MESSAGES, TRIBUTES AND COMMENTS

page 1::page 2::page 3::page 4::page 5::page 6::page 7::page 8::page 9::page 10::page 11::page 12::page 13::page 14::page 15::page 16::page 17::page 18::page 19

Eileen Scipione, San Diego, CA
Dr. Clowney was one of my all time favorite preachers.
To illustrate this, let me tell you a story my husband recently recounted.
Almost thirty years ago, my husband, then a young pastor in the OPC, was feeling a bit down about his own preaching skills. One day he actually asked me, "If you were not married to me, would you come to hear me preach?" After some thought, I replied, "That depends on who else was in the area. If Dr. Clowney was around, I'd go there."

Pierre et Helene Courthial, France
C'est avec un long retard que nous avons appris la mort d'Edmund Clowney. Nous pensons bien a vous et tres particulierement a Rebecca et vous prions de dire a Madame Clowney combien nous prenons part a sa peine.

Je n'oublie pas que c'est en 1968 qu'a la suite d'une rencontre dans un taxi a partir de l'aeroport de Detroit, avec Eugene Boyer, que le Docteur Clowney visita les batiments des EREI dans lesquels allait se tenir la Faculte Reformee a partir de 1974!! Et, c'est avec emotion que nous nous souvenons de tout ce qu'a apporte Edmund Clowney a la Faculte naissante, agee maintenant de plus de 30 ans!

Je revois le Dr. Clowney travaillant dans la biblioteque ou donnant des cours. Sa foi nous a beaucoup apporte et je lui garde une immense reconnaissance.

Le Seigneur vous benit vous, Madame Clowney, et tous les votres. Merci pour tout ce qui nous a ete donne par vous tous. Nous vous embrassons.

(English translation: We have only just learned of the death of Edmund Clowney. We are thinking of you and especially of Rebecca and we ask you to tell Mrs. Clowney how we share her grief. I will never forget that it was in 1968, after meeting Eugene Boyer in a taxi from the Detroit airport, that Dr. Clowney first visited the buildings of the Independent Evangelical Reformed Church that would in 1974 become the Reformed Seminary, a school now over 30 years old. I can still see Dr. Clowney, working in the library there, or teaching courses. His faith brought us great encouragement and I hold for him a sense of great thankfulness. May God bless you, Mrs. Clowney and all your family. Thank you for everything you all have given us. With deep affection,)

Pierre et Helene Courthial

Will Fitzgerald, Kalamazoo, Michigan
When I was a student at Michigan State University, I was involved in Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. I went to IV programs at Cedar Campus in northern Michigan several times, once for an entire month for a summer leadership training program, at which both John R. Stott and Edmund Clowney were speakers. Dr. Stott was first--droll, academic, serious teaching from Paul's letter to the Ephesians. Then Dr. Clowney spoke--on the Sovereignty of God. In the popular conception, nothing could be more off-putting. But Dr. Clowney's evident joy--like Moses's shining face--in the presence of the God he loved is something I still remember after 30 years. It was a privilege to spend time under his teaching.

Kevin E Stuhlmann, Buffalo Grove, IL
Dear Mrs. Clowney and family,

I just today heard of Dr. Clowney's passing, and I wanted to write to let you know of his impact in my life. First, my condolences on your loss.

In 1987, I was a student at the University of Illinois, involved in the InterVarsity chapter there. That summer, I attended IV's School of Leadership Training at Cedar Campus. Dr. Clowney was one of the Bible expositors, taking his messages from the Gospel of John. They were all tremendous, but his sermon on John 21, Jesus' reinstatement of Peter, had a profound impact in my life, and still echoes in my mind whenever I read that passage.

I am currently an MDiv student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. I pray that my preaching might have half the impact that Dr. Clowney's did for God's Kingdom. Thank you for sharing this godly man with the Church.

Blessings in Christ,
Kevin Stuhlmann

Paul Meiners, '76, London, England
Much has been said in these tributes about how much Ed Clowney loved the Lord Jesus and made him real to us, evident and necessary in every page of Scripture. Because he loved the Groom, he also loved the bride, the church. That was memorable to me in two ways.

