MESSAGES, TRIBUTES AND COMMENTS

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Dan Rogers '79, Denver, PA
Sometime around 1973 Dr. Clowney spoke at a week of special services at Wheaton College. Many other eminent people spoke or had spoken there, but something about his use and understanding of Scripture captured me as none of the others ever did. A year or so later, while on summer vacation with my family, we stopped at Canadian Keswick. Unbeknownst to us, Dr. Clowney was the guest speaker that week. Once again I heard preaching that I really did not understand but it had a profound impact on both my heart and my mind... and he remembered having talked to me at Wheaton!

In 1977 I entered the MAR program at Westminster Seminary, in large measure due to the respect I had for Dr. Clowney, but it was more a respect of his character than his academic prowess that attracted me. As it turned out I had only one course with him, but I truly appreciated his chapel talks and the equanimity with which he took WTS through some tumultuous times.

Late one evening I was walking around campus, very upset about a personal issue, when all of a sudden he came out of the front door of Machen Hall. I asked him if he could talk for a minute.

"I really don't have time. I'm already late and Jean is holding dinner for me."

"But I really need to talk to you," I said rather desperately.

He hesitated momentarily and said, "OK, let's go back to my office." He turned around, went back into the building, unlocked his office, turned on the lights, sat down, and talked with me for maybe ten minutes, and then graciously said, "I really do have to go now."

I believe that was the last time that I spoke with him directly.

Of all the things that Dr. Clowney said, the one thing that I have been reminded of over and over, is his reported response to someone who came to him after some false information, or possibly slander, had been spread about Westminster. This person, in great agitation, had approached him saying that he thought there should be an official response from the Seminary to set the record straight, an effort to let people know that this really wasn't true of the school. (I'm not even sure what the issue was at this point.)

He said something to the affect of: "Oh, we don't need to do that. We should be glad they don't know how bad we really are."

That certainly indicates a heart that has been broken and also strengthened by the Gospel!

Thank you!

Carter Crow, Houston
Jean,
Meredith and I want to let you know how special you and Ed are to us. Ed's kindness and humility are great lessons for us, and he blessed us in many other ways, many of which we have not realized yet. I will always remember his sermons.

We appreciate the way that you both always had time for us and had such a genuine interest in all the people at CTK. You both made a deep impression on us and many others. Your care for our children is particularly appreciated.

I hope you are well and that you will keep us in your prayers. We look forward to seeing you again soon. Carter Crow

Brian York, Burnsville, Minnesota
I was privileged to hear Ed Clowney speak over one week at the Intervarsity Cedar Campus in 1992. Although at the time I was a young Christian, and not appreciative of the sound teaching that I was then hearing, I have since looked back on his message about Exodus - speaking about Christ as the rock in the wilderness that Moses struck- and now I credit Mr. Clowney with giving me a hunger to know the whole Bible - and to see Christ throughout its pages.
My only regret is that I did not know enough to thank him at the time.

Blessings in Christ,
Brian York

Ho Weng Keong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Dear Mrs Jean Clowney and families,

After opening the Banner of Truth Website I saw the tribute article to Dr Clowney and thought I might say something. I send my sympathies with a thought of God's eternal glory which Dr Clowney is now in.

I first heard of him and read Dr Edmund Clowney's books while studying in Sydney University, between 1979-1983, and being involved in the OCO, the Overseas Christian Outreach, with our mission to witness to overseas students there. We transformed from a evangelical to a reformed presbyterian group over the years I was there. We were influenced by books mainly from the Banner of Truth and the Presbyterian & Reformed Publlshing house and from christians of such persuasion. Thirsty for good literature, I bought these books and cheaply in those days from one christian bookshop, called Koorong, in Sydney, who also allowed us to take on consignment books for one month and return the ones unsold. It was a blessed time.

I found Dr Clowney's books difficult to read i.e. the one called Preaching and Biblical Theology and the Doctrine of the Church. But I persevered, trying to understand the academic language used and get the essence of what he was trying to say. I finally found it so worshipful, uplifting to the soul, of the way Dr Clowney brought out the Christ of the Scriptures in the OT and to make the OT alive with Christ as the focus and goal. He gave me a high view of God's Church also. Dr Clowney thus helped me grow to love the Lord Jesus Christ more and HIs church also, through a better grasp of the bible especially when I was also facing some crisis in my life then.

I have great admiration for the generation of servants of the Lord in Westminister Seminary comprising Machen, Young, Murray, Van Til, Clowney etc who exemplified those who were humble and feared God foremost. Their academics and thoughts were not as they liked but deliberately controlled, chosen, purposeful, subservient and devoted to God and to build up the church. They were not servants to academia.They tried to be sanctified in all areas of their life. I fear we have few theologians today of such spiritual caliber. Only God can raise servants in His own time but often through the godly families that nurtured them from young in a God-fearing home.

I now see the folly of holding to a faulty paedobaptist theology that I was so militant about but ignorant of its weak and inconsistent foundations. I am persuaded that the Reformed Baptist Theology that was suppressed in my University days represents the closest and most faithful biblical theology to understand the bible. In saying this I have no mean intention to attack anyone personally. We are children of the times and it is often hard to change our theological positions.

But I hold in esteem greatly, these forgiven godly men who laboured for the Lord in their convictions. Such is one Dr Clowney. His deeds follow after him.

My sympathies again for the loss to the christian community and the gain for another servant of God.

Ho Weng Keong.
Ruling Elder.
Damansara Reformed Baptist Church.
Petaling Jaya,
Selangor D.E.
Malaysia.

