Arthur Harold Becker

Becker Dr. Arthur Harold Becker, January 21, 1921 - January 23, 2015. Arthur H. Becker, passed away Friday afternoon, January 23, 2015, at Bay Harbor Care Home in Alameda, California just two days after his 94th birthday. Art was the Norman A. Mentor professor Emeritus of Pastoral Theology at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. A pioneer in the field of Pastoral Theology, he was educated at Wartburg Seminary, and ordained in1945. He held an MA in Pastoral Care from Andover Newton Theological Seminary, and a PhD in Pastoral Psychology from Boston University. He was recruited to Trinity Lutheran Seminary in 1955 to establish the department of Pastoral Care and taught there until his retirement in 1985. During that time he also was instrumental in starting interdisciplinary course with ministry, law, and medicine in social ethics, was appointed to the first Norman A. Mentor Chair of Pastoral Theology, served on the first Task Force to establish standards for Lutheran Chaplains in nursing homes, and started a Chaplaincy program at Children's Hospital (now Nationwide Children's Hospital) as a training site. He spread the developing field of Pastoral Care abroad by introducing Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at the seminary in Natal, South Africa, and teaching CPE in Namibia (1970). He also presented workshops on Ministry to Older Persons for churches throughout Australia and in New Guinea (1988) Among his many publications, "Ministry With Older Persons" is still in print and used by congregations in lay ministries to older persons. He was awarded the Christus in Mundo Medal (Christ in the World) by the Lutheran Church for lifelong contributions to the field of pastoral care. Arthur retired to Estes Park Colorado with his wife Elizabeth where they were founding members of Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church. Art was also Instrumental in securing the presence of Good Samaritan Homes independent and assisted living facility in Estes Park. He was a creative individual with many interests, including music (played the flute), photography, woodworking, oil panting, his Modes A Ford and all kinds of "tinkering". He passed on his deep faith, care for humanity and creativity to his family. He is preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth Gertrude Wiederanders and his sister Dorothy Jobst. He is survived by his sister, Katheryn Dettmering of Waverly, IA; and four children, Barbara Ford (Byron), Columbus OH, Carol Becker (Paul Milner), Chicago IL, Laura Becker (Joel Parrott), Oakland, CA, and Ken Becker (Robyn Hatcher), New York City. Cremation will take place in Oakland. A Memorial Service will be held in the summer at Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church in Estes Park Colorado. Memorial donations may be made to Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church, 2000 Ptarmigan Trail, Estes Park, CO, 80517 or Trinity Lutheran Seminary, 2199 E. Main St., Columbus, Ohio 43209.