I had the great privilege of being in his class "Presbyterian Polity, Discipline and Worship". Thankfully for those who took it the title didn't attract the crowd the class deserved and 6 or 8 of us shared a seminar room around a table with Dr. Clowney. We learned, for example that order and ardor were not contradictory in worship. We also heard his grief as a witness to controversies where purity was an opponent of peace, and the church was made a little more precise but much more divided because the love of our own understanding of truth became more compelling than how we pursued it as His bride. Things learned in that class have been formative in my ministry with churches in various cultural contexts.

In trying to help churches in Kenya understand the way the church works I came back to Dr. Clowney's pyramid illustration and his being able to see things graphically was a great service. Rural pastors could relate to that image and understand the interplay of roles and gifts in the health and balance of the church, the leadership equipping the saints in diverse ministry. Of course all of it is under the perpection of those qualities in the headship of Christ, since everything Dr. Clowney taught pointed to Christ. Seeing the church expand through equipping the saints for ministry became a compelling vision for us.

I find Dr. Clowney's theme of Christ's love for his church still coming out in my own preaching.

Matt Morgan, Vancouver, BC
A number of things stand out in my memory of Dr. Clowney during my days at Westminster West....

I noticed that he would always take notes during chapel...whether the speaker was a profound scholar or one of his own students. If you asked him why he was doing so, he would reply, "When you get to be my age, paper is better at preserving memories than the brain."

I remember him once asking me what sources I used for my preaching text, and I told him I found something helpful in the WTJ. Immediately, he started laughing, which startled me. Finally, he remarked, "You'd think a former president would keep up with his own institution's journal!"

It was great to see that his wilting body did not wilt his humor!

I was always impressed with the way that he could handle a preaching class after a *really bad* sermon was given. You would see the student sit down, and then Dr. Clowney would get up...and you just wondered, "What in the world is Clowney going to say?" One could sometimes sense that he was definitely 'holding back' in his comments...while at the same time, he was not afraid to tell a man that he missed the point entirely. He had a certain way of delivering his critique that can only be described as 'Edmund Clowney' -- those of you that had him know what I mean!

Much has been written about his impact on Reformed preachers, but one only wonders how many 'unqualified' men he has graciously persuaded to *not* enter the ministry. Certainly the church should be thankful for his service in *both*!

I remember reading 'The Unfolding Mystery' as a sophomore in college, and it was a truly paradigm-changing book that set me on my current course 12 years later.

He will certainly be missed, but we rejoice that his faith has become sight.

~Matt Morgan (Westminster West, Class of 2001)

Kenneth R. Wynne, Houston, Texas
I learned of this website when Mrs. Clowney responded to a note I wrote her the morning after Dr. Clowney's memorial service at Westminster Seminary. I detected from her note that she wouldn't mind my sharing at least the following from what I wrote her. (My wife, Gay, and I got to know the Clowneys during their recent stint at Christ The King Presbyterian Church in Houston).

Mrs. Clowney, it is one of the great joys of my life that I got to know Dr. Clowney. Even more, it is an unparalleled joy for me that he convinced me he was my friend. Even he could not know how much encouragement I drew from his friendship.

Someone took a picture of Dr. Clowney and me talking one time. We were standing at the lectern in the worship center, apparently right after one of his lessons. Whoever took that picture sent it to me, and it has been standing in my office ever since among pictures of my immediate family. The picture of Dr. Clowney and me talking is going to stay right where it is. I love for people to ask me who that is, because I get to tell them.

The picture is appropriate. Dr. Clowney’s eyes are fixed on mine in the quiet, unassuming, but completely absorbed manner in which they always did. I don’t know what we were talking about, but whatever it was, Dr. Clowney was conveying to me that it was important to him. Given my basic propensity to strut, his humble manner, that wrapped so much substance, is an enduring model for me. I really don’t need that picture in my office to keep his influence on me alive, but it doesn’t hurt to have it there either. It’s an influence I cherish. It’s an influence I never want to lose. It’s an influence I want to impart to my children. I’m afraid I’m an inadequate substitute in that regard. At least most of my children got to know him personally. His direct influence is also at work on them.

