Renowned Peacemaking Advocate Glen Stassen Dies in Pasadena; 78

Photo courtesy of Fuller Theological Seminary

Fuller Theological Seminary professor Glen Stassen, who was renowned for his work on human rights and Christian ethics, passed away in Pasadena last Saturday, April 26. He was 78.

Stassen has published several books on peace and war ethics including “Just Peacemaking: The New Paradigm for Ethics of Peace and War” (2008) and “Peace Action: Past, Present, and Future” (2007). His book entitled “Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary Context” (2003) received Christianity Today’s Award for Best Book of 2004 in Theology or Ethics.

The Baptist theologian was also given the Denton and Janice Lotz Human Rights Award by the Baptist World Alliance in 2013 and the EthicsDaily.com’s Baptist of the Year recognition in 2012.

He joined Fuller Seminary’s theological faculty in Winter 1997 as a Christian Ethics professor. Prior to his service at Fuller, Stassen had 34 years teaching at Duke University, Kentucky Southern College, Berea College, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Stassen graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in nuclear physics, and studied systematic and historical theology, Christian ethics and political philosophy during his graduate work at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.

He has been recognized for his excellence in teaching with Fuller’s 1999 All Seminary Council Faculty Award for Outstanding Community Service to Students, as well as the Seabury Award for Excellence in Teaching at Berea College.

Stassen has served in leadership positions within the Council of the Societies for the Study of Religion, National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion, American Academy of Religion, and Society of Christian Ethics. He is a member of the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign and of the Strategy Committee of Peace Action, some of the largest grassroots US peace organizations.

Strassen fought a long battle with cancer before succumbing this year. He is survived by wife, Dot, and three sons.

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a future date.