John graduated from Bexley in 1949. He received his B.A. from Capital University in 1953 and his M.Div. from ELTS (now Trinity Seminary) in 1957. For more than 47 years he and Mary have been partners in marriage as well as in ministry.

John’s first call was to begin a mission congregation in Annandale, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C. They served at Hope Lutheran Church there from 1957 to 1965.

In 1965 they established an alternative urban ministry in Washington, D.C. The Community of Christ was an ecumenical community committed to alternative forms of worship and ministering to a diverse urban neighborhood, with a focus on civil rights and the Vietnam War. It was during these years that John co-authored the book, Dance in Steps of Change (Thomas Nelson, 1970) which described this urban ministry. He also served as executive director of Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area.

John was asked by the American Lutheran Church to be director of a national ministry for peace and non-violence. Subsequently, in 1972 the family moved to an abandoned farm in the mountains of West Virginia. During the next six years they were again confronted by the necessity of connecting peace with justice. Lifestyle issues of sufficiency and simplicity surfaced as a way for individuals and communities to “do justice” in their lives. As a result, the family built a log cabin, harnessed a spring for water, grew their own vegetables and fruit and renewed hillside fields for grazing sheep and cattle. In 1976 he and Mary shared authorship of the book, Things That Make For Peace (Augsburg).

In 1978 they responded to a call from Holden Village, a retreat center in the Cascade mountains of Washington state to direct this center for lay theology and to help shape the life of the residential community that hosted the 5000 people a year who came to the Village. Distinctive marks of the Village included meals consistent with good nutrition and concern for a hungry world, the use of alternative energy resources and careful attention to the environment.

From 1987 to 1991 John served as assistant to the Bishop of the Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA. Until his retirement in 1994 he was on the pastoral staff of Trinity Lutheran Congregation there.

Retirement in Leavenworth, Washington has allowed John and Mary to be close to their four children and nine grandchildren. Through their church, their interests have centered on anti-racism and a variety of ministries to the Hispanic population in the community. They also established and manage Jubilee, a shop retailing fair trade crafts from developing countries. The proceeds from Jubilee help to build affordable housing in Leavenworth through Habitat for Humanity and through a community land trust. The store has also provided the opportunity to travel to Central America to find crafts from individuals and co-operatives.

In 2002, John received “The Sylvester C. Michaelfelder Award” from Trinity Lutheran Seminary. Given for an unusual degree of and outstanding Christian service, this was a joint award for John and Mary.

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