I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone who knew as much as Dr. Clowney who was as open as he was to ideas from others, especially from younger people who didn’t know near what he knew. And it was genuine interest. What an encouragement.

I’ve suffered a deep personal loss. Nothing like yours, I know, but still a deep personal loss. Gay’s and my hearts go out to you and your family. We both hope your health is improving and that your spirits are bolstered by the sure confidence that Dr. Clowney is right now in the embrace of the One who has so sustained and used his great life on earth. He is right where he always celebrated that one day he would be, and that pesky fatigue that dogged him during the recent months is now gone for good. It’s hard for me to imagine his heels clicking in the air, but figuratively at least, I know that’s what he’s doing. I hope he gets to see my mother riding one of her horses, and I hope he gets to have a good conversation with my father. My father would love that.

I’m going to miss Dr. Clowney greatly – until the next time we talk. He’d better have his presuppositional apologetics ready when I get there. Of course, we won’t need any apologetics then, but we’ll have fun talking about what only he knows now but we’ll both know then.

I hope your days are not too lonely. Gay and I have prayed for you and Dr. Clowney daily. He doesn’t need our prayers now, but you’ll continue to be an important aspect of them. I know the Lord is listening to those prayers. I sure hope He heeds them and fills your days with surpassing joy.

We love you.

Mike Vaal, Cedar Campus, Cedarville, MI
Seeing Dr. Clowney's picture on this tribute page brings back so many memories of warm conversations, teaching that brought glory to God and some enjoyable times on the local golf course. My life was enriched not only by his teaching but by his grace and humility. My wife and I were always touched by the fact that he and Jean prayed for us, our children and our work at Cedar Campus. I am sure he has heard the Lord's "well done, good and faithful servant."

Bill and Del Jones, Charlottesville, Virginia
We first met Dr. Clowney while living in Richmond, VA in the early '80's. He was invited to Third Presbyterian Church to speak on the Book of 1 Peter. We knew he was a dedicated Bible scholar when he spoke the entire evening on verses 3 to 9 concerning the living hope we have in Christ.

We later moved to Charlottesville in 1985 and had the honor of knowing Ed from many different perspectives. As an elder at Trinity Presbyterian Church (TPC), it was always a very stabalizing factor to have Ed share his wisdom and persective on any issue which challenged the Session. As a realtor who helped Ed and Jean both sell and buy a home in Charlottesville, it was an honor and a joy to help them in these transactions. Ed was always available to meet and be a mentor. On one occasion he provided significant guidance which altered the direction of my career.

Del, while a secretary at TPC, had the pleasure to assist Ed with secretarial and computer needs. She was honored when Ed wrote her a poem for her birthday and then wrote another poem which he read at Del's retirement reception in 2004.

We are so thankful that Lord allowed our paths to cross during Ed's time in Charlottesville, and we look forward to being reunited in heaven.

Bill and Del Jones
Charlottesville, Virginia

Louis and Audrey Voskuil, Chattanooga, TN
Dear Jean, David, Deborah, Paul, Rebecca, and Anne:
Please accept our condolences on the death of your husband and father. We first came to know Ed as pastor at Bible camp at Spencer Lake in Wisconsin when we were thirteen. We had come to know him as the pastor with the wonderful chalk talks on the Bible. Later he became my ping-pong partner and opponent at seminary where he tried to teach me a Biblical-theological perspective on preaching ("tried" in the sense that I am not sure I learned very well). After one classroom sermon, he told me my demeanor was too "Puritan," but I really think it was more "Dutch," or maybe just my own fear. Later I had the privilege to teach David and Deborah and your grandaughter, Myriam.

Audrey and I were blessed by his humor, his down to earth friendship and his rich teaching for many years in the first few decades of our lives as we were getting established in our own callings. His redemptive-historical approach to the Bible opened the Old Testament to us, indeed the whole of Scripture, as nothing else did. We thank God for Ed's contributions to our lives and to the church.
May Christ's presence and comfort be with you!
Louis and Audrey Voskuil