Timothy Lull
Encyclopedia
Timothy F. Lull was a Lutheran
minister, scholar and author.
. From a young age he participated in the life of St. John's Lutheran Church and was a member of the church's Boy Scout
Troop receiving his God and Country Award. Tim was interested in astronomy, philosophy, politics, and religion. He enjoyed playing the piano and baritone, was a leader in school activities, and an accomplished student. In eleventh grade he won the Ohio State History contest at Ohio University
in Athens, Ohio
. Graduating first in his high school class in 1961, Tim entered Williams College
where he was the recipient of the Tyng Scholarship. He earned his bachelor's degree in philosophy from Williams in 1965 where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and the Gargoyle Society. Timothy attended Yale University
where he received a Master's of Divinity and a Doctorate of Philosophy.
in 1972. He served as pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Needham, Massachusetts
from the time of his ordination until 1977. From 1977 until 1989 Lull served as professor of systematic theology at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
. In 1989 Lull became Academic Dean
and Professor of Systematic Theology
at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
in Berkeley, California
. Dr. Lull was elected president of the seminary in 1997 and held that position until his death from complications of surgery on May 20, 2003.
Timothy Lull was a prolific writer and widely sought speaker. His particular area of interest was the life and work of Martin Luther
. He was the author of several books including Called to Confess Christ and My Conversations with Martin Luther. He edited Martin Luther's Basic Theological Writings for Augsburg Fortress
. He was a frequent contributor and columnist for The Lutheran
magazine. A strong advocate, interpreter, and participant in the ecumenical dialogs and agreements of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
, Dr. Lull served as co-chair of the Lutheran-Reformed Committee for Theological Conversations, 1988-1992, which in A Common Calling formally proposed full communion
between the ELCA and the Presbyterian Church USA, the Reformed Church in America
, the United Church of Christ
. He received the Joseph A. Sittler
Award for Theological Leadership posthumously from Trinity Lutheran Seminary
in Columbus, Ohio
.
Dr. Lull married Mary Carlton O'Neal in 1969 and was the father of two sons, Christopher Lull and Peter Lull.
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
minister, scholar and author.
Early life
Lull was born to Raymond and Ruth Cole Lull. He attended Atkinson Elementary School, Fremont Junior High School, and Fremont Ross High SchoolFremont Ross High School
Fremont Ross High School is a public high school in Fremont, Ohio, USA. It is the only high school in the Fremont City School District, and one of two high schools in Fremont, the other being Saint Joseph Central Catholic High School...
. From a young age he participated in the life of St. John's Lutheran Church and was a member of the church's Boy Scout
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
Troop receiving his God and Country Award. Tim was interested in astronomy, philosophy, politics, and religion. He enjoyed playing the piano and baritone, was a leader in school activities, and an accomplished student. In eleventh grade he won the Ohio State History contest at Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
in Athens, Ohio
Athens, Ohio
Athens is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Athens County, Ohio, United States. It is located along the Hocking River in the southeastern part of Ohio. A historic college town, Athens is home to Ohio University and is the principal city of the Athens, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area. ...
. Graduating first in his high school class in 1961, Tim entered Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
where he was the recipient of the Tyng Scholarship. He earned his bachelor's degree in philosophy from Williams in 1965 where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and the Gargoyle Society. Timothy attended Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
where he received a Master's of Divinity and a Doctorate of Philosophy.
Ministerial life
Lull was ordained as a minister in the Lutheran Church in AmericaLutheran Church in America
The Lutheran Church in America was a U.S. and Canadian Lutheran church body that existed from 1962 to 1987. It was headquartered in New York City and its publishing house was Fortress Press....
in 1972. He served as pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Needham, Massachusetts
Needham, Massachusetts
Needham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. A suburb of Boston, its population was 28,886 at the 2010 census.- History :...
from the time of his ordination until 1977. From 1977 until 1989 Lull served as professor of systematic theology at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia is one of eight seminaries associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America , located in Philadelphia . It was founded in 1864 but traces its roots further back to the first Lutheran establishment in Philadelphia founded by Henry Melchior...
. In 1989 Lull became Academic Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
and Professor of Systematic Theology
Systematic theology
In the context of Christianity, systematic theology is a discipline of Christian theology that attempts to formulate an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the Christian faith and beliefs...
at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California is a seminary affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is a member school of the Graduate Theological Union...
in Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
. Dr. Lull was elected president of the seminary in 1997 and held that position until his death from complications of surgery on May 20, 2003.
Timothy Lull was a prolific writer and widely sought speaker. His particular area of interest was the life and work of Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
. He was the author of several books including Called to Confess Christ and My Conversations with Martin Luther. He edited Martin Luther's Basic Theological Writings for Augsburg Fortress
Augsburg Fortress
Augsburg Fortress is the official publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and also publishes for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada as Augsburg Fortress Canada...
. He was a frequent contributor and columnist for The Lutheran
The Lutheran
The Lutheran is the primary publication of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The editorial offices are at 8765 West Higgins Road in Chicago, Illinois with the denominational offices...
magazine. A strong advocate, interpreter, and participant in the ecumenical dialogs and agreements of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA officially came into existence on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three churches. As of December 31, 2009, it had 4,543,037 baptized members, with 2,527,941 of them...
, Dr. Lull served as co-chair of the Lutheran-Reformed Committee for Theological Conversations, 1988-1992, which in A Common Calling formally proposed full communion
Full communion
In Christian ecclesiology, full communion is a relationship between church organizations or groups that mutually recognize their sharing the essential doctrines....
between the ELCA and the Presbyterian Church USA, the Reformed Church in America
Reformed Church in America
The Reformed Church in America is a mainline Reformed Protestant denomination in Canada and the United States. It has about 170,000 members, with the total declining in recent decades. From its beginning in 1628 until 1819, it was the North American branch of the Dutch Reformed Church. In 1819, it...
, the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
. He received the Joseph A. Sittler
Joseph Sittler
Joseph Sittler was an American Lutheran theologian who taught at the Divinity School of the University of Chicago and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago...
Award for Theological Leadership posthumously from Trinity Lutheran Seminary
Trinity Lutheran Seminary
Trinity Lutheran Seminary is an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America seminary located in Columbus, Ohio.-Background:In 1830, the German Theological Seminary of the Ohio Synod, later known as the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary, was founded to meet the need for educating pastors in the...
in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
.
Dr. Lull married Mary Carlton O'Neal in 1969 and was the father of two sons, Christopher Lull and Peter Lull.
Sources
- The News-Messenger, May 31, 2003
- The Philadelphia InquirerThe Philadelphia InquirerThe Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
, May 23, 2003 - The LutheranThe LutheranThe Lutheran is the primary publication of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The editorial offices are at 8765 West Higgins Road in Chicago, Illinois with the denominational offices...
, June 2003