CHARLES FORMAN

FORMAN, CHARLES W. Charles W. Forman passed away on November 23rd, 2014 surrounded by his family. Born in Gwalior, India, he was the son of Henry and Sallie Taylor Forman, missionary educators serving under the Presbyterian Mission Board. His grandfather had founded Forman Christian College in Lahore. Chuck (as he was affectionately known by family and colleagues) came to America at the age of seven and grew up in Columbus, Ohio. A lifelong scholar, he received a BA and MA from Ohio State University, a Ph.D. in History from the University of Wisconsin, and graduated from Union Theological Seminary in New York with a Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Sacred Theology. In 1944 he married Janice Mitchell of Portsmouth, Ohio, a fellow student at Union. From 1945-50 they lived in India where he taught at the North India United Theological College in Saharanpur. In 1953 he was appointed professor of missions at Yale Divinity School, a position he held until his retirement in 1987. For two years, 1960-1962, he served as Acting Dean of the Divinity School. On leaves from the Divinity School he traveled for the Theological Education Fund of the World Council of Churches, visiting theological schools in Africa, Latin America, East and Southeast Asia, and the South Pacific. He concentrated on the study of South Pacific churches and made many trips to that area. He and his wife also taught in Cairo, Egypt for one semester. Charles served as chairman of the Theological Education Fund Committee of the World Council of Churches and also of the commission for missions of the United Presbyterian Church of the USA. He was chair of the founding committee of the Pacific Theological College in Fiji and for twenty years was chairman of the Foundation for Theological Education in Southeast Asia. He was also on the board of the Overseas Ministries Study Center in New Haven. Charles is the author of a number of books including A Faith for the Nations (1957), Christianity in the Non-Western World (1966), and The Island Churches of the South Pacific (1982). Articles authored by him have appeared in journals such as Christian Century, International Review of Missions, Journal de la Société des Océanistes, Journal of Pacific History, and International Bulletin of Missionary Research. For most of his time at Yale, Chuck and Jan lived in Bethany, CT, where he served for nine years on the Board of Education. For twelve years they lived during the school year in the Hill neighborhood of New Haven where Jan taught in the public schools and he participated in community organizations. In 1977 he served as chairman of Yale’s committee on relations with the city, and for four years he was treasurer of New Haven’s anti-poverty agency. He was active in the civil rights movement including marching with Martin Luther King in Selma, Alabama. After retirement from Yale Chuck and Jan taught in Fiji, Samoa and American Samoa. In 1996, they moved to Whitney Center in Hamden where Chuck became fully engaged in resident administrative and cultural affairs. Chuck enjoyed life immensely, actively participating in family life and pursuing his love of gardening, nature, music and art. He was an avid concert and museum-goer until his final days. His enthusiasm and genuine cheerfulness were an inspiration to all who knew him. Chuck was pre-deceased by his wife of 67 years as well as by his sister, Mary Forman of Hartford and his brother Robert Forman of Columbus. He is survived by his three children, David Forman (m.Gilda Outremont), Sarah Forman and Harriet Forman; six grandchildren --Robert Forman, Kathleen Weiland, Janice Forman, Annie Forman, Christopher Hall and Brandon Hall; and two great grandchildren --Molly Weiland and Maizie Ebers-Forman. A memorial service is planned for Sunday, January 18, 2015, 2:00 P.M. at the Marquand Chapel, Yale Divinity School, 409 Prospect Street, New Haven. Donations in Chuck’s honor may be sent to Heifer International or Overseas Ministries Study Center.