Jane Hourigan Petrella, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Though I don't remember the event, I was baptized by Dr. Clowney in a small Orthodox Presbyterian Church in NJ. He was called in because they did not have a Pastor at that time. I don't know if the baptism had anything to do with it, but I don't remember a time when I wasn't a believer.
My condolences to the family, especially Becky and Anne, my sister Linda Hourigan went to French Creek with Becky and I went when Anne went.

Jane Petrella, for the Hourigan, Petrella, Casiano and Simmons Family

J. Lindsay Sadler, Jr., Charlottesville, VA
Dear Clowney Family,
What a glorious worship service. Dr. Clowney influenced my ministry by his example, writings, and teachings. I have been a blessed pastor to have had the privilege to know and learn from him. He had a joyful humility in that he served all types of individuals and churches. May the Holy Spirit continue to bring peace, rest, and joy of life as you adjust to his homecoming.

His Grace to You,
Lindsay

Nick Perrin, Emmaus, Pennsylvania
I never had the privilege of meeting Ed Clowney, that is, not personally and face-to-face. But I feel like I have met him and – as odd it sounds – that he has met me.

Somehow, as a fairly young Christian just out of college I found myself with some Ed Clowney sermon tapes. So there Ed would ride, or at least his recorded voice, bouncing along shotgun in my 1980 Dodge Horizon as I made my trips here and there as a rookie staffworker with InterVarsity. He shared the seat with Jerry Falwell, whose 12 cassette series could tell you everything you needed to know about the rapture – and more. Nothing against Jerry, but Ed’s voice won the day and, hence, the tape-player. Here was a sound preacher of God’s word, one who spoke with wisdom, balance, authority and conviction. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was becoming Reformed. Didn’t even know what the word meant.

As time went on I picked up more Ed Clowney. I was particularly impressed and influenced by his writings on ecclesiology. Ed was among the first not only to give me a sense of the ‘Aha’ of Presbyterian polity, but also to help me understand the beauty and genius of Reformed theology in general. In part because of Ed, I am where I am today theologically.

There is one more sense in which I have come to know Ed. And that is through his children – particularly through my friendship with his son, Paul. One day when I was taking a tour of the Westminster Seminary campus, I looked up and there it was on the wall – a painted portrait of Paul Clowney! ‘What’s Paul doing up here?’ I momentarily thought to myself. But no, on closer inspection, it was Ed. The painter had obviously caught a side of Ed that I have also found in Paul. All this to say that there is certainly a piece of Ed, a more-than-physical likeness, which carries on his children. And so, even if it sounds a bit mystical, I can say that I have had the privilege of knowing Ed this way too.

The church has lost a great leader with the passing of Ed Clowney. I myself have felt his influence, although I’m sorry to say he died without my ever having the opportunity to tell him.

Paul and Bernace Walker, usually Vancouver BC, Canada, but in Australia for four months
Dear Jean and Family,

Bernace and I send you our love and assurance of prayers for the Lord's gracious care. I am sorry that Ed would not have seen the card Bernace painted for him with a picture of a beautiful Australian bird, when we heard that he had fallen and was in hospital. But he will be rejoicing in the greater blessed vision in heaven far more.

What a great and gracious man! My first memory of him is from my first week at seminary in 1963. I was introduced to him at the opening exercises, and the next day I passed him as I was going down the steps from Machen Hall and he was running up them (we saw this often over the next three years!). To my astonishment, he said, "Hi Paul!" as he raced by. I was impressed by his memory, but even more, touched by his friendliness.

Besides the classes which instructed us so carefully, my other favorite memory of Ed is one day when he was late for class. As it was in the chapel that day, I sat at the piano and we all sang "More love, o Christ, to Thee." We had just gotten going when in came Prof. Clowney, he saw what was happening, and sat down and sang with us. I loved him all the more for it.

God bless and uphold you all. Special thanks to Jean for the times of beautiful music, and greetings to Becky from the Machen League days at Glenside OPC, and French classes at Philmont. In Christ, Paul and Bernace Walker.

Jesse Foreman (grandson), Montreat, North Carolina
My grandfather was so great! I'll never forget doing art with him and playing games with him and my brother and sister. I especially will never forget the Bible stories he told us. I can practically hear his voice right now. Sometimes he would have me tell him Bible stories and was always so excited when I got all the details right. (He'd also help me gently when I got confused on some of them). But now he's happily in heaven just waiting for us to join him one day even though I miss him now. Jesse

John Peter Bodner, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Dear Mrs. Clowney and Family:

My first acquaintance with Dr. Clowney was reading his small, powerful booklet Called to the Ministry. The Lord used its rich, dense biblical content to ground my sense of call to Gospel ministry. I later heard him preach on Luke 5:1-11 at a Knox Summer Fellowship meeting in Toronto, and this settled in me the desire to attend Westminster Seminary. He showed a pastor's heart to me in befriending me, counselling me, and praying with me in times of difficulty as a student there. He graciously preached for me when I pastored a Strict Baptist chapel in London, England -- and that at a baptismal service.
We last met at a Ligonier conference in Toronto, when he autographed a copy of his commentary on 1 Peter with an assurance of his prayers. I have met but few in my pilgrimage who so blessed my life -- he was to me a Great Heart, a Valiant for Truth, an Interpreter, and an Evangelist. My wife Dorothy and I extend to you all our prayerful sympathies, and give praise to our Lord Jesus for the gift He made to us all in Edmund P. Clowney.
Rev. J.P. Bodner - Hope Assembly,
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada