government
Legislative representative (lobbyist), Ohio Council of Churches
Host, television and radio programs interviewing public officials Writing -
A Congregational Guide to Human Relations, 1964
The Church in a Diverse Society, ed. L.W. Halvorson, Augsburg, 1964, chapter 6 by me, "An Informed Church Serves a Diverse Society"
Various writing for church publications
Monthly columnist for Columbus, Ohio, Diocese Catholic Times (1973-87)
Montgomery - a White Preacher's Memoir, a book about our experiences in Montgomery, Ala., Augsburg Fortress, 1991 (re-published as A White Preacher's Memoir: The
Montgomery Bus Boycott, Black Belt Press, 1998) Spiritual growth -
Writer and teacher, various Bible studies
Speaker for revival services, others
Retreat leader Strengthening families -
We provided a home and long-term intensive counseling to a troubled mother and her children
Home has served as retreat center for groups, families, individuals Community -
Board member, Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio
Assist wife in coordinating Red Cross bloodmobiles in Vinton County - 1984 to present
Board member, Jackson-Vinton County Community Action Board, total of ten years (Board chair, 1997-98)
Board member, Sojourners Care Network, working with foster
children and families (Board chair, 2002-present)
Board Chair, Friends of the Library, Vinton County - 2004 Ministry of reconciliation -
Speaking, writing, ministry with and for victims and families dealing with AIDS
Speaking, writing, ministry with and for persons dealing with diversities, including sexual orientation
Active member of The Network, Lutherans Concerned/North America, and Soulforce, all working to secure full acceptance in our churches (including clergy) of persons of diverse sexual orientations, and other diversities |
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| | Rev. Robert S. Graetz | 
Pastor Bob Graetz, author of "A White Preacher's Memoir: The Montgomery Bus Boycott" | Born: May 16, 1928, Clarksburg, W. Va.Education: Charleston, W. Va., High School, 1946
Capital University, Columbus, Ohio (A.B.),1950
Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary, Columbus, Ohio (B.D.), 1955 (now called Trinity Lutheran Seminary) Family: Married June 10, 1951, to Jean Ellis, East Springfield, Pa.
Four daughters, three sons (born 1952 to 1963)
Twenty-six grandchildren
One great-grandchild Ministries: Community Lutheran, Los Angeles, Cal. (1952-54), as an intern (student pastor)
Trinity Lutheran, Montgomery, Ala. (1955-58)
St. Philip Lutheran, Columbus, Ohio (1958-67) – named Pastor Emeritus
Lutheran Mission 373, Washington, D. C. (1967-70), an experimental community ministry
St. James Lutheran, Washington, D. C. (1970), interim pastor
Ohio Council of Churches, Columbus, Ohio (1970-83)
Christ the King Lutheran, Columbus, Ohio (1974)
St. John Lutheran, Logan, Ohio (1983-95), part-time ministry
Retired, October 31, 1995 – named Pastor Emeritus
St. Matthew Lutheran, Sugar Grove, Ohio (1997-1998), interim pastor
St. John Lutheran Church, Logan, Ohio (1998), interim pastor
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Pomeroy, Ohio, and St. John Lutheran Church, Racine, Ohio - interim (2001-2002)
Faith Lutheran Church, Jackson, Ohio - interim (2002-2003) Major Awards: Russwurm Award, National Negro Newspaper Publishers Association, 1957
Selma Humanitarian Award, from the producers and cast of the musical "Selma," about life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1976
Distinguished Alumnus, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, 1986
Doctor of Humanities, Capital University, 1990
Ohio Humanitarian Award, 1993, in conjunction with Martin Luther King Day celebration
(Ohio) Governor's Humanitarian Award, 1997, in conjunction with Martin Luther King Day celebration Areas of Montgomery, Ala., bus boycott -
Involvement: Secretary of Montgomery Improvement Association Board
Previous and Speaking and writing for various groups
Current:`
Church race relations -
Bridge between black and white ministerial associations in various cities
Delegate to Lutheran World Federation Conference on Christian Social Responsibility, Baden-bei-Wien, Austria, 1969
National secretary, Conference on Inner City Ministries, American Lutheran Church (ALC)
Advisor to national Urban Church Committee (ALC)
Member, national board, Lutheran Human Relations Association of America
Chairman, Ohio District (ALC) Task Force on Ministry in
Changing Communities Frequent speaker Tour leader for groups going into the South for "Civil Rights
Pilgrimages” Church at large -
Delegate to national ALC conventions in 1964 and 1968
Member of General Convention Committee, 1968 national ALC convention
Member of Executive Committee, Region 6 Coordinating Council
Tour organizer for groups traveling to Germany to experience
Kirchentag, Luther-land, Oberammergau Passion Play and
visits with German churches School desegregation -
Member, Columbus, Ohio, Council on Intercultural Education Legislation -
President, Washington, D.C.-based Legislative Task Force, national lobbying group related to Poor People's Campaign
Director, Ohio Ecumenical Commission on Church and
Government
Legislative representative (lobbyist), Ohio Council of Churches
Host, television and radio programs interviewing public officials Writing -
A Congregational Guide to Human Relations, 1964
The Church in a Diverse Society, ed. L.W. Halvorson, Augsburg, 1964, chapter 6 by me, "An Informed Church Serves a Diverse Society"
Various writing for church publications
Monthly columnist for Columbus, Ohio, Diocese Catholic Times (1973-87)
Montgomery - a White Preacher's Memoir, a book about our experiences in Montgomery, Ala., Augsburg Fortress, 1991 (re-published as A White Preacher's Memoir: The
Montgomery Bus Boycott, Black Belt Press, 1998) Spiritual growth -
Writer and teacher, various Bible studies
Speaker for revival services, others
Retreat leader Strengthening families -
We provided a home and long-term intensive counseling to a troubled mother and her children
Home has served as retreat center for groups, families, individuals Community -
Board member, Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio
Assist wife in coordinating Red Cross bloodmobiles in Vinton County - 1984 to present
Board member, Jackson-Vinton County Community Action Board, total of ten years (Board chair, 1997-98)
Board member, Sojourners Care Network, working with foster
children and families (Board chair, 2002-present)
Board Chair, Friends of the Library, Vinton County - 2004 Ministry of reconciliation -
Speaking, writing, ministry with and for victims and families dealing with AIDS
Speaking, writing, ministry with and for persons dealing with diversities, including sexual orientation
Active member of The Network, Lutherans Concerned/North America, and Soulforce, all working to secure full acceptance in our churches (including clergy) of persons of diverse sexual orientations, and other diversities | |
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