By Molly T. Marshall
He invited me to be his graduate assistant. He married Douglas and me. He was the midwife of my dissertation. He preached my ordination sermon. He encouraged me as a younger colleague in the theology department of Southern Seminary. He grieved with me when I was forced to leave that spiritual home place.
It is hard to write a tribute for a mentor without at the same time writing about oneself. It is only in the thickness of relationship that one finds a richly grounded appreciation of the other.
This past week Dr. Wayne E. Ward passed through death to life. When I heard of his departure, this text came to mind:
Then a voice from heaven said, “Write this down: Happy are they who die in Our God for all eternity.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “let them rest from their work, for their deeds accompany them” (Revelation 14:13).
His deeds have borne fruit in my life, and I want to thank my teacher. A graceful presence in the seminary community, he was known for his love for students and colleagues.
He lived life with passion, and he understood literally the meaning of “enthusiasm” — one who lived his life inspired and possessed by God. I pray to live in that manner, also.
Early in my doctoral study, Dr. Ward interrupted his class one day to present me the kind of doctorate procured from a degree mill. “Now that you have been ‘doctored,’ let’s see if you really want to stay around and learn something!”
It was a playful prank, yet it taught me that the pathway to becoming a theological professor was labor intensive, and short-cuts would not prepare me for the calling that was mine.
Wayne taught through his life as well as his scholarship. I remember him reflecting on his own struggles during World War II. Should he enlist? Should he be a conscientious objector because of his disdain for war? Could he use his pilot skills, honed in an Arkansas crop duster, to fly rescue missions rather than drop bombs?
Then, while a student at Southern, he heard a sermon about Bonhoeffer’s ethical struggle in the face of Hitler’s destruction, and he became a Navy pilot. While proud of his service, he never had an easy conscience about what that decision required of him.
An early supporter of women in ministry, Wayne demonstrated this by sharing preaching engagements with me. When he served as interim pastor of First Baptist Church, Knoxville, Tenn., he created space for me to practice my craft as a preacher. This was a courageous stance, especially as the SBC controversy began heating up the very year I began doctoral study (1979).
Dr. Ward also encouraged his beloved spouse, Mary Ann, to pursue chaplaincy training. He saw in her particular gifts for this ministry and always expressed his delight in her expertise.
I owe her a particular debt. She supported my idea that “faculty wives” should become co-ed, and she — along with June Honeycutt — helped welcome Douglas for a seminary tea.
Wayne was a consummate biblical theologian who found ways to interface New Testament narratives with historical theology — no small challenge. In a time when some scholars were describing the eclipse of biblical narrative, he found a way to engage texts with a lively and appreciative hermeneutic. His love for the Holy Spirit was especially compelling, prompting me to want to learn more about God’s indwelling presence.
A reconciling presence who could find common ground with detractors, he greatly suffered the rending of his denominational family. He simply could not believe that persons of Christian character could not find ways to ameliorate discord and stay bound together in Gospel mission.
It was particularly painful for him as members of his extended family were actively involved in eviscerating the tradition of scholarship at Southern that had formed him. I believe that he spent many of his later years trying to find ways to mend torn relationships.
Now he rests from his labor, and his deeds accompany him. How grateful I am for his formative influence in my life and in the lives of generations of students. We are his “letters of recommendation,” and his ministry of teaching is an enduring legacy.
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