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HENDEL INSTALLED AS FIRST BERNARD, FISCHER, WESTBERG DISTINGUISHED MINISTRY PROFESSOR The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry. Ephesians 4:11-12 Kurt K. Hendel, professor of reformation history, was installed as the inaugural holder of the Bernard, Fischer, Westberg distinguished ministry chair at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Endowed by Grace Lutheran Church, La Grange, Ill., the $1 million chair memorializes the ministry of the Rev. Dr. George P. Bernard and Rev. Dr. Granger E. Westberg and honors Rev. Dr. Robert H. Fischer. The three covered a range of ministry: Bernard was a parish pastor; Westberg was in specialized ministry and pastoral care; and Fischer was a teacher. With their families, all held membership at Grace. During a special service of investiture held at Grace in May, Hendel said, "Our God is a God of surprises and a God of grace. This God is the source of every blessing that enriches our lives as communities and individuals. Gifted leaders are such a blessing. Grace Lutheran Church, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, as well as the church and community-at-large, have benefitted from the creative leadership of the three individuals who are being honored today. They have been instruments of grace in our individual and corporate lives. Particular vocations are gracious gifts of God. The ministries of preaching, teaching, and service that George Bernard, Robert Fischer, and Granger Westberg carried out so faithfully were used by the Holy Spirit to transform our live and the lives of other. It is truly a privilege to be named the first holder of the Bernard, Fischer, Westberg Chair of Distinguished Ministry. Of course, as we honor three special servants of Christ and celebrate the gifts that they and you have given so generously, we are also cognizant of and humbly grateful to our God whose goodness we ultimately celebrate today." Bernard was pastor of Grace from 1960-79, and remained a member until his death in 1998. Westberg founded the worldwide parish nurse program and was the author of the best-selling book, "Good Grief." Fischer, a member of Grace since 1967, retired as professor of church history from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 1986. At the seminary since 1983, Hendel teaches in the area of reformation history and is director of the master of arts degree program. A Fulbright scholar, he received the bachelor of arts degree from Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, Ind., and the master of divinity degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo. The master of arts and doctor of philosophy degrees were bestowed by Ohio State University.
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