Alfred Bartholomew

Reverend Dr. Alfred C. Bartholomew
Reverend Dr. Alfred C. Bartholomew, 94, of Lancaster, died peacefully on Thursday, October 31, 2013, at StoneRidge Retirement Living, Myerstown. Born in Catasauqua, he was the son of the late Edwin J. and Meda Wenner Bartholomew. He was the loving husband of the late Joyce Studenmund Bartholomew, who died June 1995. Dr. Bartholomew received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ursinus College of Collegeville, PA, Bachelor of Divinity from Lancaster Theological Seminary, Ph.D. from Drew University in Madison, NJ, and an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Ursinus College. Dr. Bartholomew served in many leadership positions within many ecumenical bodies. He was an Ordained Minister of the United Church of Christ for 71 years, serving as Pastor of Pleasantville U.C.C. in Chalfont, for seven years, Professor of Church and Community at the Lancaster Theological seminary for 22 years, General Secretary for the Division of World Service, United Church Board for World Ministries for 12 years in New York, NY; served as chairman of Church World Service, and served as chairman of CODEL, an ecumenical development partnership that included as many Roman Catholic organizations as Protestant organizations (receiving special recognition for his service by Pope John Paul II), and member of the boards of a number of other international nongovernmental organizations. Following retirement he served as interim Pastor in 11 congregations. He taught rural church in the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong, India, Greece, Ghana, and Honduras. He also served as Administrator for the ministry to agriculture migrants for the PA Council, and was a Negotiator for the U.C.C. in Union Churches and (according to him held the record for breaking up more churches than any other pastor in the U.C.C.). He was a member of First Reformed United Church of Christ, Lancaster. Survivors: Surviving is a daughter, Jocelyn Alida Bartholomew, wife of Mamoru Sugimoto, Statesville, NC; a son, Philip F., husband of Mary Schechter Bartholomew, of Woodbridge, VA; a daughter-in-law, Mary Shope Bartholomew Carpenter, Derby, CT; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandson. In addition to his parents; and wife; he was preceded in death by a son, Alan Alfred Bartholomew; a brother, Gilbert Bartholomew; and a sister, Edna Mills. Services: Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his memorial service at the First Reformed United Church of Christ, 40 East Orange St., Lancaster, on Saturday, November 16, 2013, at 2 p.m. Interment will be private in First Reformed U.C.C. Memorial Garden. Clergy are invited to join in procession with vestments at the service. Friends may visit with the family at the church immediately following the memorial service on Saturday afternoon. Please omit flowers. To send the family online condolences, please visit www.BuchFuneral.com. Buch Funeral Home, Manheim, PA, 717-665-4341. Contributions: Memorial contributions in Dr. Bartholomews memory may be sent to (OCWM) Our Churches Wider Mission of the United Church of Christ, Service Division, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115.