Emeritus Professor of Theology John Burkhart dies at 82

06-11-2010

By Geoff Ashmun

McCormick Theological Seminary has received word of the death of the Reverend Dr. John E. Burkhart, Emeritus Professor of Theology at McCormick Theological Seminary, where the Riverside, California-native taught from 1959 to 1993. Burkhart died at the age of 82 in Dubuque, Iowa. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m., Saturday, June 12, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dubuque.

An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) since 1952, Burkhart served as a chaplain in the United States Air Force, and both Presbyterian campus pastor and lecturer in religion at the University of Southern California before joining McCormick’s faculty.

His publications include Worship and Understanding the Word of God, as well as numerous professional articles and book reviews. A past president of the American Theological Society, he was also a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Catholic Theological Society of America, and the North American Academy of Liturgy. Burkhart was a consultant to the Reformed/Roman Catholic International Dialogue, which met in Venice, Italy in 1986.

John Burkhart is survived by his wife, Virginia, son David (Deborah Shidler) Burkhart of San Bruno, California, daughter Audrey Burkhart of Chicago, and daughter Deborah (Scott) Haines of Santa Rosa, California. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to McCormick Theological Seminary, 5460 South University Avenue, Chicago, IL 60615; Bethany Home, 1005 Lincoln Ave., Dubuque, IA 52001; Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2155 University Ave., Dubuque, IA 52001; and the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, 2728 Asbury Road, Dubuque, IA 52001.