Disciples of Christ Historical Society mourns the passing of its last founding member, Dr. Lester G. McAllister, in Claremont, CA January 4, 2008 at age 88. An enthusiastic friend and supporter of Disciples of Christ Historical Society, Lester served as a member of the Board of Trustees at the time of his death.

An Arkansas native Lester served his church-locally, nationally and internationally-throughout his lifetime in a variety of ways. Ordained at First Christian Church of Little Rock, his home congregation, in 1944, he was educated at Transylvania University and Lexington Theological Seminary (Lexington, KY) and Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. He served in congregational ministry, as Director of Youth Work under the United Christian Missionary Society, and as Professor of Religion and Provost at Bethany College (Bethany, WV), and Professor of Modern Church History at Christian Theological Seminary (Indianapolis, IN) and Distinguished Guest Professor at Brite Divinity School of Texas Christian University (Ft. Worth, TX).

Dr. McAllister was active in scholarly circles and societies, denominational boards and in world-wide ecumenism with the National and World Councils of Churches. He lectured widely and contributed dozens of articles to scholarly and popular journals among the Disciples. His published books are equally diverse: biographies of Thomas Campbell and Z. T. Sweeney, an Alexander Campbell reader, a regional history of his native state of Arkansas, and a thorough history of Bethany College. With William A. Tucker in 1974 he published Journey in Faith, a major interpretive history of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), which remains in use as a seminary text.

Two volumes of Lester’s reminiscences and anecdotes were published by Disciples of Christ Historical Society: Just Like I Heard It (The Forrest F. Reed Lectures for 1989) and Just As I Lived It (1994). A lifelong bachelor, Lester counted his friends as his family. Lester concludes Just As I Lived It with a reflection on the fourth quarter of his life, saying, “I learned early in life that friends are a wonderful thing. Friendship is not to be taken lightly. In my lifetime I have been blessed with numerous friends, men and women who have given companionship, encouragement and help when needed.”

When are we Donne?
A free-verse poem in memory of Lester G. McAllister
Given at his memorial service, January 10, 2